Travel Tips
A TRAVEL expert has revealed the best way to find cheap last-minute flights for your holiday. The whizz also lifted the lid on why booking sooner rather than later could set you back financially.
For many holidaymakers plotting their next foreign jaunt, booking online is a no-brainer. Price comparison travel sites are a go-to for Brits who want to enjoy a well-deserved break without feeling the pinch paying through traditional travel agents.
However, travel expert Josh Martin argued that booking through sites like Skyscanner and Momondo will often have to fork out for additional costs. "We’ve essentially just swapped travel agencies on the street for online travel agencies, and just like their bricks and mortar forefathers, these intermediaries will be looking to clip the ticket and suggest you pay inflated prices for convenient add-ons (insurance, checked luggage, seat reservations...)," he wrote.
You also might be tempted to book earlier before prices begin to soar; however, that beaten path could cost you more in the long run. "The early bird nowadays also gets locked into plans, hotel rooms, and airfares that are non-refundable even 12 months before your departure, so your apparent discount comes with a hefty penalty if you want or need to change course. "And, if market dynamics change – a rival airline adds seat capacity to a route, or other seats and rooms aren’t selling as well as they should – the price may dip to the same or lower than early bird deals."
ROOM FOR MORE
It comes after one traveller revealed an easy way to snare free snacks and drinks at your hotel. All it takes is a quick phone call with a dash of politeness, the TikToker says. Social media star "thejuliabaird" posted a viral video showing how to make the hack work.
Whenever you have a hotel stay, make sure you get someone to call them up to ask if they can do "something special" for you. Julia explains: "Every time I'm travelling, my mum calls the hotel to do something special for me, even if it's, like, not a special occasion. "I'm in Vancouver right now travelling for work, and my mum called the hotel and had them put together a little gift basket."
She then films herself walking into her room to find a little bundle of treats including popcorn, sweets, and fruit. "Look at this - literally from my mum - for free. "Not only did I get free snacks, but they also wrote me a little card. "If you or your mum isn't calling the hotel every time you travel, you're doing something wrong."
Hotel staff took to the comments to rave about the idea. One said: "I used to work at a hotel and would give out the free snacks/waters to whoever asked for one or whoever was nice to me so this def works lol."
author Louis Regan