Just because times are tight does not necessarily mean you need to cancel or postpone your group trip. Whether you’re planning a family reunion, destination wedding or a team trip, there are ways to bring down the cost of your group vacation. Here are five ways to trim the bill.
1. Remember: There’s power in numbers. One of the best ways to save on group travel is to book in bulk. Most hotels offer substantial discounts for group bookings. But the savings don’t stop there. Even some restaurants and activity venues will give you great deals if you book as a group. Contact restaurant managers about group discounts or prix fix meal plans, where your group is offered a limited menu selection at a discount. Amusement parks and other entertainment venues will often offer group rates as well, so be sure to research rates as you plan your itinerary. And remember: When it comes to getting discounts, it never hurts to ask.
2. Stay off the beaten path. Can your group take a bite out of the Big Apple without taking a bite out of everyone’s budget? Sure, especially if you consider a hotel outside of Manhattan. Hotels and motels near the major New York airports (LaGuardia, JFK and Newark) are, for the most part, far more reasonable than their in-city counterparts. And the city’s excellent public transportation means it’s an easy commute to your sightseeing venues. The same logic applies to such areas as Las Vegas, where discounts can be had at off-the-strip hotels, and Washington, D.C., whose suburbs are quaint, close, and can be much more reasonable. Speaking of suburbs, if your group is planning a big city getaway, be sure not to overlook nearby suburbs, where rates can be considerably less than in the city. When you book your group accommodations, look off the beaten path for big discounts.
3. Bank on breakfast. Meals are a big travel budget-eater, but not planning on three meals while you’re busy sightseeing and visiting is just not an option. You can help cut your meals budget by nearly a third, though, by choosing a hotel or motel that offers free breakfast for your group. Many chains today offer free breakfasts, and it’s not just a cup of coffee and a muffin. Embassy Suites locations offer a full-service, made-to-order breakfast each morning. And if the lure of Holiday Inn Express’ signature cinnamon rolls doesn’t draw you downstairs for breakfast, you might as well just sleep till lunch. Some chains, such as Wyndham Hotels, have all-inclusive hotels among their portfolio; if your plans will keep you at your resort property for mealtimes, this might be an option to explore.
4. Consider carpooling. Yes, fuel costs have gone down, but don’t bet that airlines’ rates will be coming down any time soon. Depending on the distance between your group and your destination, you might want to think about driving together in groups, even if means renting a larger vehicle or a minivan. Let’s do the math here: If your son’s soccer team is headed from Dallas to Denver for a tournament, you can count on spending at least $300 per ticket for your round-trip flights. For a family of four, that’ll eat up $1,200 of your budget before you even set foot in the Mile High City. If, instead, you offer to drive – and bring along your son’s best friend and his dad – even including gas to fill up your minivan (bank on 2 fill-ups each way), your looking at $200 to $300 in fuel. Even if you don’t want to put the miles on your minivan, you can rent a vehicle and still stay well below $1,200. Split between the two families, it might be worth the 13-hour drive with two very noisy boys in the back seat.
5. Adjust your itinerary. As group travel leader, you may feel as though you have to have every waking moment of the day planned with some exciting activity, meal, or excursion. But hold on, there. Part of the pleasures of traveling as a group are those unplanned hours, when you languish with your loved ones by the hotel pool, sample the area’s street food, or hang out till the wee hours in the hotel lounge with relatives you haven’t seen for years. Schedule in some down time for the group. Not only will it save everyone money, it could wind up providing you and your group with the most memorable experiences of the trip.
Number 3 (about breakfast) is right on. Hotels routinely overcharge guests for breakfast. It is easy to spend $25 for a measly buffet. My recommendation would be to prepare in advance and find small bagel shops, bakeries, coffee shops etc. around your place of stay. You can usually have a great local breakfast for under ten dollars. Planning ahead in this case works well.
Posted by: Michael | March 02, 2009 at 01:06 PM