ASTA Agents Share Top Tips for Thrifty Travel

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) did a year-end survey of their members and asked them what their top tips would be going into 2015 to help clients save money on travel. Here are the top six.

6. Stay in the lowest priced room at the nicest property you can afford

Most people go for the upgraded room at a cheaper hotel, but by doing so you sacrifice amenities and a certain level of service by staying in the three-star hotel instead of the five.

You may be able to spend an equal amount of money at a five star hotel and settle for the room with the lesser view or smaller footprint and still have access to the nicer pool, better included breakfast, or exclusive guest-only events. And you just know the pillows are so much fluffier at those five star properties.

5. Pick lodging with a kitchen/kitchenette

The easiest way to save money on food is to prepare it yourself. There is this belief that some people have that, "I am not cooking on vacation," but with culinary traveling so popular, sourcing and preparing local cuisine is not just a challenge, it is fun, too.

Get to the local market, speak with the vendors, talk to the local chefs about what they are doing with those ingredients and then go back and have a romantic dinner for two right there in your room. Plus, you will probably have leftovers for you lunch the next day.

4. Plan and book early to get the best property value

You know how this works: the best properties get booked first, then the best rooms at the lower-end properties get booked next, then there is you and your spouse staying in a twin bed next to the ice machine in Motel de Roach. Make your plans ahead of time and commit to them.

Your travel professional can also be on the lookout for great deals for you if you tell them well in advance what it is that you desire.

3. Be flexible with your travel dates / go off-season / mid-week

Just one glance at the booking calendar at any major hotel and it is easy to see that weekends are more expensive than weekdays. If you really want to get a bargain, keep yourself flexible enough to be able to book last minute or wrap around one weekend instead of two. You will be surprised how much cheaper a "Tuesday to the following Thursday" trip is as opposed to a "Friday to the following Sunday."

Off-season doesn't always work for what you are looking to do; skiing domestically in July, for instance. But if the places that you are looking to visit do not revolve around seasonal activities, book it. The off season is typically cheaper, quieter and slower paced.

2. Use a Travel Agent

Self-serving sounding or not, the members of ASTA make a great point here. Travel agents have the ability to get you better trips at better prices with less hassles and better advice. Most have personal relationships with major resorts and tour companies and have firsthand experience with the places that you want to go.

Sure, you can listen to Joe Schmoe from Colorado who rated the best restaurant one star on that review site because he didn't like the sweet potatoes. For my money, I would much rather listen to my travel professional who has booked twelve couples to that city, all of whom at that restaurant and loved it.

1. Choose an all-inclusive

This was the year of the all-inclusive with cruise lines coming onboard, airline fees debated against all inclusive fares, and the Great Steak Debate. Although not always the cheapest bet, if you like to eat, drink or be active, the all-inclusive packages are probably for you.

Let's be honest here; if you are trying to save as much as possible, get with a travel professional, tell them what you are looking to spend and start crunching numbers. But be forewarned, some of the all-inclusive packaged aren't ALL-inclusive. Read the fine print carefully.

MORE: How Inclusive is All-Inclusive?

Some of the other advice that travel agents have given their clients according to the ASTA survey:

• Make sure clients know how to use their cell phones efficiently overseas.

• Make sure clients use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

• Be willing to look outside known brands-travel agents can find you smaller boutique hotels and guesthouses.

• Book an apartment instead of a hotel

• Ask the locals where good places are to eat at reasonable prices.

• Make lunch your main meal of the day. Prices are lower and then you can go for dinner where the locals go, not the tourist hotel.

• Ask an agent how to pre-pay as much as possible in U.S. dollars through reliable agent-friendly suppliers

• And all around good advice, not just for travel, that we swear was on the survey: Bring condoms; do you know how much kids cost?

Anyone else have a piece of travel advice they would like to share? Drop your knowledge in the comments below.

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