Get thee to a travel agent and then get thee to Cancun!

That's the advice that TravelPulse founder and CEO Mark Murphy dished out talking to the Metro US newspapers today.

Murphy was asked to give his best advice for saving money on travel in 2016. While it might sound like us beating the same ol' drum, well ... it is. Travel agents are your best value for finding the best bargains to the most memorable locations.

READ MORE: Another Side of Cancun

“The price you pay for doing all the work yourself is the same price you pay if you book through a travel agent," Murphy told Metro US. He gave a great example: you might find the same per-night rate at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort on Expedia or Marriott's site. But if you book through an agent, you're liking to get an added-value perk such as a dining credit — the special unpublished deals only agents can offer.

Murphy also talked about the best times to find the bargains. We just missed the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas window and the post-holiday window is among us now. If you're plotting out your vacation days now, look to hit warm-weather locations in May — it tend to be a soft month for many of the resorts.

READ MORE: TravelPulse's 2016 Travel Wish List

And speaking of warm, think Cancun. There are great bargains on five-star, all-inclusive resorts to be had in Mexico and it's a quick jaunt from the West Coast and a strong non-stop destination for East Coast airports.

What about cruising? Murphy said look to homeports beyond just Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Spots like Boston, New York or Philadelphia offer smaller ships but gigantic savings on the travel part of your vacation.

See the full article here.

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