by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 5:05 PM ET, Tue January 9, 2018
Saving money on travel expenses is always a good thing.
It means more cash in your wallet to enjoy a destination the way you want to, indulging in fabulous meals, local experiences or whatever makes you happiest.
The New York Times has just issued a list of tips for cutting back on travel costs in 2018, noting that being thrifty has never been easier thanks to new travel technology, loyalty rewards programs, volunteer travel and the like.
Here are some of the ways travelers can keep a few extra dollars in their pocket when globetrotting during the coming year, with suggestions from both from The New York Times and TravelPulse:
Newsletters
Make a little time to read a variety of newsletters, then consider signing up for some of the following: Scott's Cheap Flights, The Flight Deal and also Secret Flying. Newsletters, according to The New York Times, are one of the best ways to stay abreast of the latest deals.
AAA and AARP
Many of us have AAA for roadside assistance, but far fewer people use the company as their go-to for scoring such things as discounted flights, hotels and rental cars.
AARP is also often overlooked as a valuable source of travel bargains. The organization is geared to retired individuals and has a travel portal powered by Expedia. Members can find 10 percent discounts on hotels, sometimes as much as 25 percent off car rentals, and more.
Google Alerts
Who doesn't love Google Alerts? They're a handy way to have news delivered to your inbox about topics that interest you. One of those could (or should) be travel news and sales.
The alerts can be customized to whatever search terms you'd like and will arrive daily, weekly or in real time. (Hint: some good search terms include "flight flash sale" "flight deals" "hotel deals" etc.)
Follow Travel Brands on Twitter
One of the most popular ways travel companies share information about deals and sales these days is on social media. If you don't have a Twitter account, you can also find many brands on Facebook or Instagram.
It's an easy way to keep track of what your favorite tour operators and travel companies are doing.
Use Travel Apps
Apps like Hotel Tonight, Dayuse and Lounge Buddy all save you money in different ways.
Dayuse, for instance, was designed to book hotel rooms between the hours of about 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for as much as 50 percent to 70 percent off the nightly rate. It's ideal for when you simply want to freshen up or rest for a few hours during a long day in a city.
Lounge Buddy provides inexpensive access (as little as $25) to airport lounges around the world. The moral of the story? Familiarize yourself with some of the invaluable travel apps now available.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
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