Sooo I need to get the eff* out of Hayward more often and travel!!! Lifes such a routine, that days & then months go by and nothing new happens. Anyways, i need traveling tips. My real question is how do you guys plan trips, do you guys go to travel agencys, how do you get discounts or packages? I have AAA does that even help lol!!

Thanks for the replys.

I plan small day or weekend trips to get out of town often. Even just a few hours away can be a completely different mini vacation.

I look at Groupon deals and compare a lot of different options. I make lists of places I want to see and restaurants to try there before I go. I use yelp to find where the fun places are.

^^thanks girl

It is very important that you plan ahead to determine the amount cash you will need when you are going on holiday. Plan and prepare a budget on how much you want to spend and keep aside extra cash for emergencies.

Costco travel. Or book directly yourself, usually a better deal because no additional commission fees, and you can pick your own flight times. Plus the businesses usually give you better service because you're dealing with them directly and they can't pawn off bad communication to a third party. Best car rental rates are usually found at Costco. Try to plan a month in advance and you'll see better room rates at hotels. Same with airline tickets. Traveling on off days also yields better rates.

I do what Rebecca does,always thinking of my next adventure ...

P.S thanks HD for the tip on Costco car rental. Good to know.

I like to rent a nice car and get outta town for a weekend or more.
So many wonderful places within a few hours from here.
we rented a Ford Crown Victoria last weekend, and drove up to Lake Almanor, it was so nice, and the big comfy car made the traffic seem bearable.
Save a set amount each week for these things.
I have an automatic transfer that sends $25 a week into a travel fund. after a couple months, that is enough for a rental car and gas money to go just about anywhere for the weekend.

I book all international travel via my airline credit card. I save my miles so I can bump myself to first class if the flight is more than 8 hours.
I research a lot months before travel so I have an idea.
Goin to Norway in November, so excited!

We ALWAYS buy "Rick Steve's" books when we travel to Europe.  It saves money & gives great travel advice.  We even stay at places he recommends and know what to expect.

I go in, pick up my assignments an then I travel.  If I'm lucky they remember to pay me.

I'm with Rebecca- I cross reference Groupon with Yelp to find good deals at reputable places, but if I fly I have the BF book flights using Kayak's best and we always rent cars through Hot Wire- have also found good hotel deals through them.

Well if you are a single traveler and don't mind dormitory sleeping look into hostels you can use the hostelworld site

I decided in my teens that I wanted to see the world - and that's what I've done.  The first thing: where have you always wanted to go, what interests you most?   Second: set a goal and budget.  Say you've always wanted to see NYC, then go to Trip Advisor, Yelp, and any of the vast amounts of travel websites.  I've found one of the cheapest ways to stay in a very expensive city is to rent a small apartment (Airbnb.com).  Search all the websites for the cheapest air, then book directly through the airline website (cutting out the middleman and you have better access to any problems or changes).  I could go on for days, but this can help get you on your way.
I was a travel agent for many years, so if you need help, let me know.

travel to me = using a passport.  

Local (domestic) travel is usually more simple done mostly online (Flights/hotels).

International travel is done with a combo of blogs, travel books, tripadvisor for research.

I laugh at people that use travel agencies as the internet makes the process pretty easy.

There's nothing wrong with using a third party like an agency or travel guide.

One of my former bosses would travel somewhere exotic once a year.  So she went with a group.  She has been to Tibet, Nepal, Egypt, and one of the countries in Africa where she went on safari (I can't remember which one).

It may be more expensive but you can also look at your alumni association (they often have travel plans to interesting/educational places).
I second the COSTCO (uh oh a big company we're told is bad) idea.  Last year we got a very very good deal at an upscale hotel in Hawai'i.
Local trips can often be more fun than exotic tiring and expensive trips. Have you taken a drive up the coastline of California?
Been to the eastern Sierra's?  The list is endless and that's just here in California.  
I lived in Oregon for many years and I've still not seen Crater Lake (second deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere)

+1 for airbnb

My sister and I used to travel to Florida often, really cheaply. We loved the getaways.

We would check flights, flying out on mid week red eye's leaving here at midnight and getting there in the morning. Nobody likes a red eye, so they were pretty cheap. Looking at flexible dates instead of a set date also will save some money.

We liked them because who wants to sleep anyway?!

Red neck Riviera or Miami way?

Some of the best beaches and water I've ever seen are in the Ft. Walton, Destin areas

Go with the flow. Get some cash. Walk into OAK and ask "what's the next flight departing in 30 minutes?" Go. Repeat at next airport. Welcome to Helena, Montana...buy a cowboy hat...find a cowboy. Enjoy and you're welcome.

Traveling, even short getaways are therapeutic and essential. Do some research online and pick a destination, then figure out a time that's good for you to go that wont conflict w anything.. Set out a budget. Since you have AAA, they have discounts on hotels and rentals which helps . (I use AAA myself).

I went to DC this summer... Was there for a good week... I used kayak to compare prices for airfare and they show a calender for which time of the wk prices are the lowest or highest. Then I had AAA book my hotel for the discount. Since DC has its own public transit system, I didn't find the use to rent a car. I also have friends there so I was able to stay at their home for a couple of nights... The last few nights I stayed in a hotel. I stayed on my budget... I had planned this trip 3 months ahead so I was able to work extra and save up and not be broke after my trip :) It was a success and an unforgettable trip.

Yelp is also useful to get info on domestic cities. Be one of those ppl that create a "first time visiting such and such, any advice?" thread. FYI, other cities are much more friendlier than sf talk

As I write this, I'm taking a break from packing for my next trip... my 30th country (and then some).  :-)

My #1 piece of advice for people who say they want to start traveling is... prioritize it.  You won't have the money/time if you don't.  No, you don't have to go to every new movie that comes out.  No, you don't have to have a new car.  No, you don't have to spend every holiday with family.  Prioritize your travel dreams and make them happen instead of just talking about wanting to travel.  

Travel tips and Planning for Travel depends mostly on 2 things... your budget and your schedule.  If you have an open schedule, try sites like travelzoo.com for last minute travel deals.  If you can only take certain times of the year off, kayak.com has a fun tool that will tell you the lowest prices within x-x months on a global map, so you can pick and choose.  It's not an obvious tool that's easily located but if you go to kayak and click the top navigation 'more' then scroll down to the bottom and click 'explore', you'll find what I'm talking about.  

For hotels, depending on which country you're headed to, check out agoda.com or just hotels.com.  

Price shop, but don't let yourself get so tied up in it that you spend days looking for the best deal.  And get a credit card that pays you double points for travel.  I just did that and wish I'd have gotten one long, long ago.  My friend uses hers to pay for everything and has 2 international tickets free a year from it.  

Enjoy!

I worked last summer as a tour guide, I already know where I have to find what information.

Now to the people that said that travel always means passport, before you look at the rest of the world, first look at all the great places you have in your own home country. I know more than one person that has 56 stamps in hos passport and didn't even visit Yosemite and the Grand Canyon as an example.

^agreed. This country has so many amazing spots

For hotels I've had good luck with Priceline express deals. Saved $$$ on 4 star hotels in San Diego & Hawaii.

Many hostels have private rooms, so don't underestimate them.  Also, they usually have free wifi, unlike hotels.

Consider volunteering, like wwoof.net to cover part of the cost.

Marc - I agree.  I assumed she meant international travel but agree that we should take advantage of domestic travel, as well.  I've been to 34 states, mostly by car, though so I don't have travel agency tips on that.  I just get in the car and drive when I have the money! lol

That being said, remember that many times, a trip to say somewhere like Honduras or Whistler, will cost less than a spendy Vegas vacation.  ;-)

"Renting" a car. You San Francisco people are funny.

It probably helps to look ahead and see how reliable public transit is at a particular location as well. Just spent a week up in Portland and pretty much relied on their Tri-Met system and cabs.

Not sure I could say the same about Muni if I were visiting SF.

If you go to target and get the pre approved tsa 4oz bottle pack, you can fit just under a pint of booze in 4 of em.

Darin E. says:

I laugh at people that use travel agencies as the internet makes the process pretty easy.
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I thought that as well until I started using one.

When the Argentinian decided we were going to Vietnam with two weeks notice, he found a really good airline rate online. I told him to hold off and called my agent, for slightly less she got us on a better flight, did our visas plus she got us priority boarding.  Laugh if you want but sometimes using an agent that specializes in a particular region pays off.

Most domestic trips, I typically book online if I know where/when I'm going.

My international travel and cruises I've been on, I have a travel agent that I use.  She's been able to find me lower than fares than those publicshed on the internet and made some very good recommendations as well.

yup, I've used travel agents, and they can get you more stuff for about the same prices.
Especially if you are going somewhere that requires a visa, or any weird paperwork to carry stuff like guns, knives, bowling balls, etc.

Eric~ How did you like Portland?? Did you ride the Max line?? It definitely comes in handy..I'm heading back up
again in a couple of weeks...Going to check out Roloff farms (Little People,Big World)... *excited*