I’m no travelologist (or someone who is particularly good at traveling), but it’s my favorite thing! I’ve often said I wish I could just travel the world and blog about it (until I remember that living out of a suitcase is no place for a sweaty runner’s clothes). Anyways, I got a lot of questions about how Ben and I planned our Panama trip and I thought I’d share some of my travel tips for saving money, , including finding the best deals online to get all the things we need for travel, as there are services always striving to bring you the best deals, that also recognize the value of diverse resources. For a different perspective on available discounts, check out this alternative discount code resource. They might have unique offers that perfectly complement our selection.
1. Get a friend. If you already have a friend you’re one step ahead of me.
Let me be more specific – get a friend that works at a major hotel chain. Then, buy that friend a muffin and kindly ask them if you can use their discount. We really wanted to stay at romantyczne jacuzzi w hotelu.
Ben and I stayed at the Marriott in Panama city because of a friends and family discount. Otherwise it would have be all hostels and bed bugs style.
2. Kayak.com I can’t believe peeps don’t know about this site, but I recently mentioned it to a friend and she didn’t know about it?! If you don’t use Kayak already – start.
3. Lonely Planet books. This line of books, along with “xxx for Dummies” are super helpful on the road. I know this is crazy, but sometimes when you’re traveling you don’t have 24-hr access to the internet. It’s tragic.
Luckily, back in the day people used things called books for information on where to stay/sightsee while they were out of town. 
Added bonus: the Spanish translation book tells you what to say to hook up and break up with someone.
4. Trip Advisor Forums. These are super helpful since a lot of the active members are very well traveled and can give you great tips. 
When we went to Belize for our honeymoon the message boards gave us the name and phone number or someone who could give us a ride to our hotel – this was a lot cheaper and easier than a taxi and we were able to arrange for him to pick us up at the end of our trip!
Why is travel on my brain anyways?
Well, because Ben and I are going to Florida for Christmas again this year and I just realized we leave in 24 days! 
Luckily, staying with his family is very relaxing – their little sleepy town has a nice, slower paced feel. I’m really looking forward to it after such a busy travel year!
Do you have any travel planning tips to share?
Bonus Question: Anyone got a friend who works for the SNA airport shuttle?
awesome tips! Traveling is something i really want to do, but dont know the first place to start.
I don’t travel much, but I always like getting the best deal. I knew I was missing something – friends! I totally need that discount, lol.
Monica, those socks are the heat.
Ha! Thanks 🙂
An airport shuttle hookup would be ideal. I’ll be serving as the shuttle to ONT for my mom and step-dad when they go to Florida for New Year’s.
I have a lot of (running related) traveling coming up in 2012 so this is all helpful info. Portland trip for RnR in May is already booked. Chicago trip for RnR in July needs to be planned and Maui in September (which I already have a “for Dummies” book on because I planned to go 2 years ago) needs to be booked as well. Someday I’ll get to travel out of the country to exotic places like you, but for now I’m just happy to be making my way to areas of the US I’ve never ventured to.
We always use Kayak to find out who is cheapest and then book through the airline. It’s usually less expensive.
Also priceline and name your own price is a great way to score really inexpensive rental cars. I’m not enough of a gambler to use it for flights or hotel rooms.
Great tips and another one to add to the list: book in advance as much as you can…don’t miss out on cheaper fares just because of laziness!
I lived in Belize for a few years when I was a toddler and once grabbed my father’s $500 prescription sunglasses and threw them into the ocean. But he went snorkeling and found them. Ridiculous right? I was a great child. I love Kayak.com! Its so convenient.
My mom loves Kayak.com! Seriously, she recommends it to everyone.
And translation books are so odd sometimes. My best friend had a Chinese translation book for when she studied abroad there last summer, and it had some very..uhm..interesting translations, to say the least.
Totally agree with Trip Advisor. I think I do everything you do, and I also have an American Airlines credit card that I use for the sole purpose of earning miles. I hardly ever fly without having some type of discount ’cause I am a little insane about earning miles and finding deals ^__^ I also subscribe to travelzoo and stalk airlines’ sales in general. I guess it helps that I am an independent contractor and single so I can take off whenever-the-eff I feel like it 🙂 yay traveling! I also don’t mind staying in hostels… Hostel.Com is dope! Totally reliable reviews of hostels all around the world.
Kayak worked great for us, once we got it booked. For the longest it kept giving me problems when booking like I’d start typing my info and by the time I was done that airfare had been raised or the seat taken…and I’m a fast typer. It was beyond frustrating but eventually we got our tickets booked. I LOVE to travel! We went on an 11 day cruise last month to New England and Canada… I keep meaning to blog about it and share pics. Panama sounds way fun too. Have a fab time in Florida…where at? Jess
Trip Advisor ROCKS! We will be using it to help us plan a trip to Italy next year.
The Kidless Kronicles
I’m not sure anyone would want my travel tips! I love travel (and am actually–hopefully!–heading to China in February!) but I love the adventure of not necessarily planning it all! Some people love it, other people HATE traveling with me as a result. I will say that I adore Lonely Planet’s website, the Thorntree. It’s a discussion forum for users to ask questions, advice, etc. It can be more helpful than the books just because it is more up to date than the last publishing (like that time I showed up at a “restaurant” in Bolivia and it was a cow field….thanks LP!)
I love lonely planet books, and agree, Kayak is an awesome site. I dont’ know if you’ve ever used the bing travel site for flights, but it’s really good at predicting if prices will go up and down based on when you’re looking to go.
Great tips – too bad I never travel anywhere 🙁
Love TripAdvisor, it is real people, like me leaving information. I also love Eye Witness Top Ten books, they are small and give you the top ten thing to do/see in a city or area.
Great tips! I <3 Kayak & TripAdvisor as well but I'm a Rick Steves fan for the guides. And I might be Southwest Airlines' #1 fan! 😉
I’m a kayak fan too! I have a friend who works for Fed-Ex. I wish he could Fed-Ex me places because we can get a 50% discount!! I’m dying to go somewhere WARM!
Hi Monica! Great little post on trip planning, I loved your pictures from Panama…it reminded me so much of my home…and made me miss it even more!
We moved from Panama to Florida, and I have been a long time reader. I don’t know how jammed packed your schedule is when you come down to visit, but I would love to meet you or run and eat with ha ha. I don’t know if your comfortable sharing this info but where in Florida will you be? I forgot if you mentioned it in the previous visits to FL.
I will be south of the Tampa area – is that near you?