TRAVEL SPECIAL..... 5 WAYS TO CUT COSTS WHILE TRAVELLING

5 WAYS TO CUT COSTS WHILE TRAVELLING



Make your travel simpler and more cost-effective by considering these lesser known ways to slash spending, says Riju Dave

PODS IN HOTEL

A trend that originated in Japan and travelled to Europe and the US, has just landed in Mumbai. It's called a `pod hotel', where the hotel offers pods, instead of rooms, at budget pricing. A pod is a tiny, compact capsule straight out of a sci-fi flick. The first such pod hotel in Mumbai is called the Urban Pod, which offers 140 pods equipped with a bed, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, TV, USB port, personal safe, etc. The prices start at `2,030 per night, with complimentary breakfast and shared washrooms. Till the concept spreads to other cities, try it out as a money-saver option if you are in Mumbai for a stopover.

BEST AIRFARES
The routine advice is to book 2-3 months in advance to get the lowest airfares, but there are other tricks you can deploy. First, opt for multiple airlines, instead of a single airline, while booking return tickets. Sites like Google Flights, Goibibo and MakeMyTrip throw up the best combinations of multiple airlines to dish out the lowest return fares.

You could also check sites like Deal4flight.com, which offers deals by travel sites and airlines, listing discounts, paybacks and offers on credit cards. If you are not a finicky planner, you can get the biggest discounts in last-minute bookings as the airlines are desperate to fill up seats. In fact, there are specific apps for Android and iPhone users to avail of these last-minute fares. Another way is to sign up for price alerts on travel aggregator sites and newsletters of airlines. If the price drops significantly, cancel the earlier flight and book the new one, provided the cancellation is free.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the most neglected benefits of social media is the good deals these offer on travel. Sign up for various airlines on Twitter and you can seek the best lastminute flight deals or benefit from flash sales. Besides, you can win contests and hashtag campaigns run by airlines and hotels on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. You can also get good discounts on sightseeing, local excursions and activities on state tourism pages on Facebook.For instance, the Goa Tourism Department is currently offering `1,500 discount on hotels and activities on Facebook. You can also keep abreast of festivals and other celebrations and coincide your visit with these.

PAY BY THE HOUR
Micro stay, also known as hourly stay, day stay or capsule stay, is another concept picking up in India. With hotels, websites and apps offering stay by the hour or day, at a fraction of the regular cost, it can be the perfect moneysaving option if you are a business traveller, pilgrim or one with a long transit layover. While these are being offered directly by some five-star and budget hotel chains, bookings can also be done through websites like 6 Hourly, Chatur Musafir, Frotels and MiStay, among others. You can pick your time slot ranging from three to 12 hours.

DISCOUNT SITES

This is probably the least explored option when it comes to saving money. Aggregator sites like Nearbuy.com, Coupondunia.com and Dealsandyou.com (NCR) offer discounts and deals from other travel aggregator sites and companies--all at one place. These can include discounts for hotel, flight, rail or cab bookings, leisure activities, sightseeing and eating out. So check these out for the city you are visiting before planning a trip.

Riju Dave

24APR17