No, it doesn’t involve using some crazy flight search engine or dealing with any travel agency. My favorite trick for budget travel is simply to learn how to talk to people. Break out the charm and realize that many prices are flexible.
Partly inspired by this site, I learned to embrace a more flexible approach to all sorts of pricing. My first success was at a hotel in the Caribbean where I convinced a manager to reduce the rate by $200 if I agreed to stay for a week. It was the low season and I had a few cards in my hand to make such a move. I could tell that not all of the rooms were filled, so for the manager this was a good move as well. Obviously, he would like to get the full rate for the room, but at the end of the day, an occupied room is better than nothing.
This trick can be used in all sorts of situations, not just with hotels. With many kinds of private transportation, with tour operators, and often at local markets, you can figure out a way to reduce the price. Budget travel is about more than finding a cheap hotel or taking public transportation, it’s about using your people skills to get a desired result. Don’t forget this advice on your next vacation. Whether you’re taking a trip to some place cheap or expensive, remember that the prices are flexible until someone says “no” to you.
