Travel expenses are outrageous!

**lovestolaugh** · 07-28-2011, 05:18 PM

I went online today to book my hotel for Christmas. The same hotel that we stayed at last year is $30 more a night...Ugh! All the hotels have increased greatly not just this one. Then I was looking at flights in February to visit my mother on her 80th birthday. The flight I usually take is $110 more than usual. I mean I had heard that prices had gone up but I had no idea that they had skyrocketed. Sheesh, I'm getting so frustrated with the cost of everything.

**craftypam** · 07-28-2011, 06:00 PM

Someone put a website in here to find bed and breakfasts for lots and lots of places the prices are really reasonable. I'm not sure how to find out how to check them out yet. I will let you know the website if I can find it.

Found it!!http://www.airbnb.com/search

**frugalfranny** · 07-28-2011, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by lovestolaugh

The flight I usually take is $110 more than usual. I mean I had heard that prices had gone up but I had no idea that they had skyrocketed. Sheesh, I'm getting so frustrated with the cost of everything.

And it sounds like they could go up again...........

check this out............

IRS Tells Airlines To Refund Ticket Tax To Consumers

I hope the IRS makes every single one do the REFUND.

THIS IS JUST UNREAL!!!

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-28-2011, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

And it sounds like they could go up again...........

check this out............

IRS Tells Airlines To Refund Ticket Tax To Consumers

I hope the IRS makes every single one do the REFUND.

THIS IS JUST UNREAL!!!

I saw that article, too...and we have tickets we booked (back in March) for December this year... I doubt we see any of the $$...bleh!

**wanderlusting** · 07-29-2011, 04:57 AM

Big hugs- I know it's so aggravating. This is why I've only visited family back in the states once (when the Air Force paid for it) in the 7 years we've been in Europe so far

**Sagette** · 07-29-2011, 11:47 AM

Agreed! I wanted to plan an inexpensive get away with DH for our anniversary and it was so expensive, I couldn't justify it.

**Debbie-cat** · 07-29-2011, 11:53 AM

It is getting ridiculous!! More and more people are planning staycations.

**mauimagic** · 07-29-2011, 01:37 PM

Hear you and am experiencing the same - need a car for 5 days in Sept. Pick up in CA and drop off in WA - lowest price - $750. Ridiculous!!

**Libby** · 07-29-2011, 04:48 PM

Just a tip for those pre-planning their flights/rooms/vechicles etc. Ask if the vendor you choose offers rate protection. I find that once I've committed to one vendor, I watch it like a hawk until its time to use them or their service. Should the rate drop, I usually print it out and contact the vendor. They're usually good at honouring the lower rate and refunding the difference.

**valerian** · 07-29-2011, 05:09 PM

Having just come back from vacation, I feel your pain! We did pretty good though 'cause our friends invited us and wanted to pay for almost everything except our plane tickets which dh got on Priceline. They knew that we weren't going to go anywhere and called and invited us! There is a website where you can check to see if it's the best time to buy your plane tickets or if you should wait a few days to get a better price. They have a very good success rate and will tell you what days the prices come down a bit and what days they go up. If I remember the name I'll put it in here later...can't remember right now.

**frugalfriend** · 07-29-2011, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Hear you and am experiencing the same - need a car for 5 days in Sept. Pick up in CA and drop off in WA - lowest price - $750. Ridiculous!!

Maui, try Priceline. We didn't drive out of state, but when in CA in June we only paid $13.00 per day for our rental car because I negotiated it with Priceline. Start REAL low and go higher if needed. I've done this three times now and it worked great!

**Neeley** · 07-29-2011, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Hear you and am experiencing the same - need a car for 5 days in Sept. Pick up in CA and drop off in WA - lowest price - $750. Ridiculous!!

That is crazy!

Every Christmas when we drive from Alabama to Disney World we rent a car for the trip. Normally we get an SUV or other large vehicle, never a compact or economy rental. It's always a 10 day rental, we get unlimited mileage and the most we have ever paid was $350.

What is making yours so high?

**mauimagic** · 07-29-2011, 11:32 PM

Have no idea why the charges are so high, but I shall check priceline and keep looking around!!

**frugalfriend** · 07-30-2011, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Have no idea why the charges are so high, but I shall check priceline and keep looking around!!

I know you will find something much more reasonable. Forgot to mention we also had unlimited mileage (so we could have gone out of state) and had a nice newer sedan that fit our family of 5 comfortably.

**savvy_sniper** · 07-31-2011, 12:41 PM

A mid sized car for a week was going to cost us $350 and up. Plus my idea of mid size and the rental company idea of mid size are NOT the same. We ended up borrowing hubby's parent's car. We changed the oil before and after the trip, replace a light bulb on the road and paid for our own gas. The price of gas was pretty much the same from TX to PA and back. SO thankful a $200 gas gift card was one of my prizes. We only stayed in a motel 2 nights out of 4. We packed most of our own food and drinks. The trip still ended up costing over $500. THAT was as low budget as we could get it.