Bargain Corner : Vacation at a Discount

For those with the flexibility to travel on fairly short notice, discount houses can offer sizable price breaks.

Vacations To Go, one of several operators in this field of selling distress merchandise at some hefty discounts, offers a minimum discount of 20% on any of its offerings. The average discount on cruises is 40% to 50%, and in the 40% range for many tours.

Booking Cruises

With cruises, you may have more time to make your booking, perhaps eight weeks or more, though some departures may only be available close to sailing. Tours are likely to be available closer to departure time, anywhere from several weeks to several days. Some air-only seats may also be sold.

But don’t expect listed discounts to necessarily get higher the closer it gets to departure. Only about 10% of the offerings will be reduced a second time, and no cruises will, according to Vacations To Go. A package is more likely to sell out. Therefore, if something appeals to you, you might be better off acting on it sooner than later.

It costs $29.95 a year to belong to Vacations To Go, with membership applying to all members of the family living in the household. You can also take one companion on a trip, and everyone in the group is entitled to the same discount.

When you join you get a local 24-hour phone number to call for a recording of offerings by destination, length of trip, departure date, and price. (There are Los Angeles and San Diego phone numbers.) Costs generally are based on a round-trip basis from LAX. This tape is updated about every third day.

You also get a membership number to use to get more specifics through a toll-free number. Specifics can include the name of the supplier, which generally isn’t given in the recording.

Organization Will Book You

As this company also functions as a travel agency, your bookings can be made by credit card through this toll-free number. If connecting air fares are involved, the agent looks for the lowest available fare. Time may not permit taking advantage of some discount air fares that have advance purchase and other restrictions. Paying regular air fares can cut into the discount otherwise achieved.

If tickets have to be sent to you quickly, you might face an overnight delivery charge of $10. Vacations To Go agents can also provide basic counsel, including the matter of refundability, which is up to the individual supplier. Usually, the closer to departure, the stiffer the cancellation penalty. Some trips may be non-refundable. All bookings, however, are on a confirmed basis. You can also ask the regular price of the cruise or tour you’re interested in, and ask to have brochures mailed to you.

Phone Vacations To Go at (800) 624-7338.