AngelsTravels

Finding Frugal Flights

So, you want to take a trip.  To get there you need to take a plane.  With so many ways to check flights where do you look?  How do you know you really got the cheapest deal?  I have a few checks and balances that can help.  Now remember this blog is for people that are flying coach and trying to pack everything in a carry-on to avoid checked bag fees.

The site I like to use for national flights is www.OneTravel.com. This website will check several airlines for you.  It will put together the cheapest flight even if it means flying American to your destination and Delta back home.  You can feel confident that you are getting a good deal from this site.

There are booking fees associated with this website.  What I like to do is check the prices on the airlines' direct site before completing my reservation just to make sure that the final sales price on OneTravel is still lower than buying from the airline.  Once I've done those checks and balances I know I've got the best deal.

Another tip:  You always want to sign up for the airlines' miles or frequent flyer club.  Create your login and password and get your miles #.  You can enter this information when booking through OneTravel.  The miles really do pay off.  On American Airlines I received approximately 5,000 points for 1 roundtrip flight.  It only takes 25,000 points to get a roundtrip flight for free so in essence you get 1 free flight for every 5 flights you pay for!

*If you are flying Airtran be sure to find out how much an upgrade on your seat costs.  If you fly business class you get to check 2 bags at no cost.  2 checked bags costs $40 and your upgrade may only cost $60.  It's well worth the $20 difference to get a better seat.

Lastly, be sure to stay on top of new airport rules on security checks etc. and airline rules on checked baggage.  I had to purchase new luggage because my big suitcase was too big.  The allowed dimensions and weight will be on the airlines' website.

Until Next Time.

Happy Flying.

Washington D.C. The Home Team

Well I figured since I'm from the Maryland and DC area I would start my travel blog with travel in Washington, D.C., the nations capital.

DC is a hot destination for several reasons.  The historic background of this city is enough to ride on with the Washington Monument-where you can get tickets to ride an elevator to the top at a little booth right outside, the FDR Memorial-which is beautiful at night with brightly lit walkways and elegantly highlighted waterfalls, and the Capital building-where you'll learn that there's a secret railway systems underneath and a room where if you whisper on 1 side of the room people can here you all the way on the other side.

Yes, with countless monuments and memorials D.C. is definitely a top destination for history buffs.  For those of us that are not so studious you may find it interesting that Washington D.C. is also a top film-making desitnation with movies like "Minority Report", "Along Came a Spider", "Murder at 1600", and the latest "Night and the Museum 2" being filmed right here.  No, you don't have to go to Madame Toussads just to get in a celebrity sighting around here. 

So how do you get here? There are 3 major airports at which you can arrive.  Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport or BWI.  This stops in the Baltimore area and you'll need to rent a car or take a cab from here, Reagan National Airport or DCA which actually lands in Northern Virginia but is just across the D.C. line and is accessible by metro rail, www.metroopensdoors.com, and Dullas National Airport or IAD which lands in Dullas, Virginia and is about a 30 to 45 minute drive to D.C. but is worth it if the flights to this airport are cheaper than the other 2.

How do you get around? Even though most places in Washington, D.C. are accessible by metro rail or a short cab ride I would suggest renting a vehicle.  Parking in the city isn't as bad as everyone leads on, you just have to make sure to read the signs and feed the meter if it's during the week.

Where do you stay? There are a plethera of hotels in downtown D.C.  You want to find one that is right in the thick of it all.  One that is in the Penn Quarter or China Town area.  This will make getting to places like the Verizon Center, Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, International Spy Museum, etc. really easy.

One hotel that is really nice is Hotel Monaco, www.Monaco-DC.com.  It's on the pricier side but if you only staying for 3 days or so it can be affordable.  This is sort of a fancy boutique hotel.  They offer a companion goldfish for your stay!

I'm also a fan of Embassy Suites because of their comfortable rooms, customer service, and complimentary breakfast buffet.

What to do when you're here?  That's up to you.  Google "things to do in washington dc" and see what comes up.  There are ample websites and links that can give you ideas.  For a real take on nightlife in D.C. talk to the locals.  The 7th Street corridor, the U Street corridor, and Adams Morgan may come up in conversation.

Enjoy your stay in Washington, D.C. your nations capital!