I have learned how to travel in style while saving money. For instance years ago my father decided to drive to the airport and leave the car there for a week. The parking lot was outside and one had to take a shuttle back and forth to and from the terminal. I told my father that we could take a car service and it would cost less if not the same for a family of 4.

Taking Supershuttle costs more for 4 people than a town car service. I can't get it why people would book a shuttle for a family when they can get a town car for less or for the same price. I can see a shuttle is good for 1 but for 2 and up a car service is better.


I think I have OCD when it comes time to checking the airline website for better seats. I have gotten better seats as a result of my persistence. One one occasion the international flight had no seats to reserve and it was under airport control. I would take no for an answer as only middle seats were available. I was able to find an exit row window on the 777 and it was pure bliss since the next seats were far away.

I am the type of person who likes to get to the airport 2 hours or more even for a domestic flight. I hate rushing and I know how it feels to be rushed from one flight to the next. Some people that I know are the opposite like my brother who does most everything at the last minute. Can you imagine arriving to the ticket counter only to be told "Sorry sir we closed 3 minutes ago".

My theory is you don't have to wait in a long line if you arrive 4 hours before the flight which is what I did on a couple of occassions. This was before having PriorityPass. Call me crazy but no I spent the time at SFO Cafe Del Mond enjoying a coffee and plane spotting. There were no lines to wait in as I was the second one in line. Hint to families traveling with children arrive 3-4 hours before. The long lines start forming 2 hours before the flight.

Yet another way I learned from Flyertalk is to try to get more for less. I remember browsing the internet one evening trying to see how to get lounge access without paying an additional fee. I went to our Banks Website and found the Accolades Credit Card so my father helped me to sign up for my own and he did the same. Having both PriorityPass and the Credit Card fee waived was amazing I now enjoy spending my time in the lounge.

Upgrades It pays to ask nicely . On many occassions I have gotten our family upgraded to a room that would have costs us more than we would have to pay. On one occasion we were staying at the Four Seasons Troon North and I was able to get us a Casita with 2 rooms for the price of a Standard Room. At the Luxor Las Vegas I was able to get us into the new tower without paying extra etc.

With rental cars I was able to get us a full size car for the price of a Midsize without using any special codes. On one occasion in Houston we were booked in a Full Size Car using Hotwire and we were waiting for awhile and at first they wanted to give us a Honda Accord and I was told they were going to give us a Premium Car(Grand Marquis). I told the agent in a nice way that the backseat was a bit small and she immediately got us the Grand Marquis with leather seating and complimentary navigation.

It pays to ask for more and if you get less than you expected at least you tried. My rule of thumb is speak up when you see something wrong or if you want a larger room. Ask for an upgrade in a casual way. I was in line and saw this guy at a luxury hotel demanding an upgrade. The agent turned him away and gave him his small room and he was upset. When I approached the lady I apologized to her and said that it seems like she was having a bad day. I sad in a nice way do you have any larger rooms available. She said let me check and gave me a luxury suite(:.