Search Tips

This part of the process can be the most time consuming, the most confusing and the most frustrating to the
point where you feel you don't want to go any more, well use these tips and information and you will be there
with the best deal before you know it.

Tips: Travel search:

- Save up to 75% on top hotels by booking your room through www.lastminute.com's Top Secret Hotel
service.

- Don't waste frequent flyer miles on cheap domestic flights: save them up for a more expensive journey, or
use them to upgrade to first class.

- Not only are flights invariably cheaper on off-peak days – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays – but your
more likely to get an upgrade as you'll avoid the business passengers.

- Save money on a night out in Vegas: ask a cabbie. He'll usually have a stack of free entry cards for
nightclubs and bars – saving you up to $25. Hit the jackpot and you could also receive $50 in beer vouchers.

- Frequent travellers can pay out early to reap rewards later. Many hotel and restaurant chains give discounts
if you're a shareholder, and purchasing the minimum of shares – usually between 200 and 400 – should lead
to reduced rates and upgrades across the board.

- Pick up tickets to the best seats in the Royal Opera House for just Ł10 on Monday nights – apply online and a
ballot is taken 3 weeks before the event – www.royalopera.org

- First class train travel are much cheaper on Sundays.

- Hotels are at their emptiest on Sunday nights. Make the most of your weekend – and the cheaper rates – by
rolling into work on Monday straight from the hotel.

- Get clued up online – tap into in-depth research on every aspect of your trip, compare area and prices, and
gain impartial and honest advice to help you choose. A selection of bite-sized city guides can be found at
www.travelguides.lastminute.com

- Flexible on travel dates? Searching 1 to 2 days either side might make a big difference to the price, especially
around popular dates like bank holidays.

- Fare wars between low budget airlines often reach their peak mid-week, and Wednesday evening is the
best time to find discounted flights online. Larger airlines tend to raise fares on a Friday.

- E-mail or text yourself all the important contacts you'll need while you're away.

- Air miles – take advantage of CC offers and then cancel to get the points. Hotel rewards.

- Take advantage of online-bookings discounts, but check the terms. You get Ł5 off for booking online with
Virgin Atlantic, but BMI discounts the fiver only if you pay by credit card.