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| The Basics | Luxury travel perks for the infrequent flier
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Luxury travel perks arent just for the superwealthy and super-frequent travelers. Here are 7 ways the average Jane or Joe can travel in style.
By Liz Pulliam Weston
My last travel-related column, "How to get luxury perks for your travel buck," did nothing but depress a bunch of readers.
That's because I conceded that some of the best perks and upgrades are reserved for elite frequent travelers -- those who fly at least 25,000 miles a year and check into hotels as often as the rest of us change socks. These are the folks who find it easy to get suites, first-class seats and luxury rental cars while paying coach prices.
But don't lose heart. There are still lots of ways for infrequent travelers to elevate themselves from cattle class without paying a fortune. You'll need to be a little craftier than the road-warrior crowd, but the deals are there for the taking nonetheless.
Here are seven strategies to get you uptown:
Pick your destinations carefully
Simply put, luxury costs a lot less in some cities than it does in others.
A standard room at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City would cost $575 a night for a weekend stay in March; in San Francisco, it's $469. At the Four Seasons in Atlanta, the same room would cost $295. Yes, it's still a fortune if you're used to Motel 6, but it's also not much more than a middling room in Manhattan.
Internationally, the differences can be even more stark, said travel writer Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Dollars Are Worth a Fortune."
"If you visit a cheaper destination, you can experience luxury on a mid-range budget," said Leffel, who also runs the Web site, WorldsCheapestDestinations. "You can upgrade to a suite, eat at the best restaurants and hire a driver for the day for less than you would spend on a much more Spartan vacation in the U.S."
One of my travel regrets, in fact, is that I didn't go whole hog when I visited Thailand 10 years ago. I paid about $130 for a fabulous, river-view room at the Sheraton, complete with fluffy white robe and impeccable service. The cost of the room seemed like a fortune after the $3-a-night hostels I'd frequented in India. But then I discovered that for not much more I could have stayed at the nearby Mandarin Oriental -- at the time considered by many the best hotel in the world.
Leffel recommends avoiding chain hotels while overseas, unless you're cashing in an award from a hotel loyalty program.
"Travelers tend to congregate to the familiar, which is why the chain hotels spend so much on marketing," Leffel said. "In many international locations, however, these are neither the most convenient nor the best value."
The major chains often cater to business travelers overseas, he said, and frequently aren't in the best locations for tourists. Locally-owned luxury hotels typically offer "a better value, in a better spot," with more local flavor than the chains, he said. Leffel recommended checking guidebooks, travel articles and sites such as TripAdvisor to find these little gems.
Don't try to run with the big dogs
If you've signed up with a frequent-flier program at one of the big national carriers -- American, United or Delta -- you're competing for upgrades and free trips with travelers who fly tens of thousands of miles a year. Who do you think is going to win that battle?
Airlines want to reward their most-profitable customers: their elite frequent fliers and those who book lots of pricey first- and business-class seats. You're at a distinct disadvantage with the most-popular frequent-flier programs if you travel infrequently and "buy" most of your miles by getting airline miles on your credit card.
One solution, as frequent flier Joel L. Widzer pointed out in my previous column, is to fly with regional carriers, where the competition for freebies is less fierce.
Another, says Leffel, is to take advantage of discount airlines like AirTran, JetBlue and Southwest, which can offer free trips after less travel.
Say it with plastic
A credit or charge card that earns travel rewards, rather than miles with a specific airline, is often a better choice for the infrequent flier or those who can't concentrate their flying with a single carrier.
American Express and Diner's Club are examples of charge cards that offer points for purchases. These points can be converted into miles on a variety of different airlines (20 in the case of American Express Membership Rewards, 23 for Club Rewards from Diners Club) as well as hotel stays and merchandise. The miles can be used for upgrades or for free travel.
If you prefer to use a MasterCard or Visa, most major issuers offer a credit card with a travel-rewards program. Bank of America has MilesEdge and Power Rewards programs; at Capital One it's Go Miles, while MBNA has WorldPoints. (If you're not sure whether your issuer offers a travel-rewards program, call and ask.)
Frequent fliers usually disdain these bank-card programs, since your points can expire and the most expensive domestic ticket you can get is typically capped at $500. True road warriors try not to redeem their miles unless they can get a ticket worth at least $500. Many of the programs also don't offer upgrade options.
But travel-rewards programs typically can be used on any airline and don't have black-out dates or seat restrictions -- welcome news for any infrequent traveler who's ever tried in vain to wrest a free ticket from the more heavily-used frequent-flier programs.
Shun the herds
Leffel recommends getting a few steps off the beaten path to find cheaper luxury options.
"Where crowds congregate, expenses rise," he said. "Cancun is by far the most expensive spot in Mexico. Hotel prices in Prague are double what they are in other parts of the Czech Republic. Prices in Paris are double those in the wine country. If you get even a little bit off the typical tourist route, you can usually find luxury lodging for far less."
When you go is crucial, as well. Savvy travelers know the joys of the "shoulder" season, when the weather is still pleasant but the crowds have thinned out.
"Skiing in Colorado on President's Day weekend will cost a fortune," Leffel said. "Go in late March, however, and you'll save 25% to 50% on lodging."
Roll the dice
The risk-tolerant have a few ways of getting a luxury vacation at a bargain price. One is to frequent hotels, airlines and other travel providers that are on the financial brink.
My husband and I snagged a luxurious room at The Aladdin when that Las Vegas property was in the midst of a Chapter 11 filing. The service was indifferent and confused -- not unusual during a bankruptcy, when staffers worry about whether they'll have jobs tomorrow. But our spacious room with a marble bath cost us $61, including tax and a voucher for dinner at the posh restaurant downstairs.
Travelers who want to gamble that Delta will still be around when they're ready to fly can snap up first-class one-way airfares for $599 or less under the struggling carrier's new pricing structure. (If Delta can't avoid bankruptcy and is eventually liquidated, ticket holders could become "unsecured creditors" and may not get their money back. Other airlines must honor tickets from an out-of-business airline only if they fly exactly the same route and have the space available. You may be able to dispute the charge with your credit card company if the airline goes under and you can't get a replacement flight.)
Another option: gambling on last-minute deals.
Leffel says he routinely uses Hotwire and Priceline.com to save 50%, compared to the best rates available on other Web sites. He recommends perusing BiddingForTravel.com or BetterBidding for tips on what others have paid so you can make the best bid. He's also found half-price, all-inclusive packages on SkyAuction.com and recommends checking sites such as Site59 11thHour.com and LastMinuteTravel.com for last-minute package deals.
Don't stop dealing once you've arrived, however.
"Once you are at the hotel," Leffel advised, "upgrading to a better room can be done through the front desk, usually at a price far below what is listed on the Web."
Redefine luxury
Think about what luxury actually means to you. It may not necessarily be massive suites with knock-out views. Luxury may really connote a less-stressful way to travel, where your needs are intuited and accommodated without your having to make a big fuss.
Before I became a mom, for example, my idea of luxury was 400-thread-count sheets, that marble bathroom and an on-premise spa. Now, it's being able to have an uninterrupted meal and watch a non-animated movie with my husband while our toddler snoozes in the next room. Accordingly, we've switched much of our vacation travel to chains such as Embassy Suites, which offer reasonably-priced two-room suites with room service and an included breakfast in most of the cities we visit.
If your idea of luxury is a mai tai delivered poolside by a white-gloved waiter, you don't necessarily have to book a room at a luxury resort. Many supposedly exclusive hotels offer day passes that give you access to the pool, gym, spa facilities and/or private beach for as little as $20 a day. You can stay at a cheaper hotel nearby, buy the pass and live rich for less.
Sometimes luxury simply means slowing down and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. For instance, two adults and a child who opt for a family bedroom aboard the Southwest Chief train will pay about $900 for two nights of travel on this Amtrak route between Los Angeles and Chicago. That's about $600 more than if they'd opted for regular coach seats or one-way travel on a deep-discount airline. But the family bedroom offers a private space that spans the width of the train, along with picture windows of the passing landscape and priority seating at the white-linen dining room. For families hoping to reconnect and avoid the hassles of air travel, this could be a luxury well worth the expense.
Smile and tip well
If you were an overworked hotel clerk or airline desk agent, who would you rather help -- the red-faced jerk who's demanding special treatment, or the patient, smiling customer whos eager to praise you for anything you do right?
Getting a better room or airline seat is often a matter of making nice with the people who can help you, said Widzer, author of "The Penny Pinchers Passport to Luxury Travel." Widzer's also a fan of writing letters to management praising an employee who's been especially helpful.
Overseas, a friendly chat and a $20 bill will open up all kinds of doors when you need a favor, Leffel said, especially in developing countries where wages are low.
"Your basic double room becomes a suite, or that unavailable sleeper train seat suddenly opens back up," Leffel said. "The bartender at your hotel treats you like royalty and has your drink prepared before you even sit down. The small 'closed' museum decides to open up for your private showing. For those who travel in style, this worked 1,000 years ago and it still works today."
Leffel advises Americans to remember that while in the U.S. tipping is often expected, in much of the rest of the word a tip is used to buy extra service and is appreciated accordingly.
Liz Pulliam Weston's column appears every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions in the Your Money message board.
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