Gear Guide

Travel tools & apps to help you save on end-of summer travel

CHIC SAVVY TRAVELS

Chances are you’ve already splurged on long weekends and summer holidays, but if you’re looking to squeeze in one last trip before summer’s end or take off in the fall, here are some last-minute-travel savings tips to enhance your vacation — and your wallet.

A DogVacay host with her dogs. Photo Credit: DogVacay

DogVacay
If you own a dog, you know that a major hidden cost involved in traveling is placing your dog in the kennel, which can cost more than $100 a day. A new, free site called DogVacay helps to match you with a nearby dog lover who will host your dog in their own home for half the cost (averaging $15 to $35 per day) and give your pooch the love and attention he’s used to at home. If you decide to bring Fido along for the trip, finding a local host in your destination city through DogVacay is also a great option if your hotel doesn’t take pets. (*Receive $10 off your first booking with this coupon code: SUMMERVACAY.)

Airbnb
Airbnb.com, the company that revolutionized the way people book their vacation accommodations, now has an app for that. With a couple of taps on your phone, you can find available residences, book them, communicate with the property’s owner and score crazy-cheap, time-sensitive deals. Plus, you can access your online profile so you can upload freshly taken pics in real-time. There’s also CouchSurfing.org, a volunteer-based network that lets you crash on someone’s couch for free.

RelayRides
If high gas prices are holding you back from hitting the road, check out some of the peer-to-peer car rental services available in the city you’re visiting, such as RelayRides in the U.S. (which hopefully will be available in Canada soon). You can also rent out your own car for some extra cash, or use the service to take a less expensive spin while on vacation. You can rent cars by the hour or day, and RelayRides covers insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance. When you get to your destination city, there are also peer-to-peer bike-sharing apps, like Spotcycle, which let you rent bikes from the locals at a fraction of what they might cost elsewhere.

Deal and discount sites
Deal and discount sites can help you save big bucks on flights, activities, services, food and transportation in your destination city. Check out sites like Groupon for fare deals, load up on apps like ScoutMob and scour sites like Travel-Ticker, TravelZoo and PopSugar City for activities and deep discounts on dining options before you hit the road.