Better bargains are in the cards

When a massive thunderstorm diverted Stephanie Seacord’s Columbus, Ohio-bound flight to Pittsburgh recently, she knew the fastest way to her destination would be on wheels. But she worried that high demand for rental cars at the airport could drive rates out of reach.

Seacord phoned Hertz to check prices anyway. “When the reservationist asked me if I had a membership rate, I remembered the little card that came with my Professional Sports Car Club race credentials,” she says. “So I mentioned it.”

Total cost: just $59.

Seacord, like many enlightened travelers, knew how to play her cards. But not everyone does. Reservations agents at hotels, car rental companies, and tour operators don’t always ask if you belong to a club or organization that may entitle you to save money. And even if they do, how can you be sure you’ve chosen the card that offers the deepest discount?

It’s a little bit like playing poker. You have to know which cards to leave on the table and which ones to keep in your pocketbook. (And it’s almost always cards-as in plural-because unless you’ve been living on a deserted island for most of your natural life, you probably have two or more cards that could translate into some kind of bargain.)

For example, your student identification could cut your rates by 20 percent or more, depending on where you’re traveling. The American Automobile Association (AAA) card is a sure thing for at least 10 percent off – and frequently more. Of course, there’s the grandfather of all discount cards: The one issued to members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). It’s so good that it’s almost worth lying about your age to get.

“The AARP card pays for itself many times over,” says R.M. Jones, a Newnan, GA, association member. “It only costs $5 per year and is usually good for $5 to $10 off lots of places. I wouldn’t leave home without it.”

Jones uses a strategy that a lot of experienced travelers favor: He plays the same card every time, if for no other reason than that it works every time. That yields predictable – and consistent – discounts. But deal-seekers like Chris Powell won’t leave well enough alone.

“I’ve used the AAA card, AARP card, and the Entertainment card for discounts,” says the Fair Oaks, CA, traveler. “The Entertainment card is the best and we have had some great deals. We used to get 50 percent off hotel rooms, but now they just give us an Entertainment rate.”

Keith Murray employs a similar tactic, but he alternates his company ID – which entitles him to a corporate rate – and the AAA and AARP cards. “It pays to scroll through those room rates online [to search for the best one],” the Bryan, TX, traveler told me.

A word of warning about your company ID: It’s perhaps the only card I know of that can make your trip more expensive, so use it carefully. Two weeks ago I booked a one-night stay at a Best Western property in Norfolk, VA, and the reservationist asked me if I wanted the “per diem” rate. That’s hotel-speak for the government rate.

“Of course,” I replied. I was pretty sure that the government had negotiated a sweetheart price with the hotel chain, and if she wanted to give it to me – never mind that I’ve never worked for the government – then I’d happily accept. Turns out Uncle Sam’s “bargain” was almost $40 a night higher than the rate I’d get on the Web. I asked for the Internet price.

Why are corporate rates sometimes higher? Because companies agree to pay a fixed price for a hotel room or rental car that won’t fluctuate by season or demand. That makes sense for a large corporation but it’s not always competitive for you, so if you’re on vacation and spending your own money, you might want to think twice before pulling your employee card out.

You will, however, want to consider taking a look in your pocket next time you hit the road. What’s there? Try every card out until you’ve found a strategy that works for you. Like learning poker, this kind of bargain hunting takes a little practice. But with a little common sense and good luck, you can win.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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