CLEVELAND — There’s still a lot of time left this summer to take a trip, but before you book those reservations there are some mistakes you could make that could cost you.
Christine Mihelin-Kos has been working at Mihelin Travel Bureau, her family’s travel agency, since she was a little girl, so she knows the ins-and-outs of traveling.
“The younger generation, as savvy as they are in the computer, they still don't have the knowledge that someone who's been working in the field for years.
She says a big no-no is not reading the fine print.
“The biggest mistakes come when you think you got a good price. And then at the end, you see that you got a 30-hour layover, I mean, I'm exaggerating now. But that's what it amounts to,” Mihelin-Kos said.
Another thing to consider before hitting that button is location, location, location.
If you want to travel during peak summer holidays, there’s a good chance everyone else does, too.
That can drive up prices and make your dream destination more crowded.
“It could be a matter of a couple, several hundred dollars just by switching to another island or to another country,” Mihelin-Kos said.
And when you get there, try not to be too flashy so thieves don’t get the wrong idea.
“Don't go anywhere with valuables. Don't show your good taste or your wealth. I mean, whatever you want to call it. When you go on vacation, you should be laid back as much as possible,” Mihelin-Kos said.
If you’re driving to your vacation destination, AAA spokesman Jim Garrity says your car needs to be in tip-top shape.
“It's not a bad idea especially ahead of a big road trip to have somebody take it into a shop and have somebody look it over.”
That means changing your oil, filling up on coolant, and even something as simple as checking your tire pressure.
“Having the right amount of air in your tires can go a long way towards increasing the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, saving you some money at the pump,” Garrity said.
And of course, making sure your battery is still in good condition.
They typically start to break down after three years, but there are some signs to look out for.
“You might notice a slower crank when you’re turning it over in the morning, maybe some flickering lights on the dashboard on the radio,” Garrity said.
