Budget Travel Tips for the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans

In the current economic climate, retailers and service industry professionals are looking for ways to earn that extra customer and customers are looking for ways to save a few bucks. This is also true if you are looking to travel to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on a tight budget. Here are a few budget travel tips for your trip to New Orleans.

Be Flexible: If you can arrive a day early or stay or day late (or both) you will be able to find deals that those who only can travel at the peak times will not be able to find. The airlines and hotels know that the Sugar Bowl is in New Orleans and know that they can charge a premium for the most convenient flying and travel dates. Since the Sugar Bowl is January 2^nd, the first through the 3^rd are premium dates.

Look for Package Deals: Many companies are offering special deals on packages which include both tickets and hotel for two nights. One company, SportsTraveler.net, is offering tickets and hotel for $419 a night if you travel with four people (adding people to your trip typically reduces cost per person). They are also offering a $20 gas card.

Hotels: Hotels vary greatly in price for the same chain from one to another. For example, the Hilton closest to the Superdome is going to run about $250 dollars a night. At 11 miles out, the Hilton near the airport is going to run about $120 dollars a night. Over the three days you are likely to stay in New Orleans, the saving is $260 dollars. That $260 dollars is a lot of cab rides or use it to rent a car. The airport Hilton has free parking for guests.

As an alternative to the traditional hotel, check out Craigslist.com. As this article is being written, there is accommodations which sleep 4 for $300 a night. For those one a tight budget, split 4 ways, that's $75 dollars a night. There is also 4 tickets for $250 dollars. The offers on Craigslist.com change almost daily and new ones come on and old ones are bought so it would pay to check it a few days in a row to get the best deal.

Credit Cards, etc...: Finally, do not forget any special discounts you might get from credit cards, employee discount programs, athletic club memberships, AAA, etc....Every membership you have probably has some kind of special deal. For example, members of Lifetime Fitness receive a discount at Marriott hotels and Avis car rentals. Some credit cars grant a cash back option - for example, the Chase Freedom card offers 3% cash back. Once you add up all the discounts you can, your can put a significant percent off to get your travel within your budget.