How to save money on attending a wedding?

My sitter is getting married this fall. It is an out of state wedding. Our family lives all over so the wedding is going to be held where the bride and groom live.

I was wondering if anyone knew of some great site to find reduced airfare, hotel, food, etc.

I will be headed down there for three weeks prior and one week after for all the pre and post wedding stuff, and dont want to break the bank, but at the same time if she has her heart set on going somewhere for the nights entertainment, I dont what to disappoint her. I will be staying with my sister for the first two weeks but will need to hotel it for the last two. It is kinda a over due vacation to see her.

I am thinking this would be a good time to start a credit card with hotel rewards, any suggestions on one with the best rewards.

[mom-from-missouri]

I use trip rewards. You earn points for reservations made through them and then can use the points for a free night or twos stay.

[PrincessPerky]

Lots of meals can be eaten in a hotel room..saving you some dining out costs.

Especially if the hotel offers a free fridge or microwave..don't expect much tiny fridge, tiny old microwave, but usually serviceable enough for simple needs. (keeping yogurt cold, or reheating to kinda warm)

Plus if you will be there for two weeks, look into local long term stay hotels..some offer cheaper prices by the week, than day..some don't. you gotta check.

[RedHotLama]

w w w .mobissimo.com/search_airfare.php remove the spaces


But that site seaches all the travel sites to get you a good rate.

[getforfree]

Stay at a cheap hotel, kinda like Motel6, it's the cheapest + if you reserve online, you might get extra discount. Ask for the room with the fridge and microwave, it might cost an extra $3, but it's worth it. Go to mapquest and research if there are any grocery stores near the motel where you can buy the food and cook it in the microwave.

[mike42]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Especially if the hotel offers a free fridge or microwave..don't expect much tiny fridge, tiny old microwave, but usually serviceable enough for simple needs. (keeping yogurt cold, or reheating to kinda warm)

This is a great tip.

Also, ask the hotel if they have a fridge and/or a microwave that you can borrow. I've stayed in two places recently where they were happy to provide one or the other (free), which is a huge convenience.

[LuxLiving]

CC w/hotel rewards? Marriott all the way!

Then if you're flying in stop at a grocery or dollar type - bananas, PB, yogurt, veggie tray, granola bars, mini pizzas if they've got a microwave, soup, etc.

If you're driving, take some grocery supplies from home.

Meals out? Drink water, get a doggy bag and take it back to the hotel if you've got a frig.

[Aleta]

Go to Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor. You can list your city and the date and they will show you what is available. It will also list travelocity, orbitz, and the rest. You can get some fairly good deals at the resorts that have kitchens and many amenities. They also have preplanned activites. Try also hotel.com. Sometimes, the rates are the same as for hotels. Like LuxLiving said, stop by a store and buy up snacks, beverages, fruits, etc. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.

[jasanderson]

the question would be where will you be going? Can you do some type of condo rental or maybe rent some kind of camper for campground or something?

Thanks for all the ideas,

My sister desided to elope....

She was going crazy and was thinking of all the craziness of my weeding and just eloped. I wish I would have eloped like she had, no drunk uncle to worry about and way cheaper. It is a can be a very frugal thing, but done with taste. They just took the Honeymoon Plans and did it early with the elopement built in....Way cheaper & smaller!!

So I will be going down to visit the bride and groom later this fall staying a week at their home, because I will not be gone as long that is a huge savings. Plus more quality time since I will not be doing all the family stuff. I wish I would have saved money sooner so I could have flown to the ceremony but Dad said it was Pretty. I cant wait to see the pictures.