How to get the cheapest flights to Amsterdam

I'm a huge traveler. A large part of my small student budget is spent on travel - last year alone I spent over $5000 going to:

Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, Argentina in January

Toronto, Guelph, and Newfoundland, Canada in May

China (travelled to multiple cities) in June and July

Saskatchewan, Canada in September

Miami and Las Vegas in November

Switzerland in December

Air travel especially can be incredibly expensive, but smart planning can allow you to get the lowest price possible on your trip to Europe.

For example, I got a flight from Vancouver to Amsterdam for $640, taxes included. This route typically costs $950.

Ways to getting the lowest airfare possible

1. Earlier purchases don't necessarily equal cheaper. Knowledge is the key. The best way to do this is find out the airfare trends for your flight. This is where Bing Travel's remarkable services come in handy. They have a historical price tracker for every flight within the last 6 months, and can show you how much your flights cost. So you can go online and search for your flight, then see how prices have changed in the the last 6 months.

2. On Bing Travel, search for similar flights to yours (the same departure and destination cities) but for a date very close to today, and a date very far away. That way you can "predict" how your flight prices will increase or decrease as you get closer to your departure date.

3. Most flight companies change their prices on Tuesdays. Therefore, don't buy your ticket on a Sunday, or you might find yourself regretting the $300 lower fares that appear a couple days later.

So using these tips, I saved over $300 off my flight to Amsterdam.

Good luck!

Secrets to maximizing your hotel dollar

Ok, not really a cheap hotel.

I'm writing this from Las Vegas, where we're staying at the Palazzo, the Best Hotel in Las Vegas as ranked by Travel and Leisure magazine. On Saturday we're going back to Miami.

Although I'm a student, I'm a big big traveller. My family never took me anywhere, but I've managed to go to 21 countries on my own, finding money from external sources that allowed me to have a great time while spending very little of my own resources.

I'm travelling with friends who work in the hotel industry on Miami Beach. They're the best of the best. Here's how to get the most of your time in the hotels:

1. Forgot your toothbrush? Ask for a free one at the front desk. They stock extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss - everything you need.

2. In-suite refrigerator not included, and they're charging you $20 per night for a fridge? You can ask for a free one if you need it for health reasons. For example, if you're diabetic and you need to store your insulin in a cold place, this is a great place to store it.

3. Negotiate upgrades! Just a bit of discussion with the front desk got us a free upgrade to bigger beds, a view of the Vegas strip, and a higher floor - FOR FREE. If it's not high season, hotels should have no problem giving you an upgrade.

4. Stock up on water and night-time snacks. Hunger and thirst are what rack up the hotel bill. Save yourself some money and plan ahead.