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If you are planning for auditions out of town, you need to do your homework. Unfortunately, you may not have the luxury of planning this trip months in advance, as some audition notices are given only a few weeks before the audition date. Whether or not you have time to plan well in advance, here are some helpful ways to save some money and easily book your audition.

Taking a Car

If you are close to the audition location and want to drive, you will have to look for parking. Parking in large cities can be difficult and you may need to allow some extra time in your schedule to find a place to park. Before you go, here are a few places to check out to help your drive.

• Google Maps. Not only will Google Maps show you where parking garages are located, but they will also show you what traffic looks like. This will help you plan your travel time into the city and allow you to get to your audition without having to stress.
• BestParking. If you have already checked Google Maps and really want to know the best option for parking, then checkout the BestParking App. This app not only tells you where you can park, but also gives you the rates of the lots. It tells you how much you will pay if you enter and leave at certain times, and it can even make a reservation for you in certain garages.
• Hotel Parking. Try to find a hotel that has free parking. If it's not free, make sure you know how much it is and if it's the cheapest, most convenient option. If you are using an online website like Orbitz, you can filter your hotel search to only show places with free parking. Even one night of parking can be a lot of money, and anything you save can be put towards your next audition.

Taking a Train

If you are like me and have no desire to drive into the city, or you are too far to drive, you can take a train. Local trains have fares that are fairly cheap depending on where you are coming from. If you travel at an off-peak time, you will get a cheaper rate. It might save you a few dollars to leave just a little earlier than you originally planned. If you are a student, look into a student discount ticket or a multiple ride ticket for your trips. Even though this is not a huge amount of money up-front, the savings will add up after a few auditions.

If you are farther away than a local train, you may need to look into a larger service. Currently, Amtrak has about 34 routes listed on their site that you can take to different locations. The further in advance you book, the better the price you are going to get for your tickets. If you cannot book in advance, there are still a few things to take advantage of.

• Student discount. Students can save 15% on trips.
• AAA Membership. AAA members can get 10% off a ticket if they show their membership card. If you don’t have AAA you should check them out! They offer great discounts on travel, shopping, movies, and other fun things.
• Amtrak Rewards Program. If you're not a student and don't have a AAA membership, you can always check out the Amtrak Rewards Program. This program can help you earn points for your next ride and save you some money along the way.

Taking a Plane

If you are so far away that you cannot drive or take a train, you still have the option to fly. Flying can sometimes be the easiest way to go, but often the prices of tickets and baggage fees are expensive. Don’t fret! There are ways to get around this and to save money. Before you even book your flight, check your audition date and see if there will be a callback on a later date. If you can, fly in a day before your audition just in case of any delays or cancelations. There are a couple of different ways to get the best deal for your situation. If you have an airline that you fly all the time, then you can book with them directly, or you can shop around to see what is available.

• Shop around for the best deal or take advantage of a bundle deal. Sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia show you the best deals on all airlines according to your dates. These sites allow you to see all the airlines that are flying to your location, the times, and the fares they offer. They will also show you options for prices on other days that might offer better fares. However, if you need to book a hotel and car rental in addition to your flights, or simply find it easier to book these things all at once and in the same place, then the bundle booking option on these sites may be the way to go. 
• Sign up for a mileage or rewards program. If you know you are going to primarily fly one airline, then you should consider signing up for a mileage or rewards program. This allows you to get points for the trips you fly so that you can turn those points into free tickets. You do need quite a few points to get a ticket, so you may want to stick to one airline. Many airlines also offer reward point credit cards, so that your everyday purchases help you earn miles towards free flights as well. If you have an airline you love, look to see what customer loyalty programs they have and what benefits you can get from them. Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia all have rewards programs that offer member discounts when you sign up for free. Research which airline or program is best for you.
• Save on baggage fees by bringing a carry-on bag instead of checking. On most planes, you are allowed one carry-on item and a personal item for free. If you are only going for a short trip, go to your local drug store and look for necessary toiletry items in a TSA-approved travel size so you can pack less and won’t have to check a bag. This will cost a little money up-front, but it will save you the checked-baggage fee as well as some time waiting for your bag after your flight. If you have to check a bag for a longer stay, then find an airline that offers a "first checked-bag free" option. Southwest Airlines is a great option as they allow you to check on two bags for free.

Don't forget to read "Don't Book Just Yet: Travel Tips to Save Money Part II!"