Nine Easy Tips To Make Your Vacation Dreams Come True Without Breaking The Bank
by Heather Cassell
Summer vacation is here. Memorial Day Weekend is the official kick-off for the summer fun under the sun.
A Bankrate study found that 49 percent of American’s can’t afford to go on vacation, but the same number of American’s told WalletHub that they need a vacation this year more than ever. The studies were released May 17 and 23, respectively.
Girls That Roam has some tips on how to afford to seize your summer days and create memories that will last a lifetime without breaking the bank.
Get sand between your toes sipping cocktails. Backpack through Europe. Party late into the night. Volunteer at an organization somewhere in the world. Where ever your vacation dream is, go for it. You earned it. Don’t waste those vacation days you worked so hard for.
Check Your Purse
Take a serious look at your budget. The average American expects to spend $6,237 on their travel this summer, according to a WalletHub survey released May 17.
Money is the main concern for Americans when it comes to travel. As mentioned above, nearly half of Americans are foregoing going on vacation because they can’t afford it.
Close to the same number of travelers, 47 percent, worry about money too. It’s their top worry just behind the weather (50 percent). Yet, 35 percent of people think travel is worth getting into debt for, according to WalletHub.
Debt doesn’t have to be an option with ninja travel planning and money skills optimizing your hard-earned money in the name of a summer experience.
Brainstorm all potential expenses from accommodations and transportation to tips. Then increase the cost of the trip between 40 and 50 percent to give yourself a financial cushion for any surprises.
Research the destinations cultural customs around money and service, particularly tipping. In some countries, it’s not custom to tip. Look into the country’s economic situation and political climate that might become a vacation windfall.
“Understanding the local customs around tipping and gratuity is really important,” said Carrie Sumlin, digital consumer executive at Ally Financial. “You could essentially overtip in a situation where it is not necessary or not required.”
She also suggested looking for countries with favorable exchange rates, like Mexico, Iceland and New Zealand.
A good example, and simply a little luck, in 2016 when Girls That Roam was traveling to London parliament voted on the Brexit. Overnight, while we slept in the air, the British pound and the Euro tumbled. Instantly, the American dollar’s value soared allowing us to enjoy ourselves more as we hopped through several countries.
Search for the right credit card and designate it for your trip. Use it to make your bookings and to use while traveling.
A study from WalletHub estimated that the right credit card can save travelers up to 9 percent for vacations abroad and boost domestic travelers’ budgets by up to $625. That’s real money in your pocket.
The right credit card will also provide a range of benefits including great exchange rates, trip protections, points rewards to use toward future vacations, and more.
Get a side hustle – holiday jobs to joining the gig economy – that can bring in extra money to sock away for your summertime adventures.
Open a savings account designated for travel to deposit that extra money.
Be A Master Planner
Time is your best friend when it comes to planning your dream vacation. Planning a year out can get you the best deals on accommodations, flights, ground transportation, tours and more.
Planning in advance also provides the opportunity to pay for the trip in advance and take advantage of early deals.
Shop, Shop, Shop Around
Whether it’s a flight scanning app or an online booking site check to make sure the price is legit (or the best deal you’re getting) and the company behind the site is for real.
When I find a price, that I see pop up on apps, like Hopper and Skyscanner or any of the booking engines, I check it against Google Flights and the airline directly to see if the flight exists and if it’s the correct rate.
I use Google Flights because it’s directly connected to many airlines thanks to its purchase of ITA Software in 2010. That means I get real-time flights and rates that are available just like travel agents use global distribution systems, like Amadeus and Sabre, without having to subscribe to the services. The only difference is that I can’t book the flights directly through Google. I must go to the airline’s website or call the airline directly to book the flight.
This year, airlines and booking engines started offering basic fares to compete with new low-cost airlines. The fares look awesome but beware. You might not be sitting next to your travel companion(s) and your carryon will be limited. These new low fares only allow the airline to assign your seat 24-hours before you board your flight or at check-in.
Shopping around is the best way to fact check, especially since online booking scams are on the rise. An estimated 15 million “bad bookings” are linked to phony websites and call centers, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, reported CNBC. The association is a hotel industry advocacy group.
Use discount sites like Groupon and LivingSocial for and discounts on things to do at the destination and restaurants. Even Airbnb has gotten in on the discounted experience.
Consider a CityPass in popular destinations like New York to Florence. Nearly every city or region offers a pass like this. These passes save time and money providing a fast track into popular sites and offering as much as a 50 percent discount.
Also check out the local visitors’ center or chamber of commerce for coupons too.
Be A Yoga Travel Master
Be flexible regarding dates and times you are willing to travel. Just being a little bit flexible can slash hundreds off airfares, accommodations, and tours and activities. Choosing to travel during shoulder seasons, times, when the travel seasons at the destination are ramping up or dropping off can result in huge savings.
Use A Wholesaler Travel Company
Look into wholesale travel companies. Companies like Apple Vacations, Classic Vacations, Funjet Vacations, Gogo Vacations, and Pleasant Holidays.
These companies have the power to negotiate great deals with airlines and hotels not advertised. Itineraries can also be created for you within minutes saving a lot of time. Some even allow you to put a deposit down and make payments leading up to 45 days before the wheels of your airplane lift off the runway.
Be The Trendsetter
Be adventurous. Be the trendsetter. Don’t go where everyone else is going. Go to destinations not yet on most travelers’ radar. Not only will you save money, you will have major bragging rights be there first before the crowd discovers the destination and prices go sky high.
Find Alternative Lodging
Renting rooms and vacation homes is easier than ever thanks to Airbnb, HomeAway and its sister company Vacation Rental by Owners owned by Expedia, and Vacation Homes. Oftentimes, you can rent a place for an entire week that would be the cost of one night at a hotel.
Travelers looking for luxury should consider luxury private homes all around the world, such as Beautiful Places, and in Hawaii, Tropical Villa Vacations.
Vacation rentals offer the opportunity to cut down on eating out and get a local experience shopping at local markets.
Still hooked on hotels? Agoda.com and Hotels.com offer competitive deals. Cross check prices with Google, Trivago, or TripAdvisor by looking up the hotel of your choice to make sure you’re getting the best price. These sites aggregate hundreds of other sites ranking the hotel by price.
If checking into a hotel, take advantage of the amenities, such as breakfast, that are included with your stay, Carrie suggested.
Take More Long Weekends And Staycations
Take More Long Weekends And StaycationsCan’t get away for a week or two? Breakdown your vacation days into smaller vacations paired up with weekends and go semi-local. The change of scenery simply driving more than 50 miles away from home can be just as relaxing and reviving as taking that one big vacation. Even better, you can take more of them throughout the year.
Pack that cooler before hitting the road. It can save you on money stopping in at the fast food drive through or gas station market gabbing a bite to eat.
Protect Yourself
Get trip protection. Anything can happen, luggage can go missing, equipment can get damaged, things get lost or stolen, medical emergencies, natural disasters happen, and more. As a wanderlust consultant and travel writer, I have seen the value. I have a policy that if I’m spending more than $1,000, flying over a large body of water, crossing borders, or traveling during sketchy weather: I get travel insurance.
Check with your credit card what is covered and what isn’t, cover yourself for the exclusions.
You know your risk threshold. Travel at your own risk.
Airlines have gotten way better about not losing luggage, however, I still take precautions. I pack at least a day or two of clothes and toiletries in my carryon just in case my bag goes on its own mini vacation. I also put a piece of paper with my name, destination hotel, cell phone, and email to be notified if my luggage is found in my bag. I’ve never lost a bag. I’ve had the great fortune of my bag arriving before me or at the same time. However, I fly with a peace of mind taking these simple steps.
You might be able to find last minute deals, but these steps take you closer to having a great vacation – summer or any time of the year.
Book your next vacation with Girls That Roam Travel. Contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel at 415-517-7239 or at .
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