If you’ve been putting off planning a vacation because you think you just can’t afford it, think again. There are a myriad of travel deals at your fingertips just waiting to be discovered. Knowing when to book, where to book and how to book your trip can shave hundreds of dollars off the price of a vacation. We’re going to share with you a few insider trips on how to land the best deals on flights, hotel accommodations, air fare, cruises and more! Let’s get started.
Traveling On A Budget
- Travel During The Off-Season – One of the easiest ways to save money on the cost of a vacation is to travel during the off-season. Every tourist destination has a high season and an off-season. High season is the months of the year when the most people flock to that particular place, while the off-season is the opposite. It’s the time of year that the location has the least amount of tourists. During the high season, accommodations are in high demand so merchants know they can charge a premium price for them. When the demand begins to dwindle in the off-season, so will the rates they are charging.
- Be Flexible – When you’re booking a flight either online or through an agent, one of the first things they ask for are your travel dates. Most airlines offer discounted, last minute deals for travelers who have a lax time frame in which they can travel. By being flexible enough to travel within a window of a few days, you can save lots of money on the price of your flight.
- Bring What You Can From Home – Aside from the random souvenir and trinket, plan to spend as little money as possible while you are traveling. When in a bind or in need, we find ourselves spending more than we would for trivial things like toiletries, clothing and food. Bring everything that you think you might possibly use with you on your trip so you won’t have to buy anything once you arrive at your destination. Don’t forget to pack over-the-counter medications and first aid items as well.
- Use Every Applicable Discount – Some hotel chains offer discounts to members of certain elite groups like military and the senior aged population. If you are a part of one of these groups to whom special discounts might apply, don’t forget to take advantage of them when making your reservations.
- Kids Stay Free – If you are traveling with children, most hotels offer a “Kids Stay Free” promotion, which can greatly reduce the amount you pay for your room, based on a per-person scale. When deciding which property to book your stay at, be sure and ask if they have a similar policy in effect before you commit to a reservation.
- Take Advantage Of Packaged Attraction Promotions – If the attractions you plan on visiting during your vacation charge an admission fee, those charges can add up very, very quickly. By the time you visit two or three of them, you may find yourself strapped for cash already when your trip has hardly begun! Most tourist locals do offer packaged deals for reduced admission prices to local attractions. Check around to see if the area you’re traveling to does the same before you purchase the tickets individually.
- Consider Cruises Instead – Many of the major cruise lines offer fantastic cruises to a variety of destinations starting at prices as low as a few hundred dollars. Mexico, the Bahamas and other tropical destinations are just a few of the ports of call that you can experience. If you book your cruise well in advance, chances are you can save even more money. Alternately, the cruise lines may be offering special rates in conjunction with a show or event on board the ship so it’s wise to inquire about those as well.
- Save Money On Meals – Food is one of the major expenses when it comes to a vacationer’s budget. Sure, you want to sample all the local cuisine, but doing so can end up costing you a small fortune in the long run. If you’re dying to try a popular restaurant and are contemplating making a reservation, visit the location for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch prices can be 30% to 50% cheaper than dinner prices so eating before the dinner rush is the way to go. Also, when booking your hotel accommodations, try to stay at a hotel property that offers free breakfasts or other food perks to make your food budget stretch even farther.
As you can see, traveling on a budget isn’t that hard to do. These tips are just a few of the ways that you can save money and travel on a budget. Use them as a starting point when planning your next vacation. With a little advanced preparation and some research, you can put together your dream vacation in no time and at minimal cost to boot.