Top Tips for a Cheaper Vacation
With the current recession weighing heavily on everyone’s mind and pocketbook, planning a vacation that is affordable requires research. This includes the time of year you travel, destination, accommodations, and amenities. Here are the top tips for a cheaper vacation this year.
- When possible, travel off-peak. However, be aware that the weather may not be the best and, depending upon the destination, the hotel may be undergoing refurbishment. For example, you can obtain a great air/land package to Paris in January as well as an all-inclusive package to Alaska in April.
- Choose the road less traveled. While most people will fly to warmer climates during Spring Break, consider choosing a vacation spot such as Mexico or Hawaii where you can realize significant savings on air/land packages.
- Book your flights for early morning or late evening departures. Instead of choosing non-stop flights, select connecting flights which are considerably less costly.
- Consider rail or bus travel to neighboring cities in lieu of flying.
- When booking a package with a travel agent, ask for an all-inclusive package. This would include air, hotel, transfers, meals, and local tours. Two of the best vacations encompassing all of the above are cruises and Club Med resorts.
- Pack light. Airline luggage fees for a family of four can be quite expensive.
- Choose a destination where you get the most for your dollar. Check the exchange rate in other countries and purchase the currency upon arrival.
- When traveling to a family resort such as Orlando, book a reasonably priced hotel or motel further away from the park. Book a room that has a kitchenette so that you can prepare meals instead of paying exorbitant prices at local restaurants. An all-inclusive package with a car and tickets to the theme parks can save you money in the long run.
- If you are traveling by car, utilize AAA’s trip ticket and check online for stations that offer the cheapest gas prices along your route.
- To check airfares, call the airlines on Wednesdays. This is the day they usually come out with low-cost fares to certain destinations. You can even utilize the many online sites that will email you when cheaper fares are available.
Book your vacation at least two-three weeks in advance. Always check with your travel agent as they are given the heads-up when flights and hotels are under-booked, thereby creating great discounts for you to take advantage of.
