Going on vacation should be an exciting experience. Don’t get me wrong; vacations are amazing and worth every penny. However, it isn’t rare for traveling to be a stressful event simply because our pockets are hurting or we become broke by the end of it. This doesn’t have to be the case though. There are numerous tips and tricks that expert travelers partake in so that they can travel all the time. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed; so save the worrying for another time. TUC has got you covered with three major tips.
1. Cheap Flights
-Purchasing earlier is always the way to go. The sooner to your vacation date you wait to purchase tickets; the higher the prices will become. Experts suggest at least 6 weeks ahead to get the best deals. Numerous experts have also compared prices for every day of the week and have come to the conclusion that Tuesday is the cheapest day to purchase tickets.
-Something that will save your money is comparing flights through different airlines. Some of my personal favorites are Expedia.com and Priceline.com. Both websites gather data from numerous airlines and offer the option to list them out from cheapest to most expensive flights.
2. Where will you stay?
There are various options when it comes to where you decide to stay while on vacation. Comfort, cleanliness, and affordable are all important factors.
-If you decide on staying in a hotel, there are websites that compare all hotels in the area and list them from cheapest to most expensive. However, a cool option that Expedia offers is bundle deals. With this option, you can purchase a flight AND hotel all in one and the prices are always cheaper than purchasing both separately.
– Airbnb.com is probably one of the greatest inventions that we as consumers have been blessed with. Airbnb is a service that offers homes in the area and typically can be cheaper than staying in a hotel. With Airbnb, you can narrow your choices down from entire home/apartment to a shared room or private room. You can even adjust the maximum amount you plan on spending per night and Airbnb will filter affordable options for you.
-When checking for a place to stay, ALWAYS check reviews. Websites like Travelocity or Groupon will post the most convincing photos and sometimes the photos can be misleading. Check trip advisor or simply the reviews under the hotel or Airbnb and read other consumers’ experiences. Doing this can avoid an uncomfortable and disappointing stay.
3. Saving Money DURING The Trip
– Always research online or on Pinterest for cheap or even free activities to do in the city you are visiting. There are always affordable options within every city. Look on yelp for restaurants nearby and look for happy hours or lunch/dinner specials so that you can budget accordingly ahead. Another major tip is to check Groupon for that city. You can always find deals on amusement parks, museums, spas, etc.
– Set a limit on how much you want to spend while on vacation. This way you know how much you are allowing yourself to spend and can budget out how much to spend every day.
