25 Expert Tips to Save
25 Expert Tips to Save
Summer might be the perfect timefor a vacation,but peak season traveldoesn’t come cheap. The warm weather, coupled with the fact that kids are out of school, can bringfilled upflights, less availability at hotels and resorts, and surging costs that put summer travel out of reach for some people.
Still, there are plenty of ways to save on summer travel if you’re willing to be flexible and think outside of the box. As the warm weather heads our way and you prepare to book your summer travel plans, here are some tips to consider.
According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average cost for domestic round trip airfare is currently around $367.79 per person in the United States. That’s almost $1,200 for a family of four, and it doesn’t even include costs like baggage fees, airport food, or a taxi ride to your resort after you leave the airport.
These surging costs not to mention the lowest gasoline prices in a decade are partly whyit almost always makes sense to drive to your destination if you can. Not only will you save on airfare, but you’ll avoid having to rent a car or pay for taxis or public transportation during your trip.
You will need a reliable and safe car that gets good gas mileage for this strategy to make sense, but the savings can be well worth it if you already own a vehicle that fits the bill. And even if you don’t, renting an economy car at $30 $70 a day can be a cost saver versus flying.
2. Share a rental with friends or family.
If you want to save a bundle while you travel, it can pay to rent a vacation condo with family or friends. Not only can you enjoy the extra eyes on your kids and a few minutes of free babysitting while you shower, but you can glean huge savings by renting a larger place and splitting up the cost.
Websites like HomeAway,FlipKey, andAirbnbfeature vacation homes and rental condos that sleep a lot more people than a hotel room, and at a much lower price point per person. You’ll also save money every time you make a meal in your vacation rental’s kitchen instead of eating out at a restaurant. By sharing your accommodations and perhaps compromising with your loved ones just a bit, you can save big!
3. Stay with family or friends.
If you have friends or family that live near a major tourist area, you could always build a vacation around an existing trip to visit your loved ones. By staying with well located friends or family members, you cansave on lodging while stayingfairly close to the attractions you want to see.
Of course, this strategy depends on your loved onesactually wanting house guestsin the first place!
4. Redeemairline miles or hotel points.
If you have excellent credit and live a debt free lifestyle, you can always decide togive credit card rewards a whirl. Depending on which travel credit card you sign up for, you can earn points for free airfare, free hotel stays, train tickets, and more.
Once you decide what type of travel rewards you really want, you can find the right card for your needs and be on your way to scoring free or discounted travel in no time. Just make sure you explore all of your options before you sign up.
5. Find a deal on Groupon Getaways.
Sites likeGrouponandLiving Socialoffer more than coupons on everyday items; they also offer travel deals and bundles that can be a whole lot cheaper than buying the same trip elsewhere. While some of these packages include airfare, others just include lodging at an all inclusive resort, vacation condo complex, or hotel.
To find the best deals, look for last minute options, bundled packages, and weekly or daily specials. Meanwhile, you should always price out the individual components of each trip to make sure you reallyaregetting a stellar deal. Some packaged “deals” can actually bemore expensivewhen you book through one of these sites, so do your homework before you click “buy.”
6. Plan your trip around a deal.
A lot of people save money on travel by planning their trip backwards; instead of choosing a destination and finding the cheapest way to get there, they find a good price on any type of trip and plan their entire vacation around that.
This is a good strategy with deals you find onExpedia,Travelocity, orTravelZoo. Since some destinations are bound to be cheaper from year to year, it can pay to be flexible on which destination you visit and what type of hotel or property you end up in.
7. Go foran all inclusive resort.
If you’re able to get a good deal at an all inclusive resort, you could save more money than you mightrealize. True to their name, most all inclusive resorts include almost everything for one pretty low price that generally includes your hotel stay, food and drink (including alcohol), and even entertainment and activities.
If you’re a family on a budget, all inclusive resorts can also make your trip a loteasier to budget for.
8. Try a cruise.
In a recent post, we compared the cost of cruising to the expense of spending a week at an all inclusive resort. All things considered, the costs were similar since both types of vacation include the majority of your expenses food, beverages, and entertainment, plus lodging.
If you can drive to a cruise port instead of flying, however, you could save even more. At the end of the day, which type of tripis best for your family depends on your vacation goals. Do you want to relax at a single resort all week, or cruise the ocean and visit a few different destinations? The choice is up to you.
9. Purchase a vacation bundle.
Sites like Expedia and Travelocity are known for offering discounts if you “bundle” several components of your tip and buy them together. This could mean purchasing airfare at the same time as your hotel stay, or bundling your hotel, airfare, and rental car into one single package. According to Expedia, people save up to $570 by booking their flight and hotel at the same time.