Planning a trip is often time-consuming, expensive, and stressful, which is counterproductive when an individual is traveling to take a break from life’s daily stressors.
Luckily, the process does not have to be over-complicated and overwhelming. By using discounts, having travel insurance, and more, you can enjoy a getaway without breaking the bank.
Keep reading to find out how you can cost-effectively simplify travel arrangements.
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Plan as Many Details as You Can
When you have most of your trip planned, you ultimately walk away spending less money. This means planning large activities like visiting an amusement park and small activities like where you will eat before departure.
Once you know which hotel you will be staying at, you can look at google maps and find various restaurants, shops, and gas stations in the area. Compare prices at home and decide which options are most cost-effective. You can do this with most expenses including; transportation, souvenir stores, and coffee shops.
Plan Ahead of Time
Planning your trip well in advance is financially beneficial in many ways. For starters, you will know how much money will be required for the trip weeks before leaving. This gives you some extra time to come up with funds if needed.
Planning ahead also allows you to take advantage of off-season pricing and cheaper rates. Airfare and hotel rates are typically quite low when the booking date is far out, and the prices rise as the date approaches.
Choose a Cost-Effective Location
Depending on why you are traveling, you may already have an idea of the destination. If traveling for leisure or business, you may be heading to a very active environment with high tourist traffic. These cities are often much more expensive than smaller, less trafficked areas because lodging is in demand.
You can still visit the same areas and avoid high lodging prices by booking a hotel in a surrounding town. Prices in more active towns are more expensive due to the convenience of being able to get around quickly. However, the hotels located just out of town are significantly cheaper, which could save you hundreds of dollars throughout your trip.
Prepare Your Own Meals
Dining is another part of travel that quickly becomes a major expense, especially when traveling with family.
There is no way around the fact that you have to eat, however; there is a way to make each meal cheaper, and that is by preparing your own meals as much as possible. Not all hotels have a kitchen or dinette in the room, but most offer a fridge, microwave, and free breakfast.
Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice your healthier way of eating by relying on snacks and frozen meals while away and luckily, you don’t have to. If you are driving to your destination, you can bring a cooler of pre-made meals that just need to be heated. If that’s not an option, consider spending a bit more on a room with a kitchen and grocery shopping when you arrive. The cost of an upgraded room is well worth the splurge when you take into account the overall savings you receive from not dining at pricey restaurants for each meal.
Look For Discounts
Travel discounts are everywhere; you just have to look for them.
Airfare, meals, hotels, and activities are the easiest to find discounts for, and taking advantage of the savings is often quite simple. Many establishments offer discounts to students, seniors, and veterans. If you are none of those things, you can still find discounted rates through many websites and apps.
- Hotelengine.com helps you find discounts on corporate accommodations.
- Groupon and LivingSocial offer discounted rates for activities, meals, and events.
- Yelp is another website that often offers coupons for select establishments.
Additionally, many cities are filled with free events like festivals and concerts. You can find some free events in the area on Eventbrite’s website or in the town’s local paper.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Having travel insurance is one of the best ways to safeguard your wallet while traveling.
Although travel insurance is an added expense you may not have considered, it is incredibly beneficial to have before starting the planning process.
Travel insurance comes in handy when travel-related inconveniences of any size pop up and cause a financial burden.
- Examples of situations that travel insurance covers include:
- Flight or hotel room cancellations or delays.
- Lost or stolen luggage and property.
- Medical bills that occur while away.
The best part about travel insurance is that your coverage begins as soon as you purchase the policy, even if you aren’t scheduled to depart for weeks.
