Meteorologically speaking, the first day summer is June 1st and the vacation season opens up! Everyone loves going on vacation. What better time to think about how to save on vacation so it takes less of a hit on wallet so you can take more vacations!
Vacation Account
One of the best things I ever did was set up a vacation account. Shortly after I was married, I set up a Christmas Account to aid in not going broke at Christmas time. You think that it would have caused me to set up the vacation account, but no! It wasn’t until I went on a vacation and then spent months paying off the vacation that a light bulb went off. Why don’t you set up a vacation account. Not only did I finally set up a vacation account, I set up a wedding account for my daughter, an account for maintenance on our home, and set up accounts for the grandchildren! Alright, that might have been a little overboard, but it works great!
Now I know what you are thinking. I don’t have money to set aside for a vacation account because money is tight. When I first set up the accounts, money was tight! Start small and be consistent! If you leave the account alone, you will be amazed how much it grows! Try it and you won’t be sorry!
Booking Accommodations
There are several programs out there that you can earn points for free accommodations. I have used Hotels.com for a least a decade before they aligned with a couple other vendors with One Key rewards. Before they converted, every 10th hotel stay, you received a free night based on the average you spent on the 10 nights. The free night would be available for a year. The more you used Hotels.com, your status would increase resulting in greater discounts on accommodations.
In 2023, Hotels.com aligned with two other vendors, Expedia and Vrbo. Together, they issue One Key Rewards and the rewards can be used with any of the three vendors. On most stays, the cash doesn’t expire if you have a one stay booked in the next 18 months. To get travel discounts, join as many loyalty programs as you can.
Top 5 Booking Accommodations
- Hotels.com
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hotel Tonight
- Hilton Honors
Unnecessary Spending and Paying Down Debt
All of us at one time or another spend money on items that make us feel better, however, we do not necessarily need. It is a want more than a need. If we cut down on unnecessary spending, we can funnel that money into the vacation fund. Along with unnecessary spending, another way to increase your vacation fund is to pay down debt. This might always be possible, but definitely a goal for the future.
Traveling Smart
Depending on what type of vacation you are taking, you can not always travel off-season. However, a way to save on vacation is to go off-season and you will notice that the prices have dropped substantially from on-season. If you are traveling on-season, the rates will be cheaper when you travel during the week instead of over the weekend. Best time to travel is in January, February, and August during the week.
Try to pack light. As a woman traveling, we tend to pack more than we need. Isn’t that right ladies? Take a look at your suitcase and what things can be removed. That way when you fly, the suitcases will be lighter and you will pay less. You can also avoid the baggage fees by only packing what you need and using the overhead bins.
While traveling, you can use public transportation instead of renting a car. While I was traveling in France, I rode the subway, took trains, and rode buses to get around. It was actually very liberating to not drive a car and be in traffic! Another alternative that is quite healthy is to walk more places (get your 10,000+ steps) or riding a bike if your knee joints are in good shape.
Always look for free attractions in the area that you are visiting. You can decrease the food bill if you pack snacks for during the day travel or on car rides. While the following apps are not free, they are filled with attractions in the United States and abroad.
Looking for attractions? Try these 2 apps!
If you have any other ways to save on vacation, please add a comment. The world is waiting for you to travel. Just Go!
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