4 Tips To Start Planning (And Saving For) Your Next Vacation
What’s your idea of the perfect vacation? Maybe you want to get away and relax at the beach or soak up the sights, sounds, and history of a major city.
Whatever you’re planning, consider these four travel planning tips for a vacation worth waiting for that won’t break your budget.
1. Build a vacation budget
You may already have a general ballpark number that you’re comfortable with spending, but taking the time to look at details and research multiple options will pay off in the end.
Potential costs to consider:
• Transportation: airfare, airport parking, car rental, taxis or ride-shares
• Lodging: hotel, resort, or home rental–do you have a pet that needs boarded while you’re gone?
• Food and drinks: will you cook or eat out each meal?
• Attractions: museums, tours, shows, boardwalk games, mini-golf, etc.
• Spending Money: gifts and souvenirs
2. Sign up for discount apps and emails
Download apps or sign up for email newsletters or alerts that will deliver the best deals straight to your inbox. You can peruse these newsletters as they arrive and take advantage of the deals that work for you.
3. Time your travel booking
For a summer trip, the prime booking window for lowest airline fares is between three weeks and four months before the trip. If you’re looking for peace of mind and book more than six months in advance, you can expect to pay $50 more per ticket on average.
The best time to book hotel rooms for the lowest price is between three and four weeks before you travel. It’s a good idea to monitor hotel prices starting about 40 days before your trip to watch for dips in price.
Always double check the cancellation policy. If it’s flexible and you find a better deal, you can always cancel and rebook.
4. Do your homework on your destination
Spend time researching your destination online. Discount cards or passes that allow you to visit multiple attractions for one price are often worth the money. Take time to familiarize yourself with community calendars available from local tourism or municipal websites, you may find unique cheap or free activities and events that would enhance your trip.
Fulton Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
