For many people, vacation is no longer an option. Struggling to make ends meet and pay their bills on time, they view vacation as a luxury that they cannot afford. Fortunately, you do not have to deprive yourself of the chance to clear your head, take a break from the daily routine and enjoy yourself. The following tips will help you save money on vacation.
How to pay less for your next vacation
1. Save on airfare
If you book your airline tickets a few months in advance, you will manage to save a lot of money on airfare, not to mention book the best seats as well. If you do not have a problem with flying late at night or early in the morning, then you can get an even better discount. Tuesdays to Thursdays are the weekdays where there are less passengers and the airlines are eager to attract as many as possible. Take advantage of that to save more money on airfare.
2. Prefer cash
If you pay in cash, you are automatically qualified for discounts practically everywhere, something that is not possible when using credit cards. However, when travelling abroad it would be best to take one credit card to use in cases where cash is not an acceptable payment method. Exercise restraint though and use that one credit card only in those cases. To control better your spending, opt for a prepaid credit card with a small spending limit, that will help you spend only what you can really afford.
3. Affordable travel packages
More often than not, affordable travel packages help you pay less, as you combine hotel accommodation, airline tickets and car rental at at a significantly lower price. If you are not familiar with the process though, it is best to ask help from an experienced travel agent who will be able to make suggestions tailored to your needs and budget.
4. Stay with friends
If you are travelling to a place where friends live, ask them if it is possible to stay with them during your vacation. If the answer is positive, you will save a lot of money, as you will not have to pay for hotel accommodation. Try to be as considerate and discreet as possible and offer your help with household chores, as a way of saying thank you to your friends for their generosity. This option is recommended if you are travelling alone, or with your partner. In case you are travelling with kids, it would be best not to do this.
5. Vacation homes
If you are travelling with kids, renting a vacation home will cost you less than a hotel room. The lodging cost might be approximately the same, but vacation homes are fully equipped with kitchenettes and refrigerators and that gives you the chance to cook your own meals. Therefore, you will have to pay only for buying some things from the local grocery store. You will not have to eat at restaurants and pay a small fortune everyt day.
The above tips will help you pay less for your next vacation. That way you won’t have to sacrifise your vacation for the sake of money. You will have a wonderful time only at a smaller cost.