Travel is back but airfare is still very high to Europe but who wants to wait after the last few years we have had? My clients want to travel and I want to help them travel. Whether you are traveling in luxury or saving up for that dream trip, getting the most out of your budget is important. Here are a few money-saving travel tips to make every dollar count.
Travel During Off-peak Season
If you have some flexibility, travel during off-peak or shoulder season. Shoulder season, right before or right after the busy season, offers similar weather but with fewer crowds. Off-season may require a slightly different wardrobe but will offer many of the same experiences with fewer crowds. If you can avoid traveling in the summer, in most cases, you will be able to walk the streets with less people, avoid long lines at museums and attractions, get the reservation you want, and pay less for almost everything.
Book early
Many tour operators, cruise lines, and hotels offer early booking savings. Even custom trips have the potential for early savings since all operators want to get a head start into the booking season. In addition, you have a better choice of hotels, rooms, or staterooms on the ship.
Explore the Town on Your Own
Each day does not have to be packed with tours. Take some time to breathe. Bring comfortable shoes and explore the cities on foot. If you are more comfortable with a tour try a walking tour. Try the hop-on and hop-off buses to help you get the feel of the city then explore on your own when you feel comfortable. It's also a great way to combat jet lag by making this your day-one activity. Remember to stay awake the first day so that you will adapt to the new time zone.
Dining
Get away from the touristy areas and try the food. Ask your travel advisor, hotel clerk, or concierge for suggestions. It will likely be a more authentic meal and cost much less. Plus you feel the ambiance and culture of the city.
Bread Service
Some European countries like Italy and Greece to name only two, will automatically provide bread and you will pay for it most of the time. You'll see it on the bill and is easily mistaken for the tip but it is not. Unless you love bread as I do, and will enjoy every bite, you can decline and save a bit. Even if it is already on the table. If you are in Italy for a week that amount adds up.
Bundling Your Custom Trip
If you are working with a travel advisor, many will "bundle" the package for you. They will include air, trains, transfers, tours, and hotels together to get a good bundled rate from the vendors. This is different from simply purchasing each component of the trip. You may find that Superstar Hotel is cheaper online but if you buy it and then add transfers, trains, or other components it ends up at a higher rate once you calculate the total expense. You may also get perks you don't get with less expensive "deals". The package enables travel advisors to get reductions on various services by buying them altogether. So that "great price" on a hotel may just cost you in the end.
Taking Escorted Tours
The average person spends over 40 hours researching trips and there is no guarantee that you will hit the most important places or find the hidden gems. Tour operators know so much about the places they take you and they love to share that knowledge. I can't, personally, imagine, missing the story about why Lephrecauns need the pot of gold and how tiny fairies are the cause as told by the tour driver on my last trip to Ireland. Find out more about the common misconceptions of coach tours here.
The same applies here to "deals". Don't be fool by the "air included" price. Make sure that price is from YOUR hometown and not Newark or JFK. That "deal" just added an additional cost to your trip to get from your hometown to the gateway that is included.
Flights
If you don't need business class, try premium economy. I know that is a tough one. Travel in business class once and it's hard to go back. The airlines are coming up with new classes so who knows what is next. Premium, Plus, Solaris, and so on. You can also consider using frequent flyer points to upgrade but make sure the class you buy is eligible for the upgrade. Bundles and bulk airfare may not be eligible.
If you don't need direct flights, you most definitely can save by taking an extra stop. If you can bare two stops, I cringe as I say this, but you can save. But, you know there is a but, more flights leave more room for delays.
Very early or very late flights, depending on the flight can save also. And check the day of the week. Weekends, in most cases cost more so travel during mid-week if possible.
Pro tip: calculate the cost of basic economy + bag fees then compare it to an economy ticket in the main cabin with a bag included. You may find that the economy option with bag, seat selection, accumulation of frequent flyer points, and boarding faster, is worth the small difference.
Packing
Pack only what you need and leave space for souvenirs. Don't get caught having to pay extra for luggage. Or having to repack between your checked bag and your carry-on in the airport to meet the requirement. That is a story for another blog but needless to say TSA was not happy with me. Many airlines charge for checked bags, and some even charge for a carry-on. The last thing you want is to pay even more because your bag is too heavy. If you can travel with just a carry-on, go for it. If not, get a luggage scale and check the weight.
Also, consider trains. If you are traveling by train, you will be carrying your own bags on and off the train.
So This One Will Throw You
Come in a day early. I know it costs more. This is more peace of mind than savings but don't miss the start of the tour and have to get to the next port or the next stop on a tour because you planned down to the wire. Now some river cruises and tours do not leave port until day 2 so always be aware of the schedule to determine if you can come in the same day.
If you take trip protection, and I always recommend that because it may cover delays but in the long run, the extra day is worth it to avoid the frustration and stress of having to deal with claims and missing the start of the tour.
So those are my tips on cost savings when traveling while still maintaining a certain level of service. There are ways to go even further if you are willing to sacrifice service and quality but I am not willing to do that for myself and my clients don't want that either. If you have tips, I'd love to hear them.
Vibrant Travel researches, plans, and books vacations for curious travelers, busy professionals, honeymoon couples, and groups looking for authentic and enriching experiences. We save our clients hours of searching the internet and precious time trying to pull together all the details needed to create memorable, hassle-free trips. We would love to help you too.
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