5 TIPS: TO SAVE SMART ON YOUR NEXT VACATION
As we approach the middle of summer, many people will be taking vacations and traveling to Instagram-worthy places throughout the globe. Whether you go to a city nearby for a long weekend, or half way across the world for a month, traveling gives us an experience and memories we will cherish forever. Now, let's be honest, most of us are not millionaires and don't have endless budgets to travel with. So how can we make the most of our vacation times with limited amounts of mula? Here are our 5 top tips for saving money while traveling.
1. Flying high....
Your biggest initial investment is getting your airplane ticket. Years ago we rushed into buying our tickets months in advance, sometimes even a year prior to departure. Times have changed and with ticket prices constantly fluctuating, there is no reason to buy your ticket so early. I would definitely start looking about 6 months in advance but I usually do not make a purchase until a month or two before my travel date. I use multiple sites for finding deals, my top pic is Momondo.com This site has great flexibility in searching; you can easily adjust your days to try to find the best deal for your trip. I always cross reference a good find on other sites, because sometimes it is better to buy it directly from the specific airline if they offer the same price. Don't forget to add your frequent flyer number to your reservation, you never know when you might have just enough miles to upgrade your ticket for free.
I also use miles on different credit cards or airline frequent flyer programs to purchase tickets and in my opinion, it is better to spend miles on short flights within the United States or within Europe rather then using it on cross Atlantic flights, better dollar-miles ratio. According to numerous travel sites, the best days of the week to purchase a ticket is Tuesday and Wednesday. It might be all true but I found excellent deals on tickets on other days as well. One very important piece of advice: every single time you start a new search, clear your browser, cookies and previous searches. These sites are smart, (OK, the people who created them are smart) and they track your inquiries and will not show you price drops unless you are starting a "brand new" and "clean" search. Use alternate airports close by to your location. I live in San Diego but it is much cheaper for us to fly out of Los Angeles. One time I found a great deal out of Santa Ana airport, not only much cheaper tickets but super low key airport compared to the big international hubs. And last, if you can manage to travel off season (think spring and fall), you save a lot of money not only on travel costs but everything else.
2. A soft pillow for the night...
Depending on how many are in your company and how much you are willing to spend on accommodations, you can choose between hotels, youth hostels and private apartments. If I plan on staying in a city for about a week or longer and have all my kids with me on the trip, I would definitely try to find a short term apartment rental. Not only do you have more space but also you can spend less on meals by shopping in local grocery stores and having a few smaller meals, especially breakfast at your apartment rather than going out with 4 or more people each time. I think most of you are familiar with AirBnb, HomeAway and 9Flats, my top pics for starting your search. Booking.com also offers apartment choices and you have the added benefit of looking at hotel options simultaneously on this site.
For hotel reservations, I always go to Booking.com first, love to check the reviews, easy to see where your hotel is in relation to popular destinations within a city. This site usually offers no payment in advance options, which is great security in case you have to cancel your trip for unforeseen reasons. You can choose to include breakfast or half board as well, or just go with the simple room option. I often use miles to purchase a few days hotel stay with my Amex card or United Explorer card using my miles instead of cash. If you are the back-packing kind, which I am definitely not, youth hostels and apartment sharing is your cheapest way to go. Give a try to these sites: HostelBookers, HostelWorld and even again AirBnb.
3. Feeding your soul and stomach.....
Depending on where you go, dining out can be expensive (think Northern Europe) which is why you have to be careful how much you eat out at fancy restaurants while on vacation. It really does add up! Our motto is eat lighter meals during the day, and splurge on dinner at a restaurant with the local crowd. Most cities have amazing street food, both sweet and salty treats for all meals of the day. But beware of confectionery stores and bakeries, because those french quiches and chocolate croissants in Paris can be expensive too! Instead of sitting down in a confectionery store to eat your breakfast, take it back to your hotel or to a nice park bench, and save 50 % on a delicious meal! Even consider buying food at local grocery stores and pack healthy snacks and sandwiches or wraps to get you through the day. Trust us, that money is better spent on shopping or ice cream ;) For dinner, always ask the locals for suggestion to avoid the tourist traps and overpriced restaurants, and enjoy a truly authentic experience.
4. Getting around in the big city...
Your first trip is from the airport to your accommodation. Best options are to take a train, metro or bus into the city. Most airports are well connected and serve major interest points within the center and around. You can also take airport shuttle buses to most major hotels or private residences. Always book in advance, even getting a shuttle at the airport will cost you more when you reserve it upon arrival. You have been sight-seeing all day, it's a 100 degrees and you're sweating and you just want to get from point A to B as fast as possible. So what do you do? Call a taxi. Although more comfortable, taxi's can cost upwards of 40 euros for one trip! That's a pair of shoes you literally just threw out the window. Instead, look into the city's public transportation. I live in Europe and can honestly say that I would rather use public transportation than sit in a car stuck in traffic. Not all countries have the best public transportation, but most major cities in Europe will and it really saves you a ton of money. You can purchase day passes, week passes or even a month pass for your stay. When public transportation is not an option, consider renting a car, just make sure you are familiar with parking sign and regulations, most cities enforce metered parking and you better have a ticket or you can end up with a hefty fine to pay.
5. Skipping the lines...
This might take some extra research, but most cities offer sightseeing "City Pass Cards" for both transportation and sightseeing options which combined will save you a lot of money at the end. You can also make advanced reservations online to see major tourist sites which means skipping the long lines in front of the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum. This is a must because you could be standing in lines for long hours in the scorching summer heat instead of having a cool drink at a coffee shop watching the local crowd and discussing art you just saw in the Louvre. If you're a student, make sure you bring your student card, because many places offer student discounts, and not just for students in the EU. This means your college student ID (which btw usually doesn't have a graduation date) can often be used even after you leave college. It's worth a try, right? Also, many museums and historical sites offer free days for entrance. It is worth checking the local online sites specific to the city you are visiting, because you can save a boatload of cash. Look up all the National and Religious Holidays in the country you are visiting and cross reference it with the sites you plan to see to avoid disappointment of not getting in due to holiday closures.
Happy Traveling!
XOXO #DoubleTakeGirls
