Travel in style...
...without breaking the bank
Yes, it’s possible and doable. It may take a little time, but patience and perseverance will help you get there. I will share with you a few travel hacks that will save you a ton of money yet allow you to revel in glamorous travel style.
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The first step will be to set up a goal and plan way ahead. Know where you want to go, when you plan to go and where you plan to stay. The answers to these will determine how much money you will need to spend, excluding other expenses like food, activities and shopping. Work on your due diligence and do a comparative research.
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An off-peak date would usually be your best bet on saving. It comes with a considerable amount of benefits like lower and more affordable rates, lesser crowd, more and better choices. Unfortunately, as good as it may seem, it does not come without some drawbacks, like unfavorable weather and out of season food and activities, to name a few. And although huge crowds could get really annoying, they could also add to the fun and excitement. If these do not bother you at all, and what you’re after is just the idea of going on a trip, reaching your destination and binging in photo opps, then this could be a win-win deal.
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There’s another way to get around achieving your dream vacation without digging deep into your pockets… use points and miles. There you go… I’ve said it! Airfares and accommodations are the major weight contributors to a trip. So imagine how much $$$ you’ll be saving if you don’t have to spend for flights and hotels? Hubs and I have gone on a trip to Hawaii for 11 days, stayed in two fabulous resorts and spent only $60, to cover taxes and parking. The trip could have cost at least $8k, without considering inflation and excluding extras. And just a few months earlier, we went on an 8-day trip to the Maldives, stayed in a breathtaking overwater villa at an ultra-luxurious hotel and only paid for airfare and boat transfers. This was a painless $20k savings!!! I know, right? And these were just two of the many others.
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If you’re a regular and frequent traveler, points and miles are assets that are considered as valuable as any currency would be. There are plenty of ways to earn them. The most traditional would be signing up on some hotel and/or airline rewards program of your choice. Every dollar spent on bookings, dining and all other inflight and hotel activities will earn you a corresponding number of points and/or miles. Most travel credit cards also offer huge amounts of sign up bonus points after you meet a certain spending requirement within a specified period of time. In addition to earning points, there are a lot of other benefits associated to becoming a rewards program member, like earning elite status and climbing up by accumulating elite nights, discounts on food and services, early and/or late check outs, and free upgrades.
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I would take advantage of these offers when I know I have a big purchase coming. Additionally I would use my credit card with every purchase and payments that will allow me to, but also make it a point to always settle my balance in full once payment is due, because as we all know, paying interests is just not fun. Doing so does not require any additional fees, so why not? I will make the payments anyway and will spend the money no matter what, so why not do it in a way that will give me something (valuable) back in return. Whoever came up with this brilliant incentivizing idea is a real genius, don’t you agree?
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Another way to rack up on points is by inviting friends and family to sign up for the same credit card. If they get approved, they get their bonus points and you get a referral bonus. If you are married or with a partner, the husband/wife can also apply for a separate account through your referral link. If he/she gets approved, he/she gets the bonus points, you get the referral bonus, combine your points together and you’re on your way to your dream vacation faster. I know some of you would say they don’t want to be keeping and maintaining multiple credit cards, especially the ones that have annual fees on them… well you don’t have to. I only maintain two credit cards. The ones I don’t need and use I would usually cancel before renewal is up. And don’t worry about people saying it’s going to affect your credit. Although opening and closing a credit account may initially lower your score for a while, the score should bounce back soon, as long as you continue with your good practice of paying on time and not maxing on your limits. I’ve always maintained my excellent credit even after opening and closing multiple credit card accounts.
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Having said all of these however, this is in no way encouraging anyone to splurge on unnecessary and irresponsible spending for the sake of wanting to score up points. Also, keep in mind that not everyone is eligible to receive these bonus offers. Previous cardholders who have had the same card within the last 24 months and those with too many of the same credit card brands may not be eligible. So be sure to check your card history before applying for one, otherwise it may just defeat the purpose.
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I hope the above tips helped and somehow made sense. Good luck on your planning and if you have any relevant information to share, please feel free to add them on the comments section below. You may also send a message through the 'contact' page.
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