As you count the number of days until 2017 is over and done, some of you might feel as this year blew by so fast. Time is one thing we can never get back and it is important not to let next year pass you by. Here are a few tips to help you make that dream trip possible.
- Start a Travel Fund
Save money without thinking about it. Spending less money throughout your normal routine can help, but “out of sight, out of mind” is always better. Set up a separate bank account or talk to a travel agent who can set up automatic payments to help build your travel fund. I have many clients who prefer to pay in small increments to avoid a huge amount at final payment.
- Go Where the Conversions are Best
Next year will be one of the best time to ever head over across the Atlantic and see all your bucket list countries. Exploiting a situation can make you feel guilty, however with the UK set to depart from the European Union, the currency conversion is in our favor. Both currencies continue to plunge making Europe a hot destination for 2018.
- Price Bonanza
With the huge expansion by both Norwegian Airlines (Norway) and WOW Air (Iceland), it’s been a frenzy for low cost tickets to Europe. As of today, Norwegian is offering roundtrip airfare from Newark to Barcelona for only $419. WOW Air offers roundtrip airfare from Baltimore to Paris as low as $409 per person. With both airlines rapidly growing look out for more low-cost carriers to follow their paths and open competitive pricing to Asia and beyond.
- Choose your Airline Wisely
This may not save the most money each time but in the long run you will keep more of your cash and have some added benefits. Knowing your airline hubs is important when understanding the probability of which airline to use. For example, Washington Dulles (IAD) is a major hub for United Airlines which translates to many non-stop flights from the nation’s capital. Travelers who depart or normally connects through here should probably join United’s Mileage Plus program. Free checked bags, priority boarding and even free upgrades can be easily attained if your smart.
- Focus on Point Instead of Miles
For all those that have collected their miles with airlines such as Delta or Northwest, you may be in for a surprise, but your miles are no longer as valuable. Frequent flyer programs have gone through significant changes that have left members dissatisfied. Stickling to an airline to earn points is no longer the way to go, however credit card programs are far more valuable. Credit cards have enticed travelers with massive incentives such as sign-up bonuses up to 50,000 and more, transferable points and multiple ways to earn points.
- Exercise Regularly
Some might not understand this one, but keeping yourself busy while losing some pounds will save you a lot of money in the long run. Staying fit is a lifestyle and it helps promote better eating habits, more productivity and decrease health risks. Instead of splurging on dessert, take an afternoon run and sweat your stress away. - Be Flexible If you don’t have a specific date in mind, then you might be able to move your dates for the best value. Consider leaving on the first or the last flight out and you can save hundreds of dollars. Traveling during the weekdays can also help save quite a bit of cash.
- Travel During Off-Season
If we all had large stacks of money laying around, travel would be so easy – however we all have budgets to stick to and planning properly is key. Learn the off-season months to travel to a destination and take advantage of “before tourist season” prices at hotels and tours. TRAVEL TIP: The two very best months to go to Italy is May and September. Mother’s Day signals the beginning of the travel season, while Labor Day is the end. Expect to save 30%-40% when traveling during these months.
