2023 Summer Travels
What do you think of when I say, “summer travels”? Do images of busy airports and crowded pools immediately come to mind? If not, get ready!
According to a recent survey by Bankrate, 63% of adults in the U.S. plan to travel this summer. YIKES. And although flight prices have fallen, the average cost of a domestic flight is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
But, that’s not stop most people from Post Pandemic travel plans! But saving money on those travel plans during the peak summer months can be tricky. But don’t worry – I’ve got a few ideas.
Use credit card points: paying with points and/or miles is probably the easiest way to reduce the cost of travel. I’m talking about hotel loyalty points or miles on a particular airline. Even better? Travel credit cards that offer perks such as no annual fee or airport lounge access.
Select your destination carefully: if you’re looking for international travel, select more affordable destinations such as Colombia, Guatemala, or of course Mexico. If you wanna go a little further, Thailand is a great choice or Bali. But the cost of the flight to these locations may stop you in your tracks. If domestic travel is on your mind, think about less popular, but just as fun destinations such as St. Louis or Milwaukee over Chicago. Think Block Island over Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.
Consider when you travel: travel industry experts say it’s cheaper to fly out and return on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday versus flying out on a weekend day. So be as flexible as possible with your departure and return dates. Even if the flight isn’t that much cheaper, hotels and other accommodation rates are typically much less expensive on a Tuesday night than a Saturday night. That can definitely make a difference.
Research the public transportation options: use public transportation or other ways to get around a city (bike or walk) as much as possible. Utilizing taxis or Uber can add up quickly and renting a car should be the last resort - unless you’re driving Route 66 or the Pacific Coast Highway. If that’s the case, carry on.
Let the flight deal determine where you go: use Google flights or Skyscanner to track flights to destinations you want to go, but did you know you can search flights from your home airport to ANYWHERE? Yep, try it and you will get flight prices for destinations across the globe for the dates you are looking to travel.
Be flexible: Unless you are traveling for a special event, like a birthday or a wedding, try being flexible with your travel dates. Sometimes the price of a flight or hotel can vary depending on the date of travel. There could be a conference or music festival in town that you are unaware of, causing the prices to be a bit inflated. Check prices for the week prior to or the following week and see if the price drops.
Also, be sure and track your spending and stay within your budget. There’s nothing worse than getting home and realizing that you spent more on magnets than you did on activities.
You have any other ideas on saving during the 2023 Summer Travel season? Drop me a note and let me know!
Angela Myers
2 Girls & a Bikini