With spring upon us and summer vacation around the corner, now's the time everyone is thinking about traveling. Although it might be busy season at your destination, there are still a few ways to find savings on your next trip!
Any time you travel, it can be easy to go over budget, but it really never has to break the bank with the right planning! Be sure to protect your investment of time and money with Travel Insurance Master, and check out our favorite cost saving tips.
USE A TRAVEL AGENT
Use a travel agent for access to exclusive savings and expert knowledge. Although there is a lot of information online about booking your own trip, an expert can help navigate your options with ease, recommend places they have personal experience with, and be an extra layer of assistance if something happens before or during your trip. Oftentimes their connections will allow them to find you the best prices that you may have never found on your own. This can save you both time and money.
CONSIDER SHOULDER SEASON
If you have a destination in mind, start looking into travel dates slightly outside the peak season. This shoulder season, between high and low season, usually has less crowds, and better prices. Everything from your transportation, flight costs, and accommodations can be significantly lower and you’ll most likely enjoy close to the same weather and experiences as you would if you traveled during the high season. Some of the best dates to travel are departing on New Year’s Eve, and enjoying your vacation during the first week of the year.
BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR TRAVEL DATES
If you can be flexible on travel dates, this can also help you save on your next trip. Rather than traveling during a popular school break or holiday for example, you may be able to slightly overlap those dates to save. You can even set price alerts on many websites to notify you when there’s a drop in the prices of the tickets you were looking at. Flying mid-week is also a great way to help you save on airfare. By avoiding busy travel days, you’ll also avoid the greatest potential for cancelled or delayed flights, and traffic too.
PACK LIGHT FOR EXTRA SAVINGS
Sometimes you have no choice, but if you have the option between traveling with only a carry-on or checked baggage, it can be lucrative and less stressful to pack a carry-on only. A carry-on will allow you more flexibility and less time stuck waiting for baggage claim, as well as less money spent on a ticket in some cases. However, on a sold-out flight, you may be required to check your bag depending on your boarding time and if the overhead bins fill up. Luckily this usually won’t add to your ticket cost since you’re already at the gate!
Make sure to weigh your packed baggage and follow your specific airline regulations to avoid extra fees. Follow weight and size regulations, and don't forget to leave some space for any purchases made during your travels. A portable luggage scale can be a useful purchase and a travel essential both before you depart, and on your way back home. Don’t wait until you get to the airport scale to find out your luggage is too heavy. Instead you will be able to check if your luggage is overweight and make any necessary changes before you check out of your accommodations, saving you from some added airport stress too!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COST SAVING ADD ONS AND PACKAGES
Look for add ons that you can take advantage of and maximize to their fullest potential. A breakfast credit or credit towards an activity with your booking can be used to leave room in your budget for something else. Don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade at check in either. Some resorts and hotels could have a last-minute cancellation that you can take advantage of, receiving a better view or room at little to no cost. Keep in mind what’s important to you. Whereas some travelers prioritize luxury accommodations, others prioritize experiences instead, and that’s the beauty of travel – it’s all up to you to customize the trip to what you are looking for!
PROTECT YOUR TRIP
Although you cannot always control the costs or availability of your travel dates and plans, one thing you can control is knowing your trip is well protected. Let TravelInsuranceMaster.com make your travel planning process easier, and next trip stress-free, by recommending the best insurance plan and best value for you in just a few simple steps. No trip or vacation is the same, and your travel insurance shouldn’t be either. We partner with the world’s leading providers to bring a large variety of plans and benefits to one website. You will be able to clearly compare plans side by side, find your recommended plan and value easily, and complete your purchase, receiving your plan straight to your email.
Travel insurance has become a fundamental part of any trip, and with the right benefits, you will be prepared for the unexpected. Your travel plan is an investment of not just money but time too, protect it with Travel Insurance Master!