After two years of canceled and modified vacation plans, many people are excited about the prospect of more “normal” summer travel. Of course, with average flight prices increasing sharply since the start of the year and record-high gas prices, you might be wondering how to get the most out of your summer vacation without breaking the bank.
Embrace flexibility with flights
Being flexible about the dates and times of your flights is one of the best ways to keep your airfare cost as low as possible. Google Flights date grid and price graph can help you easily identify the cheapest dates to fly. If you live within a reasonable driving distance of multiple airports, compare prices at all of them — just be sure to account for any extra cost associated with getting to and from an airport that is further from home.
Head offsite for car rentals
If you are flying to your vacation destination and renting a car, compare rental prices at nearby locations outside of the airport. Ten minutes in an Uber to a rental location a few miles from the airport could save you more than one hundred dollars on your weeklong car rental. The longer the rental, the higher the savings.
Take advantage of free events and activities
Planning your vacation around free or low-cost activities can help balance out higher transportation and accommodation costs. Summer is a great time to take advantage of this!
Look up local festivals, spend a day on the beach, go for a hike, or bring a picnic to a winery.
Eat some of your meals “at home”
Rather than dining out for your whole vacation, eat one of two of your meals per day “at home.” With access to a small refrigerator or cooler, you can keep fruit, yogurt, and milk for breakfast as well as lunch meat, cheese, and vegetables for sandwiches. If you are staying somewhere with a full kitchen, cook dinner at home and enjoy cheaper lunchtime prices for your meals out.
Start planning for next year
If there is anywhere you find yourself wanting to travel this year that feels out of reach financially, put it on your list for next year. One of the best ways to save on travel is by booking in advance. Set a reminder on your phone to start planning for when you wish you had started planning this year.
It is also a great time to look for a new travel rewards card with an appealing bonus that can reduce your out-of-pocket travel costs next year — as long you are paying your credit card in full each month.
