So, you know where you want to go, have an idea of how to get there and where you want to stay. Have you taken a look at first pass costs? Do they scare you? There are a few trips that we would really like to go on, but the cost is so high that we can do two trips for the cost of the one. Cost justification vs. “how badly do I really want this experience” comes into play sometimes. But before you hit the BUY button or give up your trip plans because it’s too expensive or difficult, read on for some tips that you may not have thought about to save you a few bucks.
Obvious cost cutting considerations: Reduce the overall quantity of days/nights you are traveling, use budget airlines, go by bus or rail instead of flying, stay in a 3 star hotel instead of a 4 or 5 star hotel, try a short-term rental, attach a trip to other business travel or a required event such as a destination wedding, use a website to book air/hotel instead of booking directly, split meals or make your own meals to name a few.
Here are some not-so-obvious ideas:
Loyalty Programs: A great way to save money is to sign up for loyalty programs from well-known and trusted vendors. Some may be complicated to cash in, but some will give you a discount up front and that is well worth it!
Airline Frequent flyer programs will eventually earn you upgrades and even free flights. Sign up for them on the airlines you frequently use or think you may use in the future.
Loyalty programs for hotel chains, other transportation companies, travel websites and tour companies abound. Once I find a tour company that I like, I try to book frequently with them, so I get a discount as a repeat customer. The savings do add up.
There are also special sales throughout the year such as Black Friday and more. You may notice that when you go to a travel website, they will offer you a chance at a free trip or something else when you sign up for their mailing list. If you think you may be interested, sign up! Pretty soon you will see sale information clogging your inbox and probably your physical mailbox also.
Recently, I received an offer to book another cruise within a certain period of time after finishing up the first cruise I was on. Several groups will offer specials when you are already on holiday with them.
City wide Programs: Some cities will offer a combination ticket you can buy in advance that’s good for several different tourist destinations. Some include hop on/hop off buses. When thinking about this, make sure that what you want to see is on the combo ticket and that it is not less expensive to buy the tickets individually. Also, you may want to check on touring platforms such as Viator to see how much tickets cost there and if you can obtain a “skip the line” ticket.
As a sidenote, I usually book all sights tickets prior to arrival to ensure that we get a time slot on the day we want and to make sure that we don’t have to wait in a very long line, burning up our holiday time.
There are also several buy-ahead programs for subway fare, buses and more. For instance, in London there is the Oyster card, which you can prepay fare and then don’t have to buy a bunch of individual tickets at unmanned kiosks every time you want to use the tube.
Credit Cards: Some credit cards will give you cash back, airmiles or other perks for using their credit card. These perks do add up over time. Also, some credit cards include travel perks such as insurance, access to airport lounges and more. Do a little research and see how badly they want your business!
Don’t forget to use your Senior Discount!
