It’s really important to get the most out of your precious vacation and there are costly travel mistakes to avoid if you are going to maximize your budget. You work or study hard all year so it’s a bit of a let down if you know you could have made your vacation even better than it was, but you failed to understand or take action against the costly travel mistakes to avoid.
Peak season traveling is popular because it coincides with school breaks and usually the better weather. Traveling peak season, however, is one of the costliest travel mistakes to avoid. Unless you are restricted to only being able to travel at peak season, you can save big money on flights and hotels if you travel during the shoulder seasons. The shoulder season is the couple of weeks after or before the peak period and will still give you that great break without having to spend so much.
Another of the common travel mistakes to avoid is making your plans before you check out flight costs. Researching beforehand to find the lowest cost fares is now easy with many websites to help you and some where you can even set up alerts to notify you of prices and price changes. Also, if you are prepared to make stops on your way to your destination, multiple-stop flights can be cheaper than direct flights, saving you money.
Paying the full rate at a hotel can be easily avoided. Many hotels will offer a percentage discount off if you book and pay for your accommodation in advance. Note though that this type of booking is usually non-cancellable, non-refundable and non-changeable. Hotels are also generally cheaper if you book directly with them rather than through an agent. Hotwire.com also has great deals as they help hotels book unsold rooms, the catch being you won’t know which hotel you are staying at till a couple of days beforehand.
Think ahead and plan how you are going to travel around your destination once you get there, as there will definitely be some extra travel costs to avoid. Advanced planning of this aspect can make your trip go smoothly and save you money.
• Always check if there is a free airport shuttle service offered by your hotel.
• Use local transport where possible – in some places, it’s part of the travel adventure
• Don’t rent a car at the airport as they will usually charge an “airport fee.” Instead find a rental company that offers free pickup from the airport.
• If there is a subway or train consider purchasing a day or longer pass, this will work out much cheaper than using a taxi.
Many people make the mistake of not haggling over prices because it makes them feel uncomfortable. There are many overseas destinations where haggling is not only acceptable, but also expected. It may feel embarrassing at first but after a few times it will become second nature. Remember it never hurts to ask.
It is easy to fall for the patter of holiday reps who make their tours sound inviting and like a good value. Unless you are on vacation where it is only safe to travel in packs, you will generally find that you can do the same self tour/trip on your own devices for less. Booking a load of organized trips and tours is definitely one of the costly travel mistakes to avoid. As well as being an expensive exercise, it takes some of the flexibility of being able to go where you want on the days you want.
It is important to understand the value of the currency of the country you are visiting. Know the exchange rate and have a simple calculation you can use quickly to ensure you’re not paying over the odds for anything. Change money at a local bank as they can give you a better rate than if you exchange it at your hotel or the airport. Airports and hotels will charge you higher transaction rates; you will pay for the convenience. Use an international credit card rather than travelers checks which have an issue and process fee, not to mention a fee to cash in at your destination country. Call your credit card provider and they should be able to tell you the best way and places to use your card in the country you are traveling to and they can ensure your account doesn’t get put on hold due to overseas purchases. A handy tip is to email yourself your bank’s overseas contact number in case your card is stolen, lost or put on hold, along with your account number. This will make it easier to sort out any problems quickly. You can also do this with any travelers check numbers.
Making sure you know the travel mistakes to avoid can bring a greater overall satisfaction factor for your trip - whether you are backpacking and staying in hostels or opting for an all-inclusive hotel package deal. How do you get the best deals when you travel?