The festive season, invariably packed with planning, shopping, celebrations, and events, can turn even more frenzied if you intend to travel. Sure, you might be looking forward to exploring a fresh landscape, a cozy beach holiday to escape the chilly winds, or a short family get-together in another town but getting there can entail quite a bit of effort. Dealing with bustling airports, unexpected travel costs or lengthy, expensive road journeys can be the norm. But the question is: how can one make holiday travel both cost-effective and peaceful this year? Here are several suggestions to help you pocket savings and stay clear of annoyances during your holiday trip.
1. INITIATE EARLY PLANNING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TRIP
Setting out your travel arrangements can take a great deal of time and effort. Hence, it’s wise to commence planning as early as you can, especially when you know you have holiday travel lined up. Depending on your destination, flight and hotel bookings may get occupied quickly.
There are likely early bird discounts that you can avail. Delay the process, though, and you’ll have wasted your golden opportunity.
Moreover, you should set aside enough time to compare prices and browse through various comparison sites. By rushing into the first offer that pops up due to time constraints, you might miss the chance of saving more money with a different option.
2. STAY FLEXIBLE
Maintaining some degree of flexibility with your travel arrangements can alleviate stress if unforeseen issues crop up. Booking holiday trips right on the day might risk confusion if the schedule changes unexpectedly.
Instead of taking such a gamble, keep your itinerary flexible, and consider parting a day or two early to cater to last-minute changes. This way, you reduce the risk of missing out on your holiday festivities. Plus, you might stumble upon last-minute discounts and airline cash vouchers if flights get delayed or rescheduled.
3. MAKE USE OF YOUR CREDIT CARD REWARDS
Credit card rewards can be valuable when trying to economize holiday travel. If you’ve planned a holiday trip, you can utilize your reward points to finance a substantial portion of your flight or hotel expenses, provided you have planned well ahead.
For instance, if you’re planning a Christmas cruise, contemplate using a rewards credit card that allows you to accumulate points redeemable for cruises. Barclaycard offers one such rewards credit card.
Last year, I signed up for a Barclaycard credit card and received a 50,000 point sign-up bonus. I used these points to gain $500 off on a cruise, which almost covered the all-inclusive cruise for my husband and me. We only needed to pay for flights and transfers, freeing up a good portion of our budget.
Holders of reward credit cards might also enjoy access to comfortable airport lounges and other exclusive perks. Waiting for your flight in a serene airport lounge equipped with snacks and free WiFi can make your holiday journey less daunting.
Do not drop the ball on cashback rewards either. Go through your cashback cards to see if any balance can be put towards your travel expenses.
No matter how small the amount, any extra cash that covers road trip snacks can go a long way in reducing your travel expenses. Make travelling this holiday season a lot less taxing with these suggestions!
4. THINK OF GIVING SIMPLE AND EASY-TO-CARRY GIFTS
If you’re planning to bring gifts along, choose items that are compact and won’t occupy much space. While gift cards are certainly convenient, they don’t necessarily have to be your only choice.
Smaller items like socks, t-shirts, mini-gift sets, notebooks, and jewelry are all travel-friendly and can be easily stashed into a suitcase. You could also go beyond basic gift cards and opt for memberships, classes, coupons, or experiential gifts.
Consider avoiding fragile electronics, dishware, or tools that could be perceived as security risks at airports.
Purchase gifts at your destination if time permits, though it might make more sense to complete all your shopping ahead of your trip so you can relax and enjoy bonding with your family and friends.
5. STAY OPEN TO LESS LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation prices tend to rise during the holiday season due to increased demand. To balance costs, you might have to tone down your expectations slightly about the quality of your holiday accommodation.
Say, for instance, if you normally prefer 4 or 5-star properties, consider a 3-star property or an Airbnb as a means to save money. If you’re visiting family, check if they have extra space where you can stay. Even a night or two can save you much-needed money.
If you’re traveling as a family, make sure to book places that accommodate everyone comfortably. Consider sharing the costs among yourselves. An 8-person villa or resort could be cheaper and more luxurious than booking separate hotel rooms for everyone.
IN SUMMARY
Holiday travel can become stressful if you lack organization, pre-planning, and fail to utilize specific strategies to save both time and money. While the festive season can get chaotic, whether you’re at home hosting or traveling, it’s advisable to escape to a Phuket Wellness Resort for a calming sojourn before the summer ends.
Craft a precise plan, set a budget, and get inventive in terms of cost-cutting and maintaining peace of mind. Don’t let the holiday frenzy rob you of your serenity or the chance to celebrate and create special memories with your beloved ones.
Have you ever journeyed during the holiday season? If yes, do share how you manage to economize and keep anxiety at bay?
