When it’s time for your well-deserved vacation, nothing should be holding you back – especially not finances. Whether you’re planning a week-long or weekend getaway this summer, follow our tips for ultimate savings on your vacation:
Use your reward credit cards: If you’re doing a lot of traveling this summer, make sure you look into a reward credit card that fits your plans. Utilizing rewards credit cards are an excellent method for extra savings, as long as you do your research and stay on top of payments. There’s airline points for frequent flyers, gas rewards for road trippers, and even restaurant rewards for foodies.
Push it back: If your dream vacation is out of your budget for the peak summer months, consider waiting until fall or even winter to take your trip. In most cases, hotels, flights, and excursions are cheaper during the off-season.
Use a travel agent: Who better to plan your trip and find places to save than a travel expert? Their expertise will help you find the best deal for your trip and cut out the extra, all without the headache. Travel agents typically make their money off commission from the airlines and hotels, not you.
Check your calendar: Schedule your vacation so you need to take as few days from work without pay as possible. Look for a week with a holiday you already would have off, such as Labor Day, and save an extra day of your PTO. If you have some flexibility, look into adding an extra hour or two to your workday the week before your trip to save an extra PTO day!
Do a “staycation”: You may think this means simply staying put at home. A staycation, though, can be as extravagant or laid back as you please! Instead of planning a week-long vacation consisting of hotel and travel costs, consider opting for a few day trips throughout the summer. Think a beach trip, an amusement park visit, or a concert. You can have fun close to home all while saving big!
Get ahead for next year: Open a new savings account as your “vacation fund” and set up automatic transfers from your checking account. Set the amount to any extra you know you can swing – whether it’s every week, after every payday, or the end of the month. Before you know it, you’ll have a nice stash of money towards the vacation you deserve. It’s never too early to plan for your next vacation!
Whether your vacation is around the corner or you’re getting ahead for next year, these simple vacation savings tips are sure to help you get the most out of your trip! For more information on savings accounts, visit penncommunitybank.com.