The post-holiday season can be a great time to snag a good deal on an affordable getaway package, and as a result, it is not uncommon for people to take up the opportunity to get out of town.
That said, the wintertime is also the busy season for a lot of resorts and more touristy Southern locales, so it also means that anybody wanting to travel at this time may end up spending more than they bargained for since airlines, hotels, and resorts are probably counting on a full roster, especially during the weekends.
However, this doesn’t mean that everybody has to wait for the rainy season to finally get a much-needed escape, but it does mean that they might want to incorporate some smart spending tactics if they want to keep things on a reasonable budget and affordable.
With that in mind, this article is going to list some handy spending tips that peak season travelers might want to keep in mind when planning their getaway this winter. Read on to learn more.
1. Skip Traditional Hotels and Resorts
When planning a vacation to a location, especially one they haven’t visited before, a lot of people are tempted to simply stay in a familiar hotel or resort. This seems logical, given that these places for many become a bit of a comfort zone. In addition, they tend to offer up the type of foods that Americans are accustomed to eating, not to mention unlimited access to everything that a person needs to have a good time in the case of say, an all-inclusive resort.
However, it’s also important to remember that the point of taking a vacation is to get out of that zone of familiarity for a while, and people might be surprised to find just how much fun they can actually have, not to mention how much money they can save when they branch out from the more predictable resort or hotel-style accommodations into the realm of vacation rentals.
Indeed, sites that offer these kinds of offerings are a fantastic bet since they give travelers access to a wide range of price points and offer plenty of great options for saving money. In general, a family can lock down a fully equipped home away from home, complete with a full kitchen and the type of amenities that you just don’t get in a hotel, all for a very low price. In addition, people can choose to stay in the type of locales that are off the beaten tourist path, while budget travelers can simply rent a room in somebody’s home if they want to save on cash.
With all these great options available, travelers are much more likely to be able to cash in on an experience that is truly tailored to their needs while being encouraged to get out and about and explore during the day time rather than lounge around the hotel. As such, these types of rentals are the best bet in terms of cashing in on a really memorable adventure and keeping extra money in their bank in Sun City.
2. Choose a Drivable Location
Getting there is half the journey, and this is truer than ever when travelers opt to drive to their getaway locale. A road trip in itself is always an exhilarating experience, and packing the car and heading out is a great way to save big on all those overpriced flights when the airlines are counting on being fully booked.
For those who really want to maximize their affordability, they can even combine the previous travel hack and pre-book vacation rental packages along the route. Don’t forget to leave some time to explore all those exciting stops along the way either.
The point here is that sometimes the drive is just as much fun as relaxing on a tropical beach, so if the destination is reasonably drivable and there is a vehicle available, tacking on a road-trip to the adventure can really add to the experience, not to mention help everybody save on the price of flights.
3. Bypass Roaming Fees With a Travel Phone Plan
There is nothing worse than settling in after a nice long vacation only to receive a phone bill that is through the roof with roaming fees. After all, these are the type of unexpected extras that can really blow a budget, and the type of fees that companies will charge for using data or phone services in another country can be really off the chart.
This is why it is important to be prudent when it comes to avoiding racking up a crazy phone bill. All companies will offer some kind of travel package deal, and while it might seem like a lot, it is way cheaper than having to lose out on the convenience of a navigation system when trying to find out how to get around an unfamiliar area, or accidentally leaving that data on, which is all too easy to do.
However, this isn’t the only solution. Anybody visiting a more Southern country might also want to consider shopping around for temporary phone cards. A local provider can usually outfit a traveler with a phone card for a very reasonable price, and it is often more affordable than what the American provider might have to offer.
4. Cut Down on Bank Fees
When traveling abroad, the best bet in terms of avoiding racking up extra bank fees is to try to use that credit card to pay whenever possible.
Do keep in mind that this can be a slippery slope, so be sure to keep spending tightly reined in and stick to a daily spending limit to avoid having to return from a lovely getaway with stressful debt load to manage. That said, for anybody who doesn’t have a credit card, this could be a good time to reach out to a local bank in Sun City to see what they have available.
However, it is also important to remember that a credit card will usually not cut it for everything, and it is important to have some spending money on hand as well. As such, when it comes to taking out cash, the standard ATM is usually the best way to go, but count on racking up not only the usual ATM fees but fees for using an international ATM as well.
As such, before setting out, it is always a good idea to check in with that local bank in Sun City to find out what their charging policy is on international withdrawals.
The Takeaway
Getaway adventures can provide people with a much-needed respite from the hum-drum of day-to-day life, but when planning travel during the peak season it is always a good idea to think outside of the box so that everybody can still enjoy an affordable adventure.