Sometimes you’ve just got to get away. Whether it’s for work or for pleasure, it’s not always feasible to plan trips far in advance. Yet for most people, the idea of last-moment travel is quite stressful — and expensive.
Fortunately, traveling on the fly doesn’t have to break the bank, and there are even some benefits to a spontaneous adventure. If you’ve been dreaming of a getaway and haven’t booked early, follow these strategies for saving money along the way.
1. Create a Travel Fund That Lets You Pounce on Bargains
Travel isn’t solely for the lifestyles of the rich and famous. These days, travel can be adjusted to fit almost any budget. But regardless of whether a trip is planned or spur-of-the-moment, no one is going anywhere if funds just aren’t there. Budgeting for travel affords you the freedom to take advantage of any great travel deals you may come across.
When it comes to vacationing, a little financial prep work can go a long way. Set aside money each month in a dedicated travel savings account. These deposits can be automated so you never even miss the money. Some banks offer debit cards that round up with each swipe and send the difference to savings, enabling additional contributions to your travel fund.
2. Choose a Deal, Not a Destination
One of the simplest ways to save money on travel is to be open to various dates and locations. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, it’s less likely you’ll have those specifics in mind. So choose your trips by selecting the best deals available and leave the dates and destinations to happenstance. The more adaptable you can be, the better the chance of snagging a stellar bargain.
Most travel websites have pages dedicated to their last-minute deals. Online travel agencies like Orbitz and Expedia offer discounted rates on packages, flights, and hotels. Google Flights is another great resource if you can be flexible with when and where you are going. This site allows you to explore airfare from multiple airlines based on dates and how much you’d like to spend. One downside of Google Flights is it doesn’t include Southwest Airlines flights, so be sure to investigate those separately.
3. Be Flexible With Your Flight
Time of year, time of day, and even the day of the week can all affect the cost of airfare. This is another area where flexibility can lead to substantial savings. Red-eye flights, with either very early or very late departures, are always priced lower to incentivize travel at non-peak hours.
Try scheduling travel for off seasons such as late summer through early fall. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas also tend to be slower travel times, as is the whole month of January. Plus, you get the added bonus of fewer crowds.
It is almost always less expensive to travel on weekdays than on weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the cheapest days to fly, so consider booking your trip midweek through midweek. Use flight search engines like Kayak and Skyscanner to quickly and easily find the lowest fares.
Booking your departing and return flights with separate airlines may allow you to find even better rates. Keep in mind that if you need to cancel your flights, however, you may have to pay cancellation fees twice.
4. Take Advantage of Technology
There is certainly no shortage of online travel agencies to help you find the perfect vacation packages. But checking each company’s page can be cumbersome and time-consuming. It also may not give you the extra jump needed to grab the sweetest last-minute deals.
Subscribe to email newsletters and follow social media pages for the most up-to-date deals and discounts. If you do happen to have a particular vacation destination in mind, sign up for flight alerts through Kayak or Google Flights. With these notifications, it’s even possible to stumble across mistake fares (underpriced airfares set in error) if you can stay patient and flexible!
5. Use Your Rewards
Whether your travel goals are lofty or humble, learning to use travel rewards is a great way to save some extra money. Travel rewards can generally be broken down into hotel points, airline miles, or credit card points. Having some loose travel goals in mind is helpful when deciding which types of rewards will be most beneficial to you. But you could just as easily tailor unplanned trips around whatever rewards points you have available.
Many rewards-earning credit cards come with decent welcome bonuses, which can be used as a springboard for scheduling your next getaway. The amount of rewards points accumulated varies from card to card and usually depends on what you’re purchasing.
To truly maximize travel rewards, it’s important to know the particulars of your card and limit cash use when possible. And don’t forget to sign up for hotel chain and airline loyalty programs for even more travel perks!
While planning for a specific vacation is the safe bet, sometimes it’s exciting to just get up and go. Flexibility is the watchword when you’re trying to find a last-minute getaway. Start a travel fund, begin racking up travel rewards, and keep your eye out for those outstanding last-minute deals. Leave the stress at home and take opportunities as they come. You’ll be sure to make fantastic memories along the way!
