We all enjoy a relaxing break, however, can you really switch off if you are worrying about budgeting for your trip?

Whilst none of us want this to be the overarching concern when booking a holiday. Costs do add up. So how can you plan a great getaway and keep an eye on your purse strings?

Here are our top tips to help you save money on your next vacation.

Book early

It goes without saying, but especially since covid, booking as far in advance as possible gives the best deals. We always tend to leave things until the last minute, but we’ve realized this strategy just doesn’t work now. Due to all the increased costs for travel companies booking early is the easiest way to keep things affordable.

Use price comparison sites to find for example the best hotels around Nashville when planning a trip. These often have better deals than going direct to the hotel website.

Travel during in the low season

We actually really enjoy traveling in low season, there’s less crowds. Hospitality staff are less frantic and the service is great. It’s harder now we have children and have to stick to school holidays. However, we’ve found going a day earlier or later can make all the difference.

Airport parking

Another way to save money is to book your airport parking offsite. Parkos parking offers this: https://parkos.com/logan-airport-parking/

It means you secure a space a short distance from the airport at a lower fee. Often there are extra services available like a private shuttle to the airport, valet parking, car wash, car checkups, luggage help, electrical charging of vehicles and more.

It takes a bit of the stress away by making sure you arrive at the airport without problems and for an affordable price.

Use those rewards!

If you travel for work then often you’ll have gained some useful points for hotel stays. These are collected through using your credit cards or individual hotel loyalty programs. Should you have these, be sure to use them. You can often get a discount on flights, accommodation and upgrades.

Eat in or local

When traveling to and from the airport and even on the plane try and bring your own food and drink. This will save you a lot of money, as airports are an expensive place to buy snacks.

Once you’re away, think about how to plan your meals. We will often have breakfast at the hotel/ apartment and then go out for lunch in a cafe rather than a restaurant.

In the evening maybe eat in your accommodation if you have facilities and then just pop out for a walk and an ice cream. An evening meal for a family really adds on a lot of extras and it’s easy not to notice how much you’re spending.

Avoid touristy tours

There will often be some excursions or tours you can go on when you arrive at your destination. Before booking, think about how well they will suit you all.

Young children will struggle to stand in lines and queue to visit museums. We’ve found the hop-on hop-off bus tours better, as we all see a bit of the places we’re visiting and can get off if there is something specific we like the look of. It also stops everyone getting too tired.

For the adults you still get the impression you saw the main parts of a place or city without missing too much.

Don’t forget travel insurance

Always take out travel insurance before you go. This can be bought quite cheaply if you use a comparison site.

You want to be protected from any unexpected costs, like lost belongings or medical items and bills. Knowing you have this will bring peace of mind.

We hope you found these simple tips easy to follow and that you’ll be able to save money on your next vacation. Then all that’s left to do is enjoy your trip!

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.