- Matt. Create. / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
The phrase luxury vacation can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. The only trouble is, by their very nature, holidays like this tend to cost plenty of money. Given the limited budgets many people are operating on, the high cost of such breaks can be off-putting. However, there are ways in which smart travelers can save themselves cash.
Do your homework
By searching for deals online, consumers stand to greatly reduce their costs. For example, take advantage of a vacation comparison site. Such websites enable individuals to compare a host of accommodation and travel offers instantaneously and can make finding the most competitive deals that bit easier. Savings can also be made by following travel providers on social media. Firms will often release special deals via sites like Twitter and Facebook, so it pays to keep your eye on what’s trending.
Get your timing right
Meanwhile, it can pay off to prioritize quality over quantity. In other words, rather than shelling out for less luxurious ten or 14-day breaks, people can instead opt for top-quality five or seven-day vacations.
Timing is also crucial. Last-minute deals can often get you a vacation in exotic locations from the Med to the Maldives, and this tactic is particularly effective if holidaymakers are flexible in terms of their destinations. Meanwhile, traveling off-peak can save individuals lots of money. For example, many far-flung destinations have a ‘wet season’, when prices fall. Furthermore, steering clear of the peak vacation periods, particularly the school breaks, can bring costs right down, as can jetting off midweek.
Weigh up the costs
Travelers can also save cash by being strategic in their bookings. In some cases, it’s wise to choose package vacations, meaning hotel and flights are paid for together. All-inclusive deals that incorporate food and drink can sometimes work out the best value, as many tour companies bulk buy these and sell them off at ever-decreasing prices. Anyone flying to popular destinations for one or two weeks may well benefit from this approach. On the other hand, those heading off on less well-trodden routes or for an unusual length of time may be better off arranging transport and accommodation separately.
Exchange rates are another issue to consider. Consumers can make their budgets stretch much further if they benefit from a favorable rate. Destinations like Sri Lanka and Bali can offer very low living costs, for example, while economic hardship in European favourites like Greece and Spain has obviously had an effect on daily prices. Moreover, this has prompted hotels and travel agents to reduce their prices further in both countries, in order to entice more visitors, so you may find luxury stays at a fraction of the normal price.
- Matt. Create. / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Grabbing a luxury break for less is all about strategy, planning and balancing your books. If you can cut out unnecessary expenses in some areas, such as distance to destination or the type of accommodation you pick, your budget will suddenly seem much more elastic and you should be able to treat yourself to a bit of pampering or a few days lazing in the sun.