Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Save on Summer Vacation

As summer draws closer and the last day of school nears, the idea of a retreat seems essential. AAA reports that Americans continue to make family trips a priority with a significant increase in those planning three more vacations this year.

“The most intimidating part of a vacation is often the expense,” acknowledges Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency.

GreatFlorida Insurance is here to help with insightful suggestions to help you save money to plan a summer getaway.

Flights

When flying, try to leave on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when fares are lower. You’ll save an avercheapair-2017-when_to_buy-infographic-v5-500pxage of $73 per ticket by flying on these days, according to the CheapAir.com 2017 Annual Airfare Study.  Also, they found money can be saved purchasing your tickets 54 days in advanced, 99 days in advanced if you are traveling overseas.

Another finding, early-morning and late-night flights are cheaper. Check flights into and out of all available airports near you and your destination. Fares can vary greatly depending on the airport you choose.

If you must travel during a certain week, try adding or subtracting a day from your trip. A change of a day or two will generate a cheaper fare or rate. Try to avoid traveling over the summer holidays to save money. Memorial Day, The Fourth of July and Labor Day can cost the most money to travel.

Accommodations

When selecting where to stay on vacation it is necessary to prioritize. Decide what is most important to you; location, price, loyalty program or amenities and search for those specifically to save time.

You can price compare and search by location preferences and amenities on websites such as hotels.com and booking.com . Be sure to check out a hotel’s website, they sometimes offer the best deals.

Keep in mind, many budget-friendly hotel chains offer quality amenities. In fact, budget hotels often provide free WiFi, free breakfast and sometimes free evening snacks and drinks. While larger hotel chains, often charge for internet use and don’t usually offer freebies.

If you plan to vacation for over a week check out vacation rentals over a hotel to save money. Look at home-sharing sites such as Airbnb or HomeAway. Home-sharing provides a unique, local experience for less money. Additionally, you get kitchen access, which will help curb food costs. Rentals also offer more privacy.

Buck with GreatFlorida Insurance reminds, “The host of a rental home might not have the adequate liability coverage if you injure yourself on their property, this is when your homeowners insurance can help.”

Budget

Set a budget. Break it down in to categories such as transportation, lodging, meals, entertainment and misc. expenses. In addition, consider giving your kids a daily amount for spending. This will eliminate the constant requests for a souvenir by your child and place the decision in their hands.  And they can learn to manage money in the process. Another suggestion to incorporate into your planning, create an itinerary to prevent unnecessary spending.

Bonus

To take advantage of preferential treatment, share with hotel staff or flight attendants if you are celebrating a special occasion. You could receive free champagne or even a hotel upgrade.

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Dustyn Shroff
Dustyn Shroffhttp://www.greatflorida.com
Vice President at GreatFlorida Insurance

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