Traveling is fun yet it can be an expensive hobby, especially if you have an exorbitant taste. If you travel frequently and want to have a luxurious experience, you will have to dig even deeper into your pockets than someone who has limited vacation days. After all, you would love to wine and dine in some of the city’s finest hotels. Sadly, your bank account might not make it easy to explore some of the world’s luxury vacation experiences.
However, this doesn’t mean you should book a dingy motel room so that you can save some bucks. Perhaps you could avoid making numerous stops to your dream destination because flying first class doesn’t come cheap. This is just one of the hacks you can pull off. Let’s take a deep dive into what frequent travelers can do to save money on luxurious vacations.
Mix & match hotel stay experiences!
It would be a waste to splurge money on an expensive room when you know you will be running errands and sightseeing all day. Why not go for moderately priced options for hotels when you are planning to be out there sightseeing.
In some cases, it might be economical to stay at a luxury hotel for more than a week. A better alternative would be to look for an Airbnb or select a mid-range luxury hotel. Go high-end luxury when you are planning to spend most of your time in the hotel room. You could tour every inch of the hotel and ensure you take advantage of all the amenities, including the spa and the gym.
Make use of your credit card perks
Credit cards will often offer perks to help you travel in style for cheaper. For instance, the Delta Reserve American Express Card comes with a first-class two-for-one voucher each year. If you have this card, you could travel first class for half off and put the money you saved to good use. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card also awards you three points per dollar you spend traveling with your card. You can then redeem these points for 1.5 cents per point.
Avoid carrying too much luggage
An excellent way to save money on your luxury trip would be to pack a light suitcase. If possible, you should strive to travel with hand luggage and a small bag where you can pack a few basic wardrobe essentials. Traveling light will help you quickly move out of the airport to the next destination. Keep in mind that airlines will charge you extra if you have excess luggage, especially for long-haul flights.
Plan ahead of time
If you take the time to plan for your luxury vacation well in advance, you could pay a third of the fare than if you waited till the last minute. Ensure to book your flight earlier, perhaps three months in advance, and take note of the flight date. This simple trick will help you save thousands of dollars that you could use to extend your vacation, buy food or go sightseeing.
Join loyalty & membership programs
Numerous credit cards, airlines, and hotels offer loyalty programs to their customers, which you can use to save some extra bucks on your next luxury trip. For instance, if you travel regularly, you could determine whether your favorite airline has a loyalty program that offers its clients free miles.
Some hotels also give frequent customers discounts when they stay for a certain period during their vacation. Once you accumulate a certain number of points or qualify for a discount, you could save the extra bucks for your next vacation or elongate your stay.
You could also look into a membership at your favorite destinations. For example, you could buy a long-term rental membership to make something like a Disney trip planning easy and affordable. It will help you explore luxurious Disney destinations for decades to come, and save on future accommodations.
Be flexible with your travel dates
Flight tickets will be one of the most significant expenses on your luxury vacation. You will most likely want to travel in style and enjoy all the perks of flying first class. An excellent way to save money on your luxury vacation would be to be flexible with your flight dates. For instance, you could stay a few extra days at a stopover to save some extra bucks for a better hotel or add more days to your vacation. You could also fly off-peak when the prices are cheaper. Everything becomes more expensive during the holidays because airlines know people want to go sightseeing or visit their families back at home.
Set flight alerts
If you travel regularly, you would probably like to save as much money as you can to keep up with your lifestyle. Flight alerts will help you discover the best deals and cheapest airlines available so that you can travel in style without breaking the bank. It would also help if you signed up for the airline’s mailing list to avoid missing any lucrative seasonal flights deals.
Pack healthy snacks and treats in advance
Restaurants and eateries at the airport are pretty expensive compared to the delicious meals you can buy when you get to your destination. If you are traveling alone, you can survive on the foodstuff offered in the plane until you get where you are going.
However, if you are traveling with young children who might nag you for something to eat, we suggest carrying some healthy treats and snacks to nibble on until you arrive. If packed snacks are not an option, an alternative would be buying food at outlets that offer a meal deal for under $5 or so.
Wrapping up
We hope this quick guide has provided you with some practical hacks to help you save money and enjoy a luxurious vacation. It will help you explore more travel vacation destinations as an avid traveler. Again, you don’t need to have deep pockets to enjoy luxury travel around the world. Use some clever hacks to save more on your adventure!