Go Where You Want, Without Going Bankrupt

If you're reading this you have an interest in travel. Most of us have a great interest in travel but feel limited in opportunity. I bet you feel most of that opportunity is limited by money. Mark Twain said, "The lack of money is the root of all evil." But let's not get evil, let's get smart. There are options for travel that can ease the grip on your bank account and make your travel budget go further. 

This is the first in a series of budget wise travel that will also enhance your travel experience. Considering your first step is getting there, let's talk about air fare. Everyone claims to have a trick or a deal, but as far as deals go you have to keep up with where the deals are at. Hopefully I can give you a few new tips to help you plan for your next adventure. 

A few years ago my husband and I decided to take our son on his first international trip. We had big trip aspirations, but not a big budget to match. We managed to find affordable airfare to a desirable location by following these tips.

Eagle Street Pier and Story Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, AU

1. Travel "Off-season"
June through August in the northern hemisphere is peak season for most vacation destinations.  During the same months there are plenty of places that are "off-season" and offer exotic locations and adventure. We found Australia in August is much cheaper and there were no draw backs to the off-season. Queensland is ideal at this time of year with mild temperatures, migrating whales, and endless activities. From the Gold Coast to Brisbane and as far north as Cairns you can enjoy 900 miles of culture, cuisine, and adventure all at off-season rates. Are you dead set on traveling to Europe? Look for discounted rates in the fall and spring; the weather is beautiful and the crowds will be less. I traveled to Japan in December and loved it more than in the summer. The weather was a little cooler but the prices were cheaper and gave us more flexibility.

Off-season in Queensland, AU means the best whale watching in the world; Hervey Bay on the Coral Sea, Queensland, AU. 

2. Look for specials, and let someone else do the hard work for you.
You're going to have to sacrifice your email address and take the time to read and compare the onslaught of information, but it will pay off in big savings! Sign up for travel sights and airline frequent flier programs and start watching the deals fly in. Airlines, although technically not able to offer lower prices than the travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity, do offer discount codes only to their frequent fliers when booking directly through the airline site. For our Australia trip we found the best deal was directly through Qantas. Their Red e-Mail sent the top deals to our inbox and allowed us to comparison shop. There are other web-sites that you should also turn to, one of my favorite is Airfare Watchdog they not only allow you to comparison shop current verified rates but also list current airline promo codes! Sign up with a few different sites, and let the comparing begin! Just keep in mind that you're never going to find the perfect fare, and the only perfect time to buy is when the price matches your travel budget. Also consider flying one-way on different airlines for the best deal. 



3. Be ready to buy and have flexible dates
If you have to travel on a specific date you are at the mercy of the airline for fares, but if you can be a little flexible you get to take the reigns on price for airfare. Try this approach: decide how much you want to spend, identify the target price and max price for the trip you want to take. Then start looking at destinations you are interested in and be ready to buy when you find the destination that has flights that fit in your budget. Unfortunately we are limited by how many seats are open on each plane and if you don't purchase the best deal while it's available, I guarantee it will be gone. For example, this year marked our 11th year of marriage and we wanted to get back to Hawaii. We started looking long before our targeted travel dates and watched the airfare stay high for months. Finally Hawaiian Airlines posted a deal that was about $220 lower than average, and we snatched it up. The available seats sold out in record time, and we were two of the lucky travelers ready to buy when the opportunity arose. Alternatively, if you are spontaneous and have flexibility to travel last minute you can sometime find insane deals on airfare. The downside is sometimes accommodations are not so cheap last minute, again unless you are flexible and have an open mind to where you stay.


Next time, I'll talk about better ways to find accommodations that could be free! or really inexpensive (oh yeah, it's possible!). Until then, I hope I've inspired you to travel somewhere new!