Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first time trip taker, these tips should come in handy when planning your next adventure!

Start A Travel Fund

Travelling can be expensive. It’s important to make sure that you have the money that you will need for the experience that you want. For smaller trips being spontaneous is ok, but with most trips planning ahead is the way to go. That way you will be able to space out the payments for things like flights, accommodations, and activities. If you transfer a little money from each paycheck into a travel or “fun” account, it can start to add up. Even $20 a pay period can start to make that trip a reality! I have the check from my airport job go straight into a separate savings account. There’s no ATM card so I can’t touch that money unless I go into my credit union. It makes saving for travel or unexpected purchases a lot easier.

Book Flights and Accommodations Early

Booking early means more savings, especially on airfare. If you are travelling internationally it’s suggested that you book at least four months in advance to get the best deals and seat selection. Domestic travel is best booked one to three months in advance. I know it’s tempting to book flights through a third party site (expedia, travelocity, etc) BUT if something goes wrong the airline can’t always help. You have to go through the site where you booked, which can be a huge headache. If you book directly through the airline there is always a person who can assist at the airport. I’m not just saying this because I work for an airline either. I can’t tell you how many times a flight was delayed or cancelled, and I couldn’t help with rebooking because the ticket was not sold directly by the airline.

Accommodations though, totally fine to do through another site, like booking.com for example. They have great deals and if you book with them enough you can start to get Genius deals. That being said, always check the hotel site as well. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy directly through the site, or they may have discounts for AAA or AARP members. If you are on a tight budget don’t forget about hostels. Many have private rooms if you aren’t down for sharing a sleeping quarters. They are a great way to meet fellow travellers too.

Research Your Destination

I love to do a deep dive into a place before we go so that we’re not just visiting the tourist traps. Getting to know the culture, customs, climate, and attractions of your destination is super important. Yes, you want to know where those spots are that you’ve seen on instagram but those off the beaten path gems are what exploring a new place are all about. Check out local blogs, city websites and newspapers for restaurant recommendations and seasonal events.

Also be sure to look into the weather and peak tourist seasons of your destination. Personally, I like to travel to places during their off seasons so that it’s not jam packed with tourists. There will always be lines at popular destinations, like the Louvre, but they won’t be hours long if you chose to visit during the quiet season.

Pick Your Must-Dos

I’m not a minute-by-minute planner when we travel, but some things just have to be scheduled ahead of time. If you want to visit The Anne Frank House you can’t just show up that day and expect to get in, they book out weeks, even months in advance. So, to save yourself from disappointment you may want to set aside a day and time to visit that museum, and book in advance. I like to make a loose itinerary that includes some must see activities and sights but isn’t so rigid that we can’t just explore or have a three-hour lunch.

I hope you find these tips helpful, especially if you haven’t traveled in a while. Stay tuned for more travel tips!