Summer is officially on the horizon; chances are, you’re dreaming of tropical white sand beaches, charming alpine mountain towns, balmy lakeside retreats, or vibrant cosmopolitan skylines. In other words, it’s time for a vacation.
According to a recent survey, 85 percent of Americans hope to travel this summer. That’s about a 5 percent increase from last year, but your travel dreams might feel out of reach with high inflation rates and an uncertain economy still looming.
Before you shove that suitcase back into your closet, here are some actionable ways to budget for the trip of your dreams and a few pointers to handle the logistics while you’re there. So whether you’re hitting the open road or flying across international borders, let’s turn your wanderlust fantasies into an unforgettable reality.
Be Flexible and Strategic with Your Airfare
A roundtrip flight is one of the heftiest travel expenses, but it’s also unavoidable if you plan to head overseas. Even if you won’t be leaving the country this summer, it’s still hard to beat the convenience of a flight compared to several hours (or days) in the car. And believe it or not, there are strategies to help you book affordable airfare. This will require some research on the front end, but those potential savings are worth your time. Here’s how to curb costs on the flight, so you’ll have more money to spend on the vacation itself:
- Use mobile airline price alerts. Virtual platforms like Skyscanner and Hopper allow you to set price alerts for your chosen destination. You’ll receive a notification when fares are at their lowest across multiple airlines. Then you must scroll through the options and select whichever flight works for your wallet and schedule.
- Register for frequent flyer miles. Do you prefer to book with a specific airline carrier? If so, register for their frequent flyer account. Large airlines often partner with credit cards, so you can earn rewards points for all flights you take on that airline and anything else you purchase with the card. This is a simple way to rack up the miles.
- Be flexible with the travel dates. If you’re not locked into a specific time frame for the trip, you can score major discounts by choosing flexible travel dates. Domestic flights are often cheaper on Tuesday or Wednesday, while international flights are cheaper on Wednesday or Thursday. Google Flights will even show you the times when prices fluctuate during the week, so take advantage of this if your calendar allows.
Look for Nontraditional Accommodations
In the U.S. alone, the average price for a hotel room has increased by almost 55 percent this year. What’s more, websites like Airbnb, which used to be known as cost-effective, are starting to raise their service and processing fees too. Fortunately, these aren’t the only options available—you can still find cheap, safe, quality accommodations with a nontraditional twist. The most enjoyable part of traveling is deviating from the norm and stepping outside your comfort zone. So check out these unique, affordable places to stay:
- Hipcamp: From campsites in Yosemite and treehouses in Santa Fe to beachfront yurts in Maui and RV rentals in the Grand Canyon, Hipcamp is for the adventurous. This website takes you off the beaten path and connects you to some of the quirkiest accommodations the U.S. offers, all within a price range of your choice.
- Hostelworld: Forget what you’ve heard about hostels—gone are the days of cramped quarters and sleazy conditions. With Hostelworld, you can book a clean, modern space just about anywhere on Earth, often for under $15 a night. You’ll also have access to WiFi, laundry services, kitchens, communal areas, or other onsite amenities.
- Sonder: Airbnb, but make it more accessible for a budget vacationer. That’s the mission of Sonder, a mobile-first platform that offers chic rooms in neighborhoods across 40+ cities. Think Flatiron District in New York, the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Le Plateau in Montreal, or Business Bay in Dubai. Plus, you can do everything from a smartphone—from checking in to requesting towels to asking for local recommendations.
Plan Out Your Transportation in Advance.
If you won’t have access to your own car on this trip, avoid the expense of renting one and use public transit instead. Most urban or metro areas have a transportation system, which will likely not break the budget. Of course, public transit can also be intimidating in an unfamiliar area (especially if there’s a linguistic barrier). The following apps will make it easier to navigate with features such as transit map directions, schedule tracking, and mobile ticket payments. So use these tools to plan each route in advance seamlessly:
- Moovit: Consider this your real-time virtual transportation assistant. Moovit will place accurate subway, bus, and train information at your fingertips, so you can check the status of arrivals, estimate the trip duration, monitor transfers or delays, and purchase tickets with a tap. You can also access Moovit in 3,400 global locations.
- Transit: Meet the all-inclusive companion to any form of public transit—from scooter and bike rentals, to rideshare services, to train or bus lines, and so much more. With Transit, you can track departure, wait, and arrival times to schedule the trip accordingly. Not to mention, it works offline, too, just in case you can’t access data or WiFi.
- Citymapper: For a side-by-side comparison between various local transit options, download Citymapper. You can use this app to navigate the world’s major transportation systems to see which travel mode is the quickest or cheapest at any given time. Citymapper also offers turn-by-turn walking directions and points out wheelchair-accessible routes. This is an excellent way to streamline your commute.
Combine Your Trip with Work or Education
Another effective strategy to offset travel costs and have a memorable experience is to combine the vacation with your career or academic pursuits. With either of these options, you can gain valuable skills and save (or even earn) money while exposing yourself to another culture or environment. A recent study shows that international travel can make college students or entry-level workers more employable in this modern labor market. If you’re eligible to study or work abroad, here’s what to know about these programs:
- Apply for a work travel exchange. Whether you teach English in Vietnam, lead tours in Spain, do nature conservation in Canada, or work on a sheep farm in New Zealand, you can travel and earn an income simultaneously. This is a fiscally smart option for any wanderlust who wants real-world job experience and cultural immersion.
- Seek out a study abroad program. If you’re in college, don’t miss out on the chance to study abroad. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel with other students and earn course credits while learning valuable lessons about your role as a global citizen. The world can be your classroom, and thanks to a wide variety of online scholarships, it’s easier than you might believe to finance a study abroad trip this summer.
Turn Your Summer Travel Dreams into a Reality
No matter where the travel bug takes you this summer, it’s possible to have the time of your life without logistical and financial stressors along for the ride. So with these hacks in your suitcase, there’s no time like the present to set your sights on an adventure.