In 2012, participants of a survey stated that the most stressful part about taking a vacation was the planning process; listing financial concerns, packing, and making an itinerary as the main reasons why it’s difficult to get away. Below are the tips and tricks you’ll need to become a planning pro and keep money in your pocket!
Step 1 – Flights
Often times, the biggest portion of your budget is dedicated to your flights and hotels, but this is also where you can save the most money! The hardest part is trying to keep up with all the online sites that claim to have the best pricing and greatest value, so find a site that does the work for you. Escape ATX is probably my favorite because not only am I able to browse all their posts, but I’m also able to get social media notifications to stay informed before the specials sell out. Below is an real example of a trip to Chicago that I was able to purchase for less than $100 round trip on American Airlines.
Other sites that can help find the best pricing on flights include NextVacay.com and Scott’s Cheap Flights (just to name a few).
Step 2 – Hotels
I’m all about saving money, so I don’t need an extravagant place to stay especially since most of my vacation is spent exploring the city. Most sites that you visit such as Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Orbitz.com, etc. generally have the same rates, so sort your searches by price and location; that will save you time when traveling to the spots on your itinerary.
Don’t be afraid to stay at a Hostel; I promise it’s not like the movie. Hostels often offer an affordable way to stay in the city and many of them also include activities so you can get to know other people in the same situation as you. Use HostelWorld to view ratings and reviews from previous visitors. Make friends that can help you enjoy the city!
Step 3 – Itinerary
Now that you’ve picked your city and arranged your hotel, it’s time for the fun part: planning your itinerary! The first place I start is by Googling ‘best photo spots in *city name*’ This search will get you a lot of different articles from many experts that have visited the city and will also give you some insight as a first time visitor. Make sure to save all the locations you want to visit in your Google Maps account so that you can have quick access while on your trip and it also allows you to remember the time you spent in the city in the future.
My favorite travel app is the Sygic Travel Map. It allows you to build trips to cities, use preassembled daily itineraries, and it also links to other pages that offer affordable tours. The best part is that the app gives detailed turn by turn walking directions with estimated travel times.
Most of the photo-worthy locations can actually be free, so splurge on the things that aren’t. In Chicago, that’s the 360 Chicago and Art Institute Tickets, but even then, they were only $50 for both.
Now that the hardest parts are out of the way, enjoy your vacation! Take all the photos, eat at the best restaurants, and visit all the sightseeing locations. Since you planned so well, you’ll be able to enjoy the trip better!
The Wayfaring Texan 