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Every year I make a goal to travel to a new destination. But the months pass me by and I find myself pinballing between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane like some sort of East Coast obsessive.
It’s no secret that making travel plans that actually follow through feels like some sort of fever dream. But with a little bit of pre-planning, it’s possible to turn the dream of travelling into a reality. Here are a few tips to consider before you spiral into never leaving your city.
Travel in the off-season
I know it’s hard to do when you only have a certain amount of holiday leave at your disposal, but if you sit down and take a look at your work calendar and compare it to your dream destination’s peak tourist season, hopefully, you can find a good middle ground where the flights are cheaper and the streets aren’t as crowded. Also, try to avoid school holidays if you can.
Flights mid-week or on Saturday evenings are often marked down. Yes, it can be tempting to save all of your annual leave for one mega month off in summer, but splitting it up into a few different weeks across the year can also help you to see more destinations for a week at a time.
Sign up to flight alerts and deals
Airlines tend to have some pretty decent sales throughout the year that can help you shave hundreds off your travel expenses. Mark dates for Black Friday, Travel Tuesday and Boxing Day in your calendar to see what’s on offer.
Sign up to airlines’ frequent flyer programs (and make sure their promo emails don’t go straight to spam) and keep your eyes peeled on PEDESTRIAN.TV as we can often share sale news on site.
Podcast, Two Broke Chicks is also a great source for cheap flight and hotel deals (and budgeting in general).
Make the most of your credit cards
Having your own Credit Card is a big financial responsibility. If you’re eligible and approved for a Card, you may be entitled to some awesome travel deals to help make the most out of your trip.
For example, some American Express Cards come with travel insurance (Terms, Conditions & Exclusions apply), airport lounge access (lush), and the ability to earn Points and transfer these Membership Rewards Points to over ten airline partners. We love to see it. You can snag deals on hotels and resorts while travelling, and take up Amex Offers on shopping and dining too.
If you’re already planning to spend a certain amount of money, why not make it work for you by earning frequent flyer points and rewards? Compare the benefits on your current Credit Card you already own, or consider signing up for your first one in order to see the Rewards.
Compromise on accommodation
Look, I love a bougie hotel as much as the next gal but sometimes it can feel like money wasted when you’re only there to sleep for seven hours. While that chic, boutique hotel might look great on the ‘gram, a stock-standard hotel or Airbnb with a clean bed and shower is also good enough.
Save those dollars for a really sick experience that you’ll remember more than the inside of your eyelids. It also goes without saying that safety should never be a compromise when deciding on accommodation.
Avoid the main tourist traps when buying food and drinks
When you’ve been on a three-hour walking tour, your phone battery is on 7%, and your feet are covered in blisters it’s easy to want to flop into the first restaurant that shoves a menu in your face. But, if you’re looking to save some money (and potentially even have a more ~authentic~ travel experience) then avoid eating on the main tourist strips. There tends to be a mark-up for convenience.
Book far in advance or risk it
Booking.com’s regional manager of Oceania, Todd Lacey, reckons the sweet spot to book in advance is around four-to-five-months prior as it “can save you money and provide better choice”. If you’re not ready to commit that hard, you could also leave it to the last minute (okay, agent of chaos) and check out if there’s any discounted accomodation for the time you want to jet off.
But, of course if you’re working a full-time gig, you’d need to ensure your time off is approved. It can be a gamble but hey, adventure makes us feel alive, right?
Lead photo: Getty.
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