Saturday, August 19, 2017

Thrifty Thinking: Avoiding Travel Mistakes

For your readers that love to travel but don't want to break bank on reaching their destination, leading online travel website, CheapOair, has released their top tips and tricks on how to make sure you save.
It's no fun coming back from vacation and realizing that you spent more money than you were planning to— especially when it was money that you were planning to put towards your next trip. Fortunately, there is an explanation on why you went over your budget.
Below, are the six most commonly-made (and expensive) mistakes travelers make when visiting a new city, in addition to how you can avoid them.
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  1. You Made a Booking "Boo-boo"
    • Problem: Sometimes things come up and you have no choice but to change or cancel your flight. In any case, ALWAYS take the time to read the fine print and those dreaded Terms and Conditions on cancellation/exchange policies. Hidden fees are, unfortunately, pretty common, so the least you can do for yourself is prepare for the fiscal damage you may have to do to your wallet if you need to switch or cancel your flight.
    • Solution: Between rebooking, paying for meals while you wait, and potentially even having to reserve a hotel room for the night, missed flight mishaps may mean you have to dish out some extra cash. When planning your itinerary, make sure you factor in time zone differences, give yourself enough time between connecting flights, and if you're flying to or from a city with multiple major airports (i.e.: JFK or LaGuardia in NYC), make sure you triple check that you've booked and are headed to the right one! 
  2. You Forgot to Check the Baggage Allowance
    • Problem: Some airlines can be quite tricky about baggage allowance. If you find that you must check luggage make sure to do so online, as the fees can more than double once you reach the airport. Most airlines strap on heavy fees to overweight luggage.
    • Solution: If your suitcase is too heavy, while you try to lighten the weight of your bags, you might be lightening the weight of your wallet too! The good news is that even the airlines that charge for checked or carry-on luggage, they still allow for a free personal item. Small backpacks, purses, and briefcases are free — so maximize that space if you can!
  3. You Purchased the Onboard Wi-Fi to Stream Videos or Music
    • Problem: Unless it's for that project or presentation you're scrambling to finish by the time you land, you're probably only purchasing that onboard Wi-Fi to stream your favorite show or music station. If this is you... stop right there, because this isn't a cost you need to incur!
    • Solution: Premium versions of music radios or podcast stations like Spotify and Pandora have downloadable options for their media, which enable you to listen to all your favorites, offline. Similarly, Netflix and YouTube now offer the option to download full videos ahead of time, meaning you can watch those last few episodes of that show you've been binging on, while you're up in the clouds and venturing off to your destination.
  4. You Didn't Eat Before Your Flight . . . 
    • Problem: . . . and now you're stuck on the plane swiping your credit card for a bag of potato chips and a ginger ale to suffice as a meal (because you can't afford anything else).
    • Solution: Make sure your belly is full before you embark on your flight. If you're on an extra tight budget eat a full meal at home before you head to the airport and pack some snacks to munch on while you wait to board.
  5. You Didn't Change Your Cell Phone Plan
    • Problem: If you didn't Snapchat it, did you even travel? Chances are that cell phone of yours is also going to come in pretty handy when you're lost and trying to find directions back to your hotel.
    • Solution: Check with your cell phone provider about international plans and rates. Some companies have one-time data packages for as little as $2 a day!
  6. You Didn't Purchase Travel Insurance
    • Problem: One of the least obvious and most important things to "pack" for your next trip is a travel insurance plan! We know, we know... we're supposed to be showing you ways to save your money, so why are we telling you to spend it? Because emergencies happen and medical bills are expensive.
    • Solution: Travel insurance often covers emergency cancellations, so you're not losing out on hundreds of dollars. If your own health insurance company doesn't provide any coverage, many travel plans cover emergency medical costs or have the option to purchase such coverage.

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