If your summer travel plans will take you abroad, you might be a little bit concerned that all the fun activities you’re planning may wreak havoc on your finances.
Fortunately, going overseas doesn’t have to be a budget killer, as long as you travel smart and do some planning ahead of time.
Here’s how to get the most for your travel dollar on your next international vacation.
Score Flights for Less
Airline tickets are likely to be one of your biggest travel costs if you’re heading out of the country. Whether you’re going off to Italy, Brazil, Egypt or elsewhere, try these suggestions to land terrific airfare bargains.
- Travel during off-peak days and times
When you travel and at what time will greatly determine the price of airline tickets. According to Rick Seaney, the CEO of FareCompare.com, the cheapest days to travel are (in this order): Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Also, the first flights of the morning (yes, that’s those 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. flights, so get ready to to get up early) are usually the most affordable, followed by mid-afternoon flights and late evening flights.
- Sign up for alerts and frequent flyer programs
Many airfares offer discounted prices and email alerts first to their most loyal customers: those who sign for a frequent flyer program or who requested to be notified about sales.
- Try different airlines and airports
Many people tend to stick exclusively to the five major “legacy carriers,‖American, Continental, Delta, United and U.S. Airways. But in some markets, discount carriers such as Frontier, JetBlue or Southwest or Spirit Airlines offer better deals. These can be good deals if you must connect regionally before heading out of the country.
Additionally, don’t dismiss the idea of traveling out of or into a gateway that you might not normally use. And be sure to comparison shop the prices at airports within close proximity of one another. For instance, if you’re heading into the Washington, D.C. area, check prices at both Reagan International and Dulles.
By being flexible about your airlines, airports and travel dates, you’ll save a lot of money.
Lighten Your Lodging Bill
Savvy travelers looking for hotel discounts always leverage the power of the Internet. So research the prices of the hotels you may be interested in online and then also call to see if they have any special deals for the time you want to travel.
Also, if you aren’t tied to staying at a particular hotel chain, try your hand at using Priceline.com‘s “Name Your
Own Price†program to get a deep discount off a hotel in the city you want. Priceline users often report saving up to 50% of the published rates. I’ve also saved a bundle using Priceline over the years.For adventurous travelers going overseas who are looking to save money during a vacation stay, why not think about forgoing the hotel routine altogether? Services like HomeExchange.com and Home-Swap.com let you enjoy free international accommodations by using someone else’s home during your stay–and letting them use yours at the same time.
You can also save by checking out the summer promotions offered by , the Marriott Hotel has a special Marriott Summer Hotel promotion offering free breakfast, free Internet and late checkout, as well as a discount at Marriott Spas and Resorts that includes 20% off spa services and golfing.
Read more travel tips on the next page
Pay the Right Way
When it’s time to settle up your bill–whether it’s for hotel, food or other purchases you make while traveling, one key thing you’ll need to decide is how to pay: cash, check, debit or credit card?
During an overseas vacation, a credit card is your best option. It’s safer than carrying around a bunch of cash, has liability protections that debit cards don’t have, and more convenient too because your Visa, MasterCard or American Express will be far more widely accepted by merchants than your check.
But not just any credit card will do when you’re paying for a host of items and making purchases out of the country.
Stick to a card that doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you’re liable to get a nasty surprise when you come back home and get your credit card statement. Those foreign transaction fees can add 2% to 3% to the cost of your international purchases.
Surprisingly, though, nearly 60% of consumers don’t even know whether they’ll be charged a foreign transaction fee, according to the latest quarterly Capital One Rewards Barometer Survey, which tracks how consumers earn and redeem credit card rewards.
CardRatings.com, which helps consumers comparison shop for the best credit card deals available, named the Capital One Venture card as a best pick for those venturing off to see the world. The Venture card has no foreign transaction fees. Plus, you get two other killer travel benefits that frequent flyers and occasional travelers alike will appreciate: The miles you earn on every purchase don’t expire, and your miles can be used on any airline with no blackout dates.
Get to the Visitor’s Bureau
Lastly, for any city you’re considering traveling to, reach out to the local tourism bureau ahead of your arrival and inquire about whether there’s a city visitor’s card.
These often offer widespread discounts of 10% or more off everything from popular local attractions to restaurants and hotel accommodations. I used a visitor’s card during a summer trip to Stockholm, Sweden in 2009 and I got discounts on local subway fares, museum entrance fees, and more.
Another reason to mosey on down to the Visitor’s Bureau is that it’s likely in town — that is, away from the airport — and may have currency exchange facilities. If you need to convert your U.S. dollars into another currency, exchange rates are usually better in the city rather than the currency exchange windows at the airport.
By implementing these money-saving strategies, and doing a bit of pre-planning, your summer vacation can be both fun and frugal.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox of askthemoneycoach.com is a weekly Money columnist for Blackenterprise.com
For more travel tips, destinations and best places to stay, eat and play, visit blackenterprise.com/outofoffice