Saving for vacation can seem overwhelming! Know that there are several easy ways to save some extra money for your next trip! Set a savings goal and mix and match several ways to get there! For additional money-saving tips, reach out to your Travel Ease travel advisor!
Start a Vacation Savings Account
Out of sight – out of mind! This is a neat little trick we started doing about 10 years ago. We automatically direct a certain amount of money from a paycheck into an account specific for our travel adventures. We keep this account at a separate bank, so it is truly ‘out of sight, out of mind’ until we want to use it for our next trip! It’s amazing how quickly pulling out even just $100-200 per paycheck can add up!
Tax Refunds and Stimulus Money
Not sure what to do with the extra money from Uncle Sam? Put it towards travel, either now or in the future! If you don’t already have a travel savings account, this would be a great use of funds to start one!
Co-Branded Credit Card
Visa, Mastercard, and American Express partner with various travel companies to bring you fun deals in terms of miles, points, and savings per dollar. Many families charge everything to a Disney Visa to take advantage of rewards.
For example, new cardholders can get up to $300 statement credit after spending a certain amount, and earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and most Disney locations. They also earn 1% on all other card purchases. My family uses a Hilton American Express due to the type of travel my husband does. It’s been terrific for our family, earning us many free weekend nights and ‘5th night free’ stays on points. We even stayed at a Disney Springs hotel back in February on points!
Take Advantage of store savings like Fuel Perks and Target RedCard discounts
Fuel Perks are a great way to save additional money on things you would buy anyway. For example, Kroger typically runs a 2x fuel points promotion on gift cards, which they sometimes increase to 4x fuel points. That is a huge saving on gas while making your gift card purchase!
Calling all Target RedCard holders! Save 5% off those coveted Disney or other travel gift cards! This can be a great way to pay for your trip, or to provide spending money for your fellow travelers. We love doing this when we visit Disney, giving each child a gift card with a set amount on it where we have already saved a bit by purchasing with a RedCard.
‘Kids Fly Free’ with Frontier Airlines
Take advantage of specific airline deals! For example, Frontier Airlines often offers a ‘kids fly free’ promotion on specific dates if you join their Discount Den program for $60/year. This promotion allows two children to fly for free with 1 paid adult. It has personally saved our family hundreds of dollars over the years and I love to share this secret with fellow travelers.
Bring items with you to the parks!
Pack drinks and snacks! This is a terrific way to keep your family fueled during the day and being able to allocate funds to other dining or experiences. If your family is not big breakfast eaters, bring some muffins or granola bars with you to the park. You can also bring in bottled drinks and refillable water bottles.
Bring toys, stuffed animals and gear from home! While it is always exciting to get new toys and stuffed animals on vacation, if you pack similar, new toys for your travelers from home, you can present it on the trip and save money! Another example is purchasing a princess dress or bringing one from your home for a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience at Disney. No need to purchase the dress from the boutique.
Work with a travel advisor
Travel advisors are there to provide expertise and support, in addition to discount watching! Take the stress out of planning the trip by allowing us to do the heavy lifting. We will apply the best promotions for you!
There are countless other ways to use points, miles, or savings on gift cards to help get you to that next vacation. Look into what makes the most sense for you and start saving!
For personalized travel guidance, reach out to a Travel Ease travel advisor.
I’m Jenny, my family and I live in Cincinnati, OH. Travel is my passion and I love highlighting new destinations for my clients. For the past 10 years travel has been a priority for my family, including trips to Europe, the Caribbean, cruises, Disney and Universal Studios! I can be reached at Jenny@teplanners.com.