Before Leaving Home on Your Vacation
There is more to planning your vacation than securing a reservation and buying a boarding pass, especially if you're watching your spending. Thinking ahead for budget-friendly travel can give you plenty of time to compare prices, research alternatives, and ask questions from others in the frugal travel community. There are details that even the most meticulous traveler may overlook, and they could prevent inconveniences during your trip. Here are a few ways you can plan ahead to make your vacation as safe, simple, and budget-savvy as possible.
Call Ahead for Activities
Some activities, especially popular or exclusive events, could require a long wait or even be inaccessible during your vacation if not properly planned for. To make sure you and your travel guests are able to enjoy your activities of choice, visit establishment websites, or look up phone numbers and call in advance. For certain major ticket activities, such as sporting events, concerts, and exhibitions, check online to see if you can pre-order tickets for you and your guests.
Other leisurely activities can require advanced notice as well. For example, golf courses, especially more prestigious ones, may require you to secure a tee time months in advance. Restaurant reservations can be very convenient to arrange ahead of time, too, especially in larger cities where lunch and dinner crowds can flock to popular eateries. Make a list or discuss with your travel company what sort of activities you would like to participate in while you're on vacation. See how many of those could—or should—be planned in advance.
Arrange for Pet Care
If you have pets that will be staying behind, the most frugal option for their care is to leave them in the capable hands of a friend or family member. As soon as you know that your animal companions won't be joining you, make arrangements for someone to take care of them. Neglecting to give friends or family members advance notice, including specific instructions regarding your pets' care, may leave you paying for kennels or pet-sitters who will likely charge much higher prices.
Consider Your Financial Security
If you're going to be particularly far from home, if your vacation is going to extend for a number of weeks, or if you just want to be extra careful, consider taking steps to ensure your financial security. Begin by calling any applicable financial institutions, such as banks and credit card companies, to notify them that you will be making purchases from a new location. This can prevent more vigilant institutions from freezing your card if they suspect it has been lost or stolen.
Consider opening a safe deposit box at your local bank. Before you go, make copies of important personal documents, such as Social Security cards, forms of identification, and insurance cards, and leave the originals with the bank. Also, leave behind at least one credit card for safekeeping. This ensures that at least one source of funds will remain safe should anything happen to you financially during your trip.
If you'd like more tips and suggestions for how to plan your next vacation, we're here to help. Take a look at our Deciding on a Destination page and choose the vacation location that is perfect for you–and your budget.