Holiday Hacks You'll Love - Family Travel Tips

Whether you’re travelling with a backpack or Louis Vuitton luggage, you’ll love these low-cost travel hacks that will have you saving your holiday spending money for your destination, not spending your holiday money getting there.

First things first… 7 is your magic number. This is the number of months ahead you should book your flights, and particularly some of the key destinations on your itinerary. Airlines and hotels typically offer their lowest prices around 7 months ahead of intended travel, so you’re certain to bag a bargain.

Enjoy last minute deals when you have no time constraints. If you’re lucky enough to be able to travel when and where you want, without time constraints or months of pre-planning, then you’re able to take advantage of the many last minute deals available. These can be tricky to find for airfares, but they are certainly around to be enjoyed. Hotels and cruises are notorious for having these on special weeks, or even days, before travel, so you can enjoy the spoils of last minute deals.

Research, then research some more, and then research again. There’s nothing worse than traveling all day, only to land in a foreign city and not know the best place to stay and the best place to eat. If you spend time researching, you’ll be all the wiser. If you’re using online travel sites and checking reviews, make sure you check the age of the person who wrote the review. An 18 year old is not going to enjoy the same nightlife as a 60 year old!

Use a travel agent – they know best and won’t cost you a thing! A good travel agent has vast amounts of experience to call upon. Use their expertise and advice to gain the knowledge you need to make your travel experience memorable. They’ll know the best places to visit and what visas you’ll need to get sorted so you don’t get hit with huge costs (and delays) when you get there. Agents are there to oversee your bookings and the best bit is that you don’t have to pay them – they are paid by the airlines, hotels and any other tour agencies.

Use points where you can… as long as it makes sense. If you’re a frequent traveller, having memberships with different airlines will help you be treated like a member, rather than a passenger. If you’re looking to use frequent flyer points for your tickets, you need to do this well ahead of time and use the points for longer travel distances. It isn’t worth using 8,000 points if the cost of a ticket to Melbourne is $39. Always see if you can link your groceries, petrol expenses and credit cards with the different programs on offer, as each time you buy groceries, you are adding to your accumulated points.

House swap or house sit, if you can. It’s a great way to save money on accommodation, and there are so many great online platforms that cater for this exact purpose. If you’re going for an extended stay and want to be in a location for a longer period of time, this is definitely the way to go. Take your time to research places that meet your exact needs.

Travelling with credit. If you’re using credit or debit cards, make sure you know what your bank is charging you for international transaction fees while you’re overseas, as these can quickly add up. Pre-paid travel cards are one of the best ways to access money while you’re away. It also means that should you encounter fraud on your credit card, the pre-paid money card isn’t linked to any bank accounts, and you’ll still have access to cash while you’re overseas.

Don’t skimp on travel insurance! Go with a reputable company. Too many times people get caught out needing coverage in emergency situations overseas, only to have to pay obscene amounts of money for medical care as their travel insurance didn’t cover it. Cheaper isn’t always better in this case. You have to pay the money to save you the money in the long run.

This Holiday Hacks article from Jen Ferry. From city overnighters and countryside weekenders, to destinations further from home, Jen Ferry delivers tailored experiences for travelers of all ages and stages of life. Conscientious, creative and resourceful, Jen will design your next adventure to suit your aspirations and budget. Contact Jen to find out more, by emailing [email protected].