Build a budget before booking
■ Estimate total costs for transportation, lodging, food, activities, fees, and tips.
■ Add a 10% to 15% buffer for unexpected expenses.
■ Create a daily spending target for meals, activities, and souvenirs.
Plan food and activities in advance
■ Decide where to spend and where to save ahead of time.
■ Consider lodging with a kitchen, packing snacks, making grocery stops, and seeking free or lower-cost activities.
Compare the cost of flying vs. driving
■ Airfare has increased significantly; however, driving costs may also be high due to gas prices.
■ Compare total costs including airfare, gas, parking, baggage fees, rental cars, tolls, and local transportation.
■ Use tools like Google’s 60-day fare history to track flight prices.
Avoid taking on vacation debt
■ Set a spending limit before travel.
■ Use a dedicated savings account for travel expenses to prevent post-trip debt.
■ Redeem existing points or miles from rewards credit cards to offset travel costs.
Protect finances before, during travel
■ Set up card alerts and know how to freeze or replace cards.
■ Bring a backup payment method and check for foreign transaction fees if traveling internationally.
■ Store digital copies of important documents securely.
Consider adjusting your plans
■ Choose more affordable destinations, shorten trips, or stay closer to home.
■ Opt for regional trips, day trips, or long weekends to get similar experiences at a lower cost.
■ Shift travel dates to midweek or a few days to reduce expenses.
For more resources, visit onpointcu.com.
