ខ្មែរ
English
We all love a good holiday. Getting away from “it all”, experiencing a new and exciting place with its smells, foods, and people, learning about new parts of the world, or just kicking back to relax for a few day (or weeks!). One of the biggest problems though with working a vacation into our schedule is the planning and saving for your dream trip. Remember a few key tips when thinking about your gat away a how to prepare yourself with as little stress as possible for vacation to truly remember!
SEARCH THE OPTIONS
Before you choose your flights, hotels, vehicle, or package- do your research on pricing options on different vender sites, particularly the individual company sites. Cutting out a “middle man” in the process can save your money by saving booking fees. Buying direct from the airline you flexibility to take care of your own reservation and needs, booking straight with the hotel allows you more freedom to call them yourself and make changes (especially during low season or when celebrating a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary). Do your research rather than going straight to third party booking sites- while they may sometimes save your money, they also can tack on additional fees that end up costing you more.
READ THE SMALL PRINT
Even if a hotel or airline screams “GREAT DEAL’ or “TOP PICK”, continue to do your search yourself on the online search sites. Many times, a website will highlight a hotel or flight that’s actually less than desirable to try and sell more of them. Many times, these offers are from a business partner of the booking site and will be pushed to the top of your search. Some of the best deals will take a little digging- don’t jump at the first “BEST OFFER” that shows up on your screen.
CRUISE A TRAVEL AGENT FOR A CRUISE
If you’re hoping for a getaway via cruise boat or yacht, it’s best to go straight to a travel agent rather than booking online. Travel agents specializing in cruises can help you get the best deals and offers because of their relationship with the cruise lines. With the added costs of traveling to and from the cruise launch site, stops along the way, and the area you’ll be in-it’s helpful to have a guiding hand showing you where to go and how to manage your trip.
STICK TO A TRAVEL BUDGET
One of the most important parts of creating a vacation that will leave you anxiety free and able to really enjoy your time is creating a travel budget and sticking to it. While we all want to go a bit wild on a holiday, figure out the amount of money need to save and stick to that amount during your time away. When you return home
– you don’t want to be strapped for cash for important everyday things (bills, groceries, etc.) just because you wanted to splurge on that extra Surf & Turf meal at a fives star restaurant. While of course vacation is a time to indulge a bit, make sure you start saving in advance and take into account expenses that will need to be made as you start putting away your pennies (or stacks of hundreds). Setting an itinerary can also be helpful so you know the expenses of any museums, sight-seeing, or specific spots that may cost you money.
-When you choose your destination, figure out your travel starting and ending point and how much you think you’ll need to comfortably and freely spend and live during your vacation. If you’re a bit low on cash at the moment, scratch an expensive trip to Italy of your list for the time being and focus on a place closer like a weekend retreat or “staycation”. If seeing the Grand Canyon is of utmost importance to you, begin saving in advance and figure out how much you’ll need to save and create a daily stipend for yourself.
-While an itinerary is helpful when planning your trip initially, once you’re actually at your destination it’s important for your wallet and wellbeing to remain flexible with time, money, and exact location. If you can be a bit flexible with your schedule before booking your ticket, sometimes you’ll be able to get a better Hight rate flying on a different day than you had originally anticipated. Also remember that being too strict with your plans can make your day crumble- not everything will always go according to plan, try and go with the flow.
-Leave a little wiggle room. There may be a day when you’re strolling down the street during your vacation and see a bag you absolutely adore. If it’s something you can wear when you return home, will find real use of, and truly love- It’s actually wise to just go for it and buy. You won’t have the regret of not making that purchase when you return home. Same goes for a massage after a long day of walking around town, there are times you may just need to unwind and relax. In worst case scenarios, keep in mind that you may need to cover some type of medical expense during your time abroad. Whether from an unexpected allergy, jellyfish sting, or a nasty fall- you want some financial cushioning to make sure your healthcare is covered no matter where you are. To allow yourself these types of buys and comfort, tack on extra money to your budget to make sure you’re never in the red.
-Know what you want to do and what you like; once you can pinpoint exactly what it is you hope to glean from your vacation, you can search the internet and travel guidebooks to help point you in the direction of the best places to get what you want from your time away. Whether it be scoping museums or lounging on white sandy beaches, take time to know what you want to do and accomplish and it’ll help you determine the amount of cash you need to put away or anything during your trip you’ll have to cut out.
