If you’re lucky enough to squeeze even just a few more days off during this season, there’s still time for you to go on a winter-finale vacation without breaking the bank. Before booking anything, check out these pointers on how to minimize expenses while maximizing the potential of one last winter vacay.
Be flexible about destinations
Check deal sites
Dedicated to finding ultra low fares and airline flight price errors, sites such as GTFO Flights and Scott’s Cheap Flights are excellent resources for getting last-minute deals. These kinds of free services usually just require you to sign up for a newsletter and wait for the deals to start rolling in, making it easy-peasy for you to plan the rest.
Check newsletters
Airlines and travel sites frequently send out promotions and deals via emailed newsletters, but many people trash these gems before realizing their value. Search through your current emails, especially the trash folder, to see if you’ve missed any discounts that may come in handy. In the meantime, sign up directly with airlines, hotels, and sites like Airfarewatchdog — you’ll be sure to have plenty of deals en route to your inbox soon!
Consider a cruise
Escape on a last-minute cruise and save a ton before the winter is over. Cruise lines tend to lower rates on upcoming itineraries as the departure date nears. The closer you’re able to wait to book, the better chances you have on finding a great deal. That said, have a few cruises in mind in case of sold-out dates.
Consider one-way flights
Breaking up a round-trip flight into one-way trips could be a huge money saver. With one-way flights, you’ll be able to combine deals from different airlines, or even multiple travel sites, whereas round-trips take that freedom away and commit you to the cost of a single agency or airline. Look at apps such as Skiplagged, which let you book one-ways through hidden-city loopholes at a deep discount.
Book a bundle
In some cases, travel sites have specials on bundled bookings. Depending on your destination and flexibility, you might be able to snag a combo deal on airfare, lodging, and transportation. If the complete vacation package is still too high, play around with partial package combinations while booking other arrangements separately.
Consider multi-stay lodging
Being open to changing accommodations within your wintry vacation allows you to take advantage of cheap lodging that may only be available for part of your trip. When looking for lodging, try breaking up your search into one- to three-night stays, potentially revealing rooms available at a lower rate than what would have turned up otherwise. Also consider mixing different kinds of accommodations, such as staying at a hotel and a hostel.
