RETAIL CORRIDOR
Travel smart during the hot, pricey summer of ’08
REBECCA WARREN is a certified financial planner and certified senior adviser in Mesa. She can be reached at (480) 357-8380 or by e-mail at rebecca@warrenfinancialservices. com.
Summer is when we hope to get time off to relax. But with regular gasoline prices above $4 and energy prices pushing tourism expenses higher on everything from plane fare to meals out, paying for this year’s summer vacation might be a significant source of financial stress. Here are some ways to save on travel this summer:
• Stay closer to home. Rather than flying across the country, check out the tourism Web site for your state or the nearest adjoining state to yours and just see what looks interesting. Those Web sites offer coupons, too.
• Get smart about your travel points. If there’s a particular hotel chain you’re going to stay in, see whether they’re part of a larger network where you can earn points or other incentives toward future stays. Also, rather than multiple credit cards, try and narrow your usage to plastic that carries the best point plans toward hotels, airlines and car rental agencies you use all the time for fun or business.
• Go off-season. Admittedly, it’s tougher with kids since they can travel only when school’s out, but if you don’t have a family, start traveling out-of-season. Vegas and Aruba might be hotter than blazes in July, but as long as you have sunblock and access to good air conditioning, then you can take solace counting what you’ll save on hotels, meals and other expenses that dip in price when the crowds are low.
• Let travel opportunities find you online. If you have a favorite airline, resort or hotel chain, get on their online mailing lists and be ready to react if they offer a great deal.
• Check out your motor club. Major organizations like AAA negotiate good prices on popular tourism locations around the country, such as Disney World. Check out your motor club’s offerings on hotel, destination, rental car and even train discounts.
• Merge errands into your trip. If you can pack regular errands into your vacation time in the car, do it. For example, when returning from a trip, consider incorporating your regular errands on the drive home (consider stopping in states or counties with cheaper sales taxes that might save money on similarly priced items).
• Leave or return on a Monday or Tuesday. Play around with the days of the week that you can schedule your trip to see if you can find significant savings on hotel and airfares. Fighting to get home on a Saturday or Sunday can cost you money.
• Pinch those gasoline pennies. If you’re driving your own car on trips, focus on maintenance and when and where you’re buying your gas. Keep your tires inflated and make sure your engine is in good shape for maximum fuel economy. Also, don’t carry tons of stuff, as heavier cars burn more gas. Consider joining a wholesale club that sells their own gas on-site — you might save a considerable sum not only at home, but also in out-oftown locations where you’re staying (hit the Internet and check before you go). Also, buy gasoline midweek when prices generally stabilize from spikes entering the weekend and starting the workweek. “If you’re driving your own car on trips, focus on maintenance and when and where you’re buying your gas. Keep your tires inflated and make sure your engine is in good shape for maximum fuel economy. Also, don’t carry tons of stuff, as heavier cars burn more gas.”
