Retirees Can Take a Vacation for Less – See How
How to Save Money on Vacation Bookings
Millions of people take vacations each year and no one deserves them more than retirees. There’s nothing better than relaxing on a beach or a cruise ship with all the amenities at your fingertips.
While going on an all-inclusive vacation like a cruise is a relaxing experience, planning the trip and paying for it is often stressful. However, it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways to make the booking experience smooth and save money while doing so. In this article we’ll look at three different ways to help ensure your trip is all smooth sailing.
1. Be Flexible with Your Booking Dates
While you might want to book your cruise on specific dates, being flexible with departure and return dates can save you significant amounts of money, especially if you’re booking flights along with tickets.
It’s well known within the tourism industry that flying on “off days” is cheaper. Many people travel on weekends, which makes prices on these days expensive. However, if you’re able to plan your plan for a weekday departure, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you will often get airfare at much lower prices.
If you’re booking your trip yourself, you can use tools like Google Flights to track prices on certain dates, and get alerts when prices drop. Many airlines will also have features on their websites to see prices by date and select the cheapest options within a certain date range.
Travel agents will also be able to search for cheap flight options for you if you opt to book your trip through one. Let them know ahead of time if you’re looking to save money, and they will be able to find the best option that fits your itinerary and your budget.
2. Bundle Your Hotel, Cruise and Travel
Booking travel bundles is another great way to save money on the cost of your trip. You can often get discounted rates for purchasing your flights, cruise package, and any additional hotel stays or a car rental, if needed.
A travel agent will be able to search trip bundles for you and book everything together at a lower rate than if you did each part separately. You will need to tell them exactly what you’re looking for so they can do research and find options for your dream vacation. This is the easiest option.
Alternatively, you can do research online and book each component yourself. This will require a bit of logistical planning, so make sure you double check everything before hitting the purchase button. Some cruise lines, such as Celebrity Cruises, also offer bundles through their website for different cruise packages.
Some companies may also offer additional discounts for seniors, so make sure to ask. A simple question has the power to save you even more money on your cruise. Companies that are known for having senior discounts include Carnival Cruise and Royal Caribbean.
3. Avoid Expensive Peak Seasons
Similar to traveling on off-days, traveling in the off-season is also less expensive. Most people tend to travel in the summer months, or during school breaks such as over the new year and during spring break. Going away to warmer destinations during colder month is also very popular and increases the cost. If you plan a trip or book a cruise during these peak periods, you will be paying peak prices.
In order to avoid these high-ticket prices, try planning your trip during less popular months. For the majority of cruises, early spring (April and May), and early fall (September and October) are considered to be off-season. Since these are less desirable times to travel, you will be able to save some money.
Keep in mind, these are less popular times of the year for a reason. For example, in the Caribbean, early fall is hurricane season, so your trip may be impacted. Do your research first and find a cruise that will be safe during these months.
If everything lines up well – destination, dates and price – you’ll have the trip of a lifetime.
