5 smart ways to save on summer travel - that aren’t “plan ahead”

1. Check your discount options- first responders often get discount and they often come out around memorial day weekend. Many companies these days are showing their love to nurses, doctors, police, firefighters, sometimes even EMTs and teachers (as they should). You spend you days helping others, its time to help yourself! *Insider tip, this is why my take in form asks for your occupation so I can look out for discounts for you!

2. Get off the beaten track - it seems like an obvious options, but when everyone you know is going to Mykonos, its hard to think about anything else. An easy way of thinking of this is think about what draws you to the destination. For example, love the lush landscape of Hawaii? Then, St. Lucia and the Azores might be nice options as well.

3. Be flexible! This is always my biggest tip no matter the season. Have the summer relatively open? Search for when the cheapest flights are and use that to help you decide your dates and/or your destination.

4. “Last minute deals”- check the fine print! This is where “smart” comes into play. We love a more economical option and are not against it. Two things to remember: 1) the cancellation policies are usually pretty rough, 2) the “deals” are not usually deals but rather regular prices dressed up fancy to look like a fantastic option.

5. Consider accommodations and food options - you may save on flights but are the food prices of your destination more than you are used to? Airbnb pricing looking great? Check for hidden fees. Save in this area but booking a hotel with a meal included. Here, a cruise is a great option. *Fun fact, often a Disney cruise ends up being similarly priced if not cheaper than a Disney World vacation since food is included!