vacation

6 Ways To Save On Your Summer Vacation

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The ocean is calling – and so is the open road. Your dream vacation awaits! But first, youSummer Beach Scene need to work out the financial details. How are you going to pay for your getaway? How much can you realistically spend? Where is the money for your vacation going to come from?

Ideally, a plump vacation fund that’s fed throughout the year is the way to go. Unfortunately, though, we often don’t think about how to pay for vacation until it’s a few weeks away. To make things even worse, according to LearnVest, an alarming 74% of Americans go into debt to pay for a vacation.

Don’t become part of that statistic! Be proactive in planning your vacation by saving up for it in advance. Forgo some luxuries in the months or weeks leading up to your vacation and save the extra cash for your getaway. Consider running a yard sale featuring all of your forgotten treasures and use the profits to fund your trip. Skip your weekly dinner out for a while and put the money in your vacation budget.

Now it’s time to plan your vacation! When you’ve got the money saved up, create a realistic vacation budget. These six vacation saving tips will help you plan the perfect getaway while staying well within your budget.

1.) Timing is everything

Be a savvy shopper. There is an ideal window for buying everything, and booking airline flights is no exception. Flight prices generally fluctuate until departure day, but experts say the sweet spot is 54 days before your travel date. If you don’t want to be busy checking prices all day, sign up for emails from a savings alert site. Let them know which dates and locations you’re interested in, and they’ll let you know when a flight goes on sale so you can book your discounted tickets before they’re sold out.

2.) Clear your cache

Hotel and airline sites use cookies to determine what you’re shopping for. They’ll see which days you’re searching and raise their prices accordingly. Beat the system by clearing your cache before every new search so they can’t read into your browser history. You might see as much as a 50% drop in prices when searching with an empty cache!

3.) Sweet-talk your way to savings

Just because your hotel room is pre-booked, it doesn’t mean you can’t save. Don’t be shy about asking for an upgrade at check-in. About 78% of hotel guests who request an upgrade at the front desk actually receive one. Some face-to-face schmoozing can go a long way!

Also, by 6 p.m., most hotels know which rooms will be filled for the night. If you check in later in the day, you’ll have a better chance at getting the keys to the room with the incredible view – even with your economy-class price tag.

4.) Never pay full price

You can score a deluxe vacation without the deluxe price tag – all it takes is a little research. Check sites like coupondivas.com, entertainment.com and Groupon.com for amazing deals and deep discounts for local eateries and entertainment centers. You can also find cheaper tickets to nearby amusement parks by looking for sellers on Craigslist. Also, if you’re traveling with kids, don’t forget to look up restaurants with “Kids Eat Free” promotions.

5.) Freebie fun

Challenge yourself to enjoy one day of your vacation without spending any money at all. Search local sites and blogs for write-ups about fantastic free things to do nearby. You might find a charming family farm, a gorgeous waterway, a fun splash pad for the kids or a scenic hiking trail. Or, just spend the day at the closest beach!

Don’t eat out on this day either. Many hotels include a continental breakfast – take full advantage. For lunch, you can picnic on sandwiches. Dinner can be something effortless and delicious that you brought from home or pick up at a local supermarket. Consider packing a travel grill or panini maker for easy meals. You can heat up some hot dogs or burger patties, or bring some baguettes and an assortment of sliced cheeses for fresh paninis. Round off the meal with some pre-sliced veggies.

You’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have without spending a penny!

6.) Save your mega event for the last day

The taste of dessert is what lingers after the meal is through. End your vacation on a sweet note by saving your most exciting event for your last day away.

If you’re unsure of how you’re going to fund your getaway, call, click or stop by [credit union] to ask about taking out a personal loan or joining a vacation club. We want to help you make your dream vacation come true!

Your Turn: How do you save big on summer vacation? Share your best hacks and tips with us in the comments!

SOURCES:
https://www.google.com/amp/www.vogue.com/article/how-to-save-money-on-summer-travel-learnvest/amp
https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/5-money-tips-for-savoring-your-summer-vacation/
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2017/jun/25/how-save-time-work-and-money-your-summer-vaca/434806/
https://www.google.com/search?q=ways+to+save+on+summer+vacation&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS737US737&oq=saving+on+summer+vaca&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3.11737j0j7&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/amp/www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/smart-money/8-last-minute-ways-to-save-for-vacation/%3Famp%3D1

Stay Safe From These AirBNB Scams

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Going on vacation should mean more than waking up in a different bed. It should also mean getting to see and know a place more like a local does. That’s part of the appeal behind room-sharing sites like the incredibly popular AirBNB. AirBNB lets anyone with a spare room become a host. As a guest, you can stay with a local and get a real sense of what a location is all about. Also, you can save quite a bit of money! 

However, the system is based on trust. Any time there’s trust, there’s some opportunistic crook waiting to make a quick buck by exploiting it. That’s certainly been the case with AirBNB. The Australian Better Business Bureau reported a six-fold increase in scams related to the room-sharing service in 2016. The service recently expanded its offerings, allowing users to book independently-run guided tours or experiences in addition to rooms, and this expansion has been part of the drive behind the increase. Before you book at AirBNB, make sure you keep yourself safe from these scams!
 

1.) Fake websites
An AirBNB host you were interested in sends you an email to check out a few other properties they have for rent. These properties come complete with reviews, official logos and other hallmarks of authenticity. There’s even a live chat service reassuring you that everything’s official and on the level. So, you think nothing of wiring a fee to reserve your room.
Everything’s fine until you go to confirm your reservation with AirBNB. They have no record of your transaction and don’t even have the properties listed. What happened?
A scammer capitalized on your trust by directing you to a fake booking website that’s not hosted by AirBNB. These groups go to extreme lengths to create accurate reproductions of the official site and have even fooled several veteran AirBNB users.
There are two ways to avoid this tactic. First, always check the URLs of sites you visit. Make sure you’re visiting a site where the word AirBNB occurs right next to the .com. If there are words between the two, you may be visiting a phony site! Second, only pay through AirBNB’s official checkout platform. They use modern encryption technology to keep your financial information safe. It’s a whole lot more secure than paying outside the system.
2.) Phony excursions
A new feature of AirBNB is the ability to book “experiences,” or days out on the town with locals. The site claims to be encouraging entrepreneurs by bringing in new clients for small businesses. For example, one Los Angeles resident offers pottery classes and guided meditation retreats for visitors. Another Sydney, Australia AirBNB user offers yoga retreats for guests.
While the expanded line of services is likely a boon to many small business owners, it also creates a new opportunity for scammers. Instead of needing a real property to hook potential victims, scammers can offer phony tours. While the company vets the potential tours carefully, it’s difficult for one company to monitor a distributed network of service providers.
Experiences are a behind-the-scenes look at a city and may appeal to many visitors. However, it’s always worth proceeding with caution. This service is new and experimental. Always check reviews (on a legitimate AirBNB site) before agreeing to pay for anything!
3.) External payment
AirBNB charges a 3% commission on all bookings done through the website. This may encourage some enterprising landlords to offer a discount in exchange for direct payment through a third-party processing site. Travelers on a tight budget might be tempted to save a few bucks this way. Those travelers would be shocked to find themselves out of luck when they get to their destination.
Resist the temptation. Payments outside the website don’t have any conflict resolution procedures, so there’s no guarantee you’ll have a room at all if you use one. AirBNB earns its 3% by mediating disputes between renters and hosts, so there’s a good reason to use the website’s services.
Also, no legitimate business will ask you to wire funds directly to their account. Given the prevalence of services like Square and PayPal, even the smallest business has the capacity to accept credit or debit cards. When you use a card, you have some recourse if your transaction goes wrong for some reason. After you wire money, it’s gone. Always insist on using a secured form of payment. If your host won’t go along, just walk away.
Your Turn: Have you ever used AirBNB or a similar service? What was your experience like? Share safety and savings tips with us in the comments!
SOURCES:

http://mashable.com/2016/12/05/accc-airbnb-sharing-economy-scams/#5bMn1jVfVOqM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/beware-this-evil-genius-airbnb-scam_us_56a7bc08e4b0172c65944c92
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/jun/04/travellers-fake-airbnb-scam
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/dec/04/airbnb-new-experiences-events

Winter Weekend Getaways On A Limited Budget

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We’d all love to get away for a fun weekend, but don’t want to dip into savings. There are many ways to escape the winter doldrums without breaking the bank. You don’t have to take an expensive ski trip or visit a tropical island paradise to receive the intended benefits-namely getting away for some rest and relaxation so you can return revitalized and ready to face winter again. Here are some tips and creative ideas for planning an inexpensive trip that won’t leave you in the red: 

Stay close to home 
Sometimes all you need is a slight change of scenery or break from the routine to feel refreshed and revitalized. Is there a cute bed and breakfast the next town over that you’ve been meaning to try? A nearby local attraction? If you’ll be driving instead of flying, you’ll have more money in your budget for lodging and dinner. If you can, reserve a room with a fireplace or spa, since there’s little that beats staring into a crackling fire with a glass of wine or relaxing in a bubbling hot tub. Find a bed and breakfast offering specials near you at bnbfinder.com. 
Avoid popular destinations 
Save yourself some time: Don’t even bother thinking about Maui or Cancun. Winter is also peak season for ski destinations such as Aspen, Park City and Jackson Hole. If you want to hit the slopes or bask on sun-drenched beaches at the most popular resorts this time of year, you’ll be paying top dollar. If your goal is a ski getaway, why not try out a resort that’s close to home? Or if your heart is set on a tropical beach, try out one of the up-and-coming areas where prices are still low. Chances are, you’ll have just as much fun. In addition to saving money, you’ll escape the crowds. 
Visit a national park 
National parksare one of America’s most treasured resources. Together, the U.S.’s 400 national parks draw 275 million visitors per year. Summer is peak season in most of them. A visit during winter would let you enjoy nature without crowds of tourists. If you’ve already been to the national parks in your area, try taking a road trip to one in the next state over. There’s a reason these areas have been preserved-they contain some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the country. Many parks don’t charge admission, and those that do will usually offer three-day passes. You can often find interesting accommodations within the park boundaries, but better deals can usually be found at motels in surrounding towns. 
Do your Internet research 
The Internet is definitely your best friend for finding the best travel deals. Make it a point to bookmark budget travel pages and sign up for their email alerts. Receiving alerts on great deals can fill up your in-box, but you can always set up a special folder for travel planning. Alerts can save you hours of online research, and if you’re lucky, one will pop into your inbox at exactly the right time. Many travel websites, includingBudget Travel, theTravel Channel andKiplinger, have put together lists of the best sites for finding good travel deals. There are new websites popping up all the time to help find the best deals on airfare,car rentals,hotels,bus and traintravel and even all-inclusive packages. It’s just a matter of deciding which ones are your favorites. 
Use your air miles 
If you’ve been saving up frequent-flier miles through an airline rewards program, now might be the time to use them. Often, these programs have expiration dates, so if you don’t use them, you may lose them. And with airfare for your getaway taken care of, that only leaves food and lodging to worry about. 
Take advantage of coupons 
Tons of amazing travel deals can be found through online coupon sites such as Groupon, LivingSocial and Travelzoo. And besides saving you money, they can take you on an adventure. Many merchants who are offering deals through these sites are just getting established or are up-and-coming. They may not have a premier location or a big advertising budget, but since they’re seeking new business, they’ll most certainly appreciate it when you show up. Signing up for multiple online-coupon sites can easily overwhelm your email inbox. Luckily, there are now several aggregators, including DailyDibs, that can compile deals from online coupon sites and send you a daily report. 
Use Airbnb 
Although the hotel industry is not a fan of Airbnb, travelers certainly are. Not only can you save substantially on lodging, but you can stay in a place with all the comforts of home, including kitchens where you can save even more by cooking your own meals. The site offers 1.5 million listings in 34,000 cities and 190 countries, so it’s likely there are available accommodations in the vacation destination you’ve chosen. Reviews of hosts provide a measure of security. Choose wisely however: Airbnb properties range from rooms in someone’s home to short-term luxurious vacation rentals. The plus: most are in desirable neighborhoods and contain all the comforts of home. 
Take couch surfing to a new level 
You can’t get much cheaper than free! Operating on the same principles as Airbnb,couchsurfing.com lets you send out queries to people who might be interested in hosting you in their home for free. Popular among Millennials looking to travel and meet new friends, couchsurfing lets you experience a locale on a local level. Often your hosts will not only put you up for the night and feed you in the morning, but also take you sightseeing and introduce you to their friends. The idea is that if you’re part of this network, you’ll reciprocate by hosting travelers in your home sometime, too. 
Try house-swapping 
Know some friends in another city who may want to escape for a little while, too? Arrange for a house swap. With accommodations taken care of, all you’ll need to worry about is the cost of travel. If you’re flying, you should be able to find a good deal by using one of the plentiful cheap airfare finders. If you don’t have friends interested in switching abodes, you can look for places on sites such as HomeExchange.comand LoveHomeSwap.
Whatever you do, make it a fun vacation. Set a budget and reward yourself for sticking to it by planning your next getaway when you get back!

Q&A: Cruise Line Vacation: Planning For A High Seas Getaway

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Q: My friends just got back from a relaxing 2-week cruise. Swimming, sun, and relaxation for a single price sounds like a great deal. Are there any hidden costs or other things to take into account when designing a budget for a cruise vacation of my own?
A: It sounds so simple. Instead of paying for your hotel, your travel, food and fun extras separately, you pay one bill. Your hotel IS your destination! Many of these cruise lines even advertise themselves as “all-inclusive.” It’s tempting to look at that price and think that’s all you have to pay.
Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than that. Cruise fares typically include your room and meals in a buffet-style dining hall. If you want more than that, you’ll need to budget a little bit more than the quoted price. Let’s take a look at a few extras you might have forgotten about and how to budget for them.
1.) Tipping: You’re surrounded by a virtual army of service workers, most of whom depend on gratuities to make a living wage. Most cruise lines know this. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian all include a $12 per person per day automatic gratuity. Most other cruise lines charge a similar fee. You pay these charges at the end of the cruise, and they can be quite frustrating if you’re not expecting them.
The cruise lines add the same automatic gratuity to optional services. If you and your partner get cocktails each at a poolside bar, you can expect to see an 18% gratuity added to the bill. The same is true if you get a massage or attend a yoga class. This extra charge is on top of any tip you add to ensure prompt service or reward personnel who go above and beyond their job descriptions.
How much you should budget for tips on your cruise will depend upon how much you rely on the service workers on the cruise line. At the lowest, you should expect to pay $200 per person for a week-long cruise.
2.) Internet access: We’ve become accustomed to constant access to our e-mail and social media profiles. Many people experience a sense of anxiety if they’re cut off for any length of time. If you actively manage your investments or have a high-pressure job, being out of touch can cost you quite a bit of money. 4G access isn’t available on the open ocean and cruise lines charge a hefty premium for onboard Internet usage.
Expect to pay $0.75 per minute for data usage. If you know beforehand that you’ll need some e-mail and web-surfing time, bulk packages can drop the price to $0.55 per minute. If you want 20 minutes every morning to check your e-mail and flip through your news sites, expect to pay $100 for a 7-day cruise.
You can cut down on this price somewhat by using Internet cafes during port excursions. The trade-off is that you’ll spend your tropical island time in front of a screen rather than in the sand.
3.) Shore excursions: Cruise lines take advantage of the fact that their audience is usually unfamiliar with the locations the ship visits. They charge inflated prices for tours and other shore trips. You can save money by booking these trips on your own with local tour services. You can even save by taking self-guided tours or just wandering the port. Even so, you can expect to spend between $50 and $100 per excursion. Be sure to include the price of souvenirs, meals, and drinks in tropical locations.
If all this seems overwhelming, bear in mind that it’s still worth it. A cruise is a fantastic way to get away from it all and see many different locations in a quick vacation. These are costs you’d have to pay with any other vacation; they’re just hidden a little bit behind the price tag for the cruise.
Now that you have an idea of what your fantasy cruise vacation will cost, you might want to explore savings options. Destinations Credit Union offers a Vacation Club SavingsAccount. You can take your vacation budget, divide that by the number of weeks you have to save, and auto-withdraw the amount from your paycheck or checking account every week or pay period. You’ll even earn some dividends on your savings.
So make a plan, do some math, and then call Destinations Credit Union. The adventure of your dreams is waiting!
SOURCES: