5 Crucial Travel Tips to Reduce Costs and Stay Safe

As the weather starts to warm, more and more people will begin taking vacations to different parts of the world. However, vacation prices have steadily been rising in recent years to levels which are hard for the average American to meet out of pocket without saving in advance.  Learning everything there is to know about average vacation prices in the modern day, along with some general tips for saving money on vacation, can help any family plan their trip. 

How Much Does the Average Vacation Cost? 

Nowadays, the average vacation is more expensive than ever before. A one-week vacation for a single person now costs over $1,500 on average, which includes food, accommodation, activities, and more. This means that a family of four could expect to pay nearly $6,000 for simply a week-long vacation. This is why finding ways to cut costs and save money is so important. 

Is Tourism in the Modern Day Dangerous? 

Another hang-up that has had people considering postponing their travels is due to the widespread violence that has seemingly impacted tourists around the world. While visitors can certainly be the target of crimes such as theft or assault, there is no statistical higher danger so long as a person keeps their wits about them. Avoid being overly kind to strangers and stick to areas you know while avoiding traveling at night in order to reduce any potential danger. 

5 Beneficial Tips for Your Next Vacation 

No matter where your intended destination may be, the following five tips can help to ensure that you have both a cost-effective and safe vacation: 

1.Secure all valuables whenever you are exploring

The cost of replacing luggage is extremely high, especially if you had a lot of items due to an extended vacation. However, luggage theft is extremely common when on vacation, which is why preventing this possibility in the first place is important. A person should utilize beneficial luggage storage services in their destination which hold onto their luggage while they are out exploring a city. This way, a person doesn’t need to worry about whether or not their valuables are safe and won’t have to pay a replacement cost. 

2.Build a budget in advance of your trip

Even travelers who are taking a luxury vacation should take the time to build a budget in advance of their trip. With the rising cost of vacations, it’s always best to set a maximum spending limit for food, activities, accommodations, and other factors of a trip. This will help to ensure that you don’t accidentally send yourself into debt while you are enjoying your time away. 

3.Use credit card reward points whenever possible

One unique way to save money on a vacation is to use credit card reward points for all purchases. This means redeeming built up points through a cash back or travel portal on a credit card platform, which offers airline credits, hotel credits, and even activity credits. This can save travelers thousands of dollars, potentially, depending on how many credits that person has saved up. 

4.Book activities in advance

Oftentimes, taking the time to book all activities in advance is one of the best ways to prepare for a vacation while saving money. Most activity providers offer discounts if you book far enough in advance, so it’s worth watching websites of companies you are interested in to see if they have any offerings. 

5.Keep your friends and family informed of your plans

Finally, as a general safety tip for vacations, you should always keep your friends and family informed of what your plans are going to be. If you are traveling to an area that does not offer strong reception, consider sending your loved ones your itinerary for the week or for your entire trip so that somebody knows where you are supposed to be. If the unfortunate happens and there is an investigation into your whereabouts, it will all go faster if someone can point the authorities in the right direction. 

The Bottom Line

With the average vacation now costing thousands of dollars, it’s never been more important to find ways to save money. All potential travelers should start saving months in advance of their trip while also finding the best time of year to travel to their intended destination. Once you arrive, however, your worries shouldn’t fade completely. The world can be dangerous which is why utilizing some of the above steps to ensure you and your family’s safety should be a top priority.