Traveling: Summer Edition
Every year in the summertime I try to travel as much as possible, and this year I’ve made it a point to go places I have never been. As most of you know, I went to Las Vegas a couple months ago and I said I have some trips planned for the rest of summer. A few people ask how I’ve already traveled 6 times this year without killing my budget and using up all my vacation time. Let me help y’all out…
Plan Ahead - Think of a place you want to go, whether it’s your first time or you’ve been there 100 times already. Consider the day you want to leave and come back, how you’ll get there, who you’re going with (if you’re not going alone), come up with a ballpark budget, and start your research.
Transportation - Most of the time, you’ll probably be flying to wherever you’re going. Google Flights is a great resource to check because it shows flight comparisons. From experience, I can tell you it’s cheaper to fly out on a Wednesday/Thursday and come back on a Monday instead of flying out Friday and coming back Sunday for weekend getaways. It’s also better to buy a ticket a few weeks in advance, and for some reason, the day you’re researching can change the prices of your flight (ex: if you buy it on Tuesday it might be cheaper than buying on Friday, idk it’s a weird system). If you want to rent a car, it may seem cheaper up front but consider the fees associated with rental car companies, especially if you’re going to use their insurance instead of your own and an extra $20-25 a day if you’re under 25. Depending on how far you’re going, gas will also add up quickly, and if you’re going alone, think of the energy it will take to make the drive without help.
Travel Rewards Systems - I’ve only flown with Southwest Airlines and, as with any other airline, they have a rewards system you can sign up for and earn points for each flight, hotel, and car reservation you make. Find out what airline works best for you and sign up to earn points that you can use to buy future flights.
Hotel vs. Airbnb - Depending on where you’re going, an Airbnb may be cheaper or a better option than a hotel. You guys know my last Airbnb experience was wack, but a lot of times they can offer some really nice spaces for great deals. I used the Hotel Tonight app to choose a hotel when we left our Airbnb; it’s an app that shows you the hotels with the best deals in the city you’re in and you can use it any time of day. We left our Airbnb and about 10 minutes later checked into the hotel, so the reservation process was really convenient. If you are staying in a hotel, be aware of the fine print and fees. When I was researching hotels in Las Vegas, some were $120/night but the resort also charges a $40/day fee for access to different amenities. Do your research! Oh, and if you’re booking an Airbnb try to reserve the entire house, not just a private room/one room in a house, for safety reasons.
Packing - I am that person who overpacks everywhere I go because I’m always thinking about “what-if” scenarios. I usually pack based on the number of days I will be there, instead of packing specific outfits because I like having options to choose from. If I’m leaving for 3 days, I’ll bring 5 shirts and maybe 4 bottoms instead of planning an outfit per day. Try your best to fit everything in a carry-on so you don’t have to check your bags, but if you fly Southwest you can check 2 bags for free (not sponsored by Southwest, but at this point I should be). It’s just easier with a carry-on because you don’t have to wait for the baggage claim. I always pack clothes and shoes in my carry-on and then in my personal bag, usually a backpack, I pack my toiletries, makeup, and electronics.
Time Off - “How do you travel so often without your boss getting mad?” Well, I don’t really have this problem because I never see my boss lol (we don’t directly work together and day to day I don’t necessarily report to anyone). And, I have a cool job that doesn’t require me to request days off in advance. If I want to use paid time off, I just have to fill out a form by a certain deadline. If you have to request time off, make sure you do it in advance so you don’t get in trouble at work and if you have PTO, save it so you can use it for vacation. For my teacher friends, use your summers off to have fun and utilize the holiday breaks.
Who’s Going? - I hate traveling with people who are super cheap so I pick my travel buddies wisely. Cheap meaning that you only want to eat fast food while we’re there and you want to do the same activities we could have done at home. I also don’t travel with the kind of people who want to stay in the hotel the whole time. Let’s go out and explore, see what there is to do, what food we can eat, etc. I’m not one to follow a specific itinerary either but I do like to research what there is to do in the city I’ll be in.
Money - I don’t know who needs to hear this, but bring money when you travel!!! Don’t be that person who can’t go anywhere or do anything because you only brought $50 on a 4 day trip. Bring extra money for souvenirs, emergencies, random activities that weren’t planned, etc. You don’t need to spend $500 on food but you don’t want to be hungry the whole trip either. It helps to research the prices of certain things you may want to do. For instance, where I live, you can get in a club for no more than $20, but in Las Vegas you might get charged $100.
Have Fun! - You’re on vacation, enjoy it! If you’re stressed out the whole time you travel, it’s probably because you didn’t plan ahead. You don’t have to have a plan for every minute of the trip but you should have some ideas ahead of time.
I hope you get the chance to do something fun this summer, and if you haven’t, go somewhere! Even if it’s just a drive to the next city over, or it’s a one night trip, get out and explore the world when you can. Traveling opens up your perspective and gives you a chance to experience different cultures. Have fun, be safe, and spend wisely. See you in my next post, it may be a travel story time… (;
All My Love,
Tyler
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5 NIV