Planning a Vacation During Economically Challenging Times
You may be scratching your head wondering why you would even think about planning a vacation with the way the U.S. economy looks right now. But the truth of the matter is, now is when you really need to start planning if you have any hope of taking that special family vacation next summer you’ve been dreaming of. Here are some tips to help you plan and reasons why you should start planning now.
- Now is the time to lock in your price. If you wait to see how the economy, both globally and personally, are doing 10 months from now, prices for most vacations are going to be higher. Make your reservations now, pay your deposit and lock in current pricing. If the prices go down, you can always either have your reservation changed or cancel your original booking and rebook. Don’t wait 10 months only to find out that you can go on vacation but now you can’t afford to because the prices are too high.
- Planning now gives you plenty of time to start saving. Save a little each week or month. I remember as a teenager having a vacation savings account at our local bank. If you’re bank will let you open a small savings account that you will use only for vacation money great! If they won’t, you have one right at home. Your sock drawer. We all have them. Stick an envelope in there with a piece of paper to record your deposits and withdrawals. Then each week, put some cash in there. Be sure to bury the envelope towards the back so you’re not tempted to dip into it.
- Look into reduced deposit requirements or upgrade specials. Several cruise lines are offering specials right now for 2009 vacations.
- Only book a vacation that has a liberal cancellation policy. You need to be realistic and plan an “escape” route in case you decide to cancel as the time drawers near. Oh, and if you are planning a vacation with small children, don’t tell them about it. You don’t want to feel guilty about having to tell them that their vacation had to be canceled. What they don’t know won’t hurt them.
- By booking now, you are going to get the best choice on everything including the exact dates you want, the exact resort or cabin you want, your dining preference, etc. If you wait until you know you can go, many of your first choices are going to be gone.
- Make the vacation part or all of the family’s holiday gifts. If you know you are planning on spending a certain amount of money on holiday gifts this year, take that money and put it towards your trip next year. Then plan small gifts maybe themed around the vacation for everyone’s holiday gifts.
- Tell your friends and family that in lieu of birthday and holiday gifts this year, you would appreciate having them “contribute” towards your vacation with gift cards that you can use either to pay for your trip or while you or on vacation.
- Don’t over extend yourself. Only apply the absolute minimum deposit that is required.
- Don’t book your airfare now. It is very likely that whatever flights you book today will be different by time you travel next summer. You may purchase flights that are currently non-stop and are at convenient times but the airlines have the right and will most certainly, change those flights and times by the time you are ready to travel. A non-stop flight may become a connecting flight. A connecting flight with a one-hour layover may turn into a connecting flight with a six-hour layover. And the worse scenario is that your airline either stops flying to and from where ever you are going or it goes out of business all together. If you do wait you do run the risk of the airfare being higher than it is right now but it’s better to pay a little more for your airfare than be stuck with airline tickets that you have already paid for and can’t use if you have to cancel your trip.
So don’t put off planning for your 2009 vacation. Researching and planning can be fun and your vacation will give you something to look forward to while saving you money!