Five tips for planning your next vacation

We have all been longing for that moment when we can put our out of office on, pack our bags and jet off to enjoy a much-awaited holiday. A chance to reconnect with those we have missed the most in exotic destinations that offer cultural diversity, incredible sights, adventure, fun – and most importantly, a safe space with strict health and safety measures in place.

The recent global crisis has left a lot of people around the world with less disposable income, which has resulted in them becoming a bit more price conscious. But this doesn’t mean one has to forgo a holiday. With a little bit of planning, patience and creativity there are ways you can still afford to book yourself that next great break and start planning your travel bucket list. Here are some top tips.

Budget. Budget. Budget

Living under lockdown for nearly a year without our creature comforts being easily accessible has shown us we can still live a rich meaningful life with less. Use this opportunity to continue to streamline your expenses and put savings away for a holiday. Booking a holiday on an all-inclusive package gives you the peace of mind of knowing exactly what you need to budget because once you have paid for the holiday there are no unexpected costs to surprise you at the end of the holiday.

Shop around

With a lot of resorts and airlines finally opening up to the world post lockdown, many will be desperate to sweeten their holiday package deals to make sure they increase their room occupancy. So take the time to shop around to find the best holiday deal that suits your pocket. Also keep an eye out for specials where travel providers offer better rates over certain low demand periods - they might motivate you to take that dream getaway for less!

Travel Smart

While it may seem ideal to take a holiday when the rest of the world is doing so, it only means you will end up forking out higher prices on holidays and flights as demand will be high. If possible consider taking your holiday during off-peak or shoulder seasons. These are the periods of time during the year when children are not on holiday so not only are the packages cheaper, resorts are generally quieter and less crowded, making it the perfect setting for a couples getaway. 

If travelling off-peak is not a possibility with the family, look for airlines and resorts that offer discounts for young children. In Club Med Mauritius, all kids under 12 stay free and kids under 6 stay free at their other sun resorts! Specials like these make a huge difference on a budget.

READ: Going on vacation during the pandemic

Rope in your stokvel

It’s not always possible to have a lump sum on hand to pay for your well-deserved holiday, so why not rope in your stokvel saving scheme? Commit to contributing a certain amount every month at a pace comfortable with everyone with a targeted goal to pay for a group holiday at the end of the year. Not only will this make that dream holiday a reality debt-free, it's the perfect way to celebrate the end of the year with loved ones and friends.

Book in advance

A number of travel companies and airlines offer incredible deals when you book holidays and flights in advance*. If you are hoping to have an amazing  holiday that won’t blow your budget, don’t wait until the last minute.  The sooner you book your travels the less you pay - the early bird really does get the best deal. Companies like Club Med, leaders in all-inclusive sun and snow holidays around the world, also reward early bookers with flexible payment options where you pay a low deposit of 10% on accommodation, with the balance payable over the remaining period before you travel. The longer a period you give yourself to pay off the balance, the less pressure there will be to settle everything all at once.

*It might sound counter-intuitive to book in advance when the pandemic means most of us don’t know what tomorrow holds, but most travel companies have amended their change and cancellation policies to really give you peace of mind and flexibility if you need to change or postpone your trip.

Image courtesy of iStock/ @ Halfpoint