Our vacation rental at the beach for the next 30 days.
Last week I explained how a big part of Thom and my ability to travel frequently comes from living a rightsized life. Yet although that’s the starting point, the successful details of our vacations usually boil down to a few simple tips—or hacks as they are often called these days. While these certainly won’t apply to everyone, they do work for us. And because a number of people seem curious, I decided to share them with you. If I can inspire just one of you to explore your options, not to mention save money, then I’ll consider it worth my time.
So in no particular order, are a few things I’ve learned to do through the years:
*Plan as far ahead as possible. Now I know there are some among you who are already shaking your heads at this one. I know this because when I’ve mentioned it before I’ve heard the objections loud and clear. But if I had to list just one thing that has led to the success of my travel it would have to be this—plan and research your options as much as possible.
Some people hate the idea of planning. The arguments I’ve heard include, “If I plan I lose spontaneity.” Or, “Planning ties you down to a set régime.” I get that planning does take time that some people don’t always feel they have. But the other arguments just aren’t true. Just because I know where I want to go and stay before I get there—that doesn’t mean that I can’t make spontaneous choices moment by moment. In fact, in some case I have more freedom because I’m not wasting a big portion of my day trying to fill in necessary details (like running around like a crazy person trying to find a place to sleep tonight—or eating crap food at any old restaurant because I’m starving to death, or being stuck in the middle seat of the airplane, etc.) By having an idea of where I am going, and what I would like to do, in advance, I am more aware of my options along the way.
For example, we went to Paris one year with some friends who told us that Paris was their favorite city in the world. Because of that, I resisted my urge to research and plan in advance and when we got there we waited for our friends to suggest places to go, things to do and where to eat. Nope. They just wanted to wander around. Now maybe that’s fine for some people, or for anyone who had been there numerous times before, but I wanted to see the Wows and they just didn’t care about them. We had an okay time, but I told myself “Never again.” But make no mistake, we do wander and explore too. Just not about the big things and our trips are filled with rich and rewarding experiences.
And perhaps for the biggest reasons, I LOVE planning in advance is because I get to enjoy the journey for the months preceding the actual travel time. Why wait until you are in the midst of it when you can maximize the experience by planning and research? There is actually scientific proof that the experience of planning a vacation is actually as big a boost to happiness as the vacation itself.
*Use Airbnb’s or VRBO if you stay somewhere for 3 or more days. We are big fans of Airbnb. That’s because when we travel we like to have a bit of space to live AND a kitchen where we can eat many of our meals. Once I know when we will be traveling I begin looking at available places and almost always book them out as far as possible. If you haven’t had much luck on Airbnb or VRBO, chances are you wait until you are almost ready to travel and then can’t find anything decent in your price range. That’s because people like me look early and gobble up all the good and best-priced places in advance. The truth is, it is rare for the best places to be available within a month or two of your travel plans. And unless you want to eat all of your meals out (expensive) or rely on a dinky hotel room coffee pot for your morning coffee, you need to plan this in advance. (Click here for a discount and I get a benefit too!)
If staying less than three nights I usually look for B & B’s and/or hotels. Price wise this usually works out best because of the fees and cleaning fees to rent an apartment or entire home. But again, the best and most affordable places book up early.
*Use Pet sitting services like Trusted Housesitters.com. Most people who know us know we have a dog named Kloe. We love her dearly but it is usually very difficult to travel with a pet—especially if going overseas or traveling in warm summer months. And as most pet owners know, it can be very expensive to hire a sitter during a longer vacation and you nearly always have to pay extra for your hotel and/or apartment rental if you bring a pet.
Instead, a couple of years ago we were introduced to a pet-sitting service. We were definitely apprehensive in the beginning. After all, you are allowing a relative stranger free access to your home AND your beloved pet for all the time you are away. But now, after a total of five different sitters in the last couple of years, we highly recommend the service.
Sure there have been a couple of minor issues around the house that needed to be dealt with upon our return (a dead plant, a dirty hot tub, a scratch on the stove) but other than that, Kloe was well taken care of the entire time. And remember, it cost us nothing for these highly reviewed people to stay in our home. We do check references as well as talk to them by phone and email in advance. But their character and concerns have all been commendable. (We recommend trustedhousesitters.com. Click on link for a 25% discount for signing up & I get a benefit too!)
*Try to make your travel as “slow travel” as possible. As I explained in my last post, I’ve learned to slow down and enjoy the moments and that makes our trips much better. Again, a big part of that is only including the “Wows!” After all, it is impossible to see and do everything anyway, so make sure you just spend your precious time, money and energy seeing and experiencing the best possible choices.
And try to include some down time. One thing Thom loves doing is just sitting in little outdoor restaurants or coffee shop watching people and chatting—both with me and complete strangers. And when I think back to some of our most memorable experiences—those were some of them! I can clearly recall sitting in a little tiny bar in Edinburgh, talking with (or at least trying to communicate) with two students from Spain. While they knew more English than we knew Spanish, we spent over an hour chatting with them about their lives and current events.
Another reason to include downtime AND planning into the equation is that research shows that those who had a “very relaxing time” during travel benefited the most on return—both planning and high-relaxation offer the most advantages.
*Research where to eat if you want the best food for your money. Once I know where I am going to be traveling I use apps like Yelp or TripAdvisor so I know where the good restaurants are in advance. When we travel we do our best to only eat out one meal a day. We seldom pick the most expensive place and often eat out during lunch when prices are more reasonable. In each destination I usually find five to ten of the most recommended places to eat and then when it comes time to decide we have somewhere to go that is not only noteworthy, but worthy of our money. Now I know some people think this is too big a hassle and they would rather be spontaneous, but why waste your money on mediocre food if you don’t have to? Plus, you very often might be missing out on experiencing a very special and unique place (not to mention incredible food) that you would never “spontaneously” find otherwise.
For example, two of our friends went to Italy one year. When they returned we asked them what they thought of the food. (On a previous trip there we enjoyed some of the most amazing meals of our lives.) Instead, our friends told us that what they ate wasn’t anything special. In fact, they said that the pizza was pretty bad. WTH? It turned out that they ended up just eating wherever they found themselves, and never ate anywhere special or notable because of it. To me there is nothing worse than wasting money on a mediocre food when there are exceptional meals to be had!
Use local currency and an ATM card with no transaction fees. This seems obvious to me but I know many who don’t, and then end up paying costs they don’t need to. Even if the business (hotel, restaurant, shop) says they will take USD, or you can charge using USD, it always works out better financially to use local currency.
Use an old Iphone and change the SIM Card for free wifi and calls. I was chatting with a friend who is heading overseas this week and he told me that he was using his Verizon travel plan. Just know that if you have an old Iphone you can take it to a Phone store in whatever country you are traveling to and they will change the SIM Card for you for very low cost. That SIM Card allows you to make international calls and use wifi practically everywhere. Trust me. You will save a LOT of money doing this!
Shop prices as much as possible. When traveling I spend a lot of time shopping costs such as airline prices, car rentals, hotels, etc. well in advance. It am convinced that the time I spend shopping saves us a considerable amount of money. Whether you are traveling in the US, in Mexico, Canada or anywhere overseas, prices vary widely. If you aren’t checking you might not even realize that you are throwing money away. I actually have a list of go-to websites that I check before making any big purchase or reservation. I believe I get to travel more often because I am such a good “shopper”. Plus, who needs to shop for “stuff” when you can shop for the best and most affordable travel?
A few of my favorite travel planning websites are:
- Forums and reviews on Tripadvisor.com
- Yelp.com mainly for restaurants and hotels.
- CruiseCritic.com. We aren’t big cruisers but this site has LOTS of helpful info about destinations and excursions if you are.
- Google, Google, Google! Search every possible keyword you can for where you want to go.
Okay, I could probably go on and on about travel. I love it AND I love to plan for it. Again, while I realize that some people don’t have the time, or even the desire to travel that much, I think it is one of the more enjoyable things we can do during our lives. When I’m travel planning, I don’t think of it as work. Instead, I see it as another way to use my creative talents to design something special for my future. Like a big, elaborate puzzle, I start with the framework and one-by-one add pieces. Eventually I’m able to stand back and view my creation. But that’s really just the beginning because I then get to “live” the experience as well. What other hobbies offer such a before, during and after opportunity?
So what about you? Do you love to plan your travel too, or do you prefer to just “wing it?” Or do you just like to go on cruises which pretty much takes care of the majority of pre-planning? Also, I’m sure that those who like to camp or RV also have a lot of tips they could share. If you have ideas you’d like to share with all of us that can make the experience better, I would love to hear from you in the comments below. As usual, travel isn’t a one-size fits all. But if you love to travel, then it is SMART to first rightsize your life and then find your travel-style and stick with it as much as possible.
Rob does not plan so all travel planning falls to me. (His approach is like that of your friends in Paris – get somewhere then wander about). So I do the travel planning, but unlike you, I don’t enjoy it at all. It takes a huge amount of time and it’s stressful. As a result, some aspects of our travel are planned well in advance (the flights, the accommodation for the first few nights, a particular event that drew us there in the first place), but much of it is quite spontaneous. Where we do save money is in our flexibility to travel in the off season, and our general preference to stay out of big cities and trendy tourist destinations.
Jude
Hi Jude! If I didn’t like planning so much I’m guessing we wouldn’t do nearly as much…or maybe a weekend or two here or there with very few BIG trips (or at least ones like we do them.) I actually prefer to plan all the little steps along the way and thankfully Thom is on board with that too. WE tried the tours and just find them too confining. They are a LOT easier, but there are downsides (at least IMHO!) Still, we all have to find what works for us and it sounds like you have found a way. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Great post. I am a veteran researcher and planner, and Dan says we can vacation on the cheap like nobody’s business. LOL.
We are actually about to leave for 5 nights on Lake Champlain. VRBO…after Labor Day, very affordable. And it allows us to eat in a lot, which saves $$ also and allows us to eat a lot healthier at the same time.
You can travel, you just need to be smart and intentional about it.
Hi Nancy. I like that saying, “Veteran researcher and planner!” I think that applies to me too. It’s amazing how much you can save and at the same time have a sometimes even BETTER vacation when you research in advance. And as you say, having your own kitchen not only helps you save but is usually a healthier alternative. We even took our Magic Bullet with us on the road trip so we could make smoothies (something we do at home every day) on the road most of the time. It requires a little effort but SO-O-O much healthier than other alternatives. ~Kathy
Kathy, Although travel is not a big part of my life right now, I am a planner when it comes to travel. I like to have some things planned…but have also started to let some things be open. If you want to eat at one of the best places, often you’ll need reservations!
I also have taken the tour-group approach where everything is handled…and that wasn’t so bad either.
My first (and only) experience with AirBnB was horrible! I think I need to try it again as so many people have good experiences.
Another tip – check out Groupon if you’re going to a US based city. We’ve found some good deals on tours that way.
And, I’ve book marked that house sitting service (thanks). I’m still thinking we will do a cross-country road trip one of these years… sans dog would be easier.
Hi Pat! So very sorry to hear that you’ve had a bad experience with Airbnb. I suppose that does happen–but did you check the reviews carefully beforehand? The only time we had less than a great stay was in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was a great place but when we arrived we learned they had construction RIGHT NEXT DOOR and literally right beside out tiny patio. I had picked the place because of the patio and wasn’t happy. It was too late to select another location but we asked, and were given, a discount on the pricing. Stuff does happen anywhere, so being flexible with plans is goo too. And Groupon is an excellent suggestion. Thanks. ~Kathy
I wish I was a better planner, but for some reason, I have trouble “pulling the trigger” (booking the flights, hotels/Airbnbs, etc.). I will admit that my reluctance/procrastination has caused problems in the past. Fortunately, we have our place booked in Mexico for our upcoming trip… but I still need to make plane reservations. I do check out blogs, websites, Instagram, etc. for places to go, thing to do, and where to eat, though. That is the fun part for me! We do use a credit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, and ATM card that rebates fees, and our cell phone plan treats calls to/from Mexico and Canada as “local.” I didn’t know about using an old iPhone in Europe, though. Good to know!! Oh, and we definitely love S L O W travel! Now that we are retired, we are free to be as slow as we want!
Hi Janis! How interesting. I think you’ve identified something that I hadn’t considered. Being stuck with reluctance can take the fun out of it for sure. I agree it isn’t easy when you have LOTS and LOTS of choices. For example, I’ve already booked our international flights for next summer. I spent bits and pieces of the last couple of months researching prices and even researched how far out to buy for the best prices. And yes, I did hesitate to buy so far in advance but there is every indication that they will not go down in price, AND I’m really picky about airlines, seat selection, and layovers. When I found what I consider to be the very best option I held my breath and pulled the trigger. Now, I will stop looking at airline prices completely….I don’t even want to know if they go down (they are non-refundable.) Now I can start on other steps along the way. I’m completely booking all our places to stay and other transportation so again, it’s like a puzzle…but you do have to start and not be frozen by your decisions. some you can change, others you just have to prepare best you can and then go with the flow. And YES to slow travel!!! ~Kathy
There are three ways to approach travel (I can’t call it vacation, unfortunately, or I wouldn’t be able to add my two cents, since we don’t vacation): planning a lot ahead of time, planning little ahead of time, or something in between.
When I still went on rare vacations, I would plan and research/read as much as possible, not to miss out. Now, living full-time in our van, we never plan much. Of course, it helps to have your own house with you. 🙂 My general take is: the more you plan, anticipate, and expect, the more disappointment will take place. The more flexibility you have, the more surprises you will encounter. Of course this strategy wouldn’t quite work when needing to book accommodations every night. It just happens to work well for us.
Since my parents come join us mid-September and they put me in charge of arranging everything, I actually HAD to book plane tickets and all accommodations for ten days. For four adults, a dog, and a tall camper van needing parking space. And, figure out a route! So not me.
The main reason I was dreading this was the time involvement… It honestly took me a week or so to get everything figured out. And, because I’m a last minute person, you are right, some of the best Airbnb places were gone. Even the day after I looked at some and hadn’t decided yet.
But, this way of travel is the best way to do it with my parents who will be here for a short amount of time. We haven’t done the trip yet, but – despite all the frustration, effort, and time involved – I’m glad I managed to organize everything. Phew!
Hi Liesbet! I’m sure you planning for your parents was a challenge for you because you’ve developed such a great alternative way to do it. But I’ll also bet when you are planning pet/house sitting adventures that takes some scheduling as well. It really boils down to how we “rightsize” our trips. As I said, I see it as a hobby of sorts…some people like to do cross words, or craft…I like to “craft” vacation 🙂 And as far as being disappointed when things don’t go according to plan, that’s when I just stay flexible and look for the hidden good in the situation. I agree it’s impossible to control things, especially when you travel. But being prepared as much as possible to ANY eventuality with an optimistic outlook is my goal. Glad you’re done with the “work” of the coming trip. I hope you ALL have a fabulous time! ~Kathy
I was looking forward to reading some of your thoughts and suggestions, Kathy. My husband and I are definitely planners, yet “planning” in some flexibility. I agree how researching and investigating options is definitely part of the fun. I like everything you said about the “Slow travel.” This is when some of our flexible moments have occurred with some of the best experiences.
Totally new information for me was the old iphone and SIM card. I will investigate this gem further.
Thank you for sharing. Happy travels!
Hi Erica! Glad you found some of them interesting. Like I said in the post, travel planning is one of my “happy spots” so I’m always looking for ways to do more of it. Of course, as Jennifer pointed out, you don’t have to use an “old” iphone for a SIM card, you can use your current, but Thom didn’t want to risk losing his phone (again) so we used an old one! I’m thinking we might do differently next time, but the key is buying a SIM card either way. WE made calls and used the wifi hotspot on the phone the entire 3 weeks we were in Vietnam and it worked great. ~Kathy
Thanks Kathy, An interesting post. I also learn tips from reading the responses, as with most posts:)
My own rules for travel (which I admit I sometimes break): stay off airplanes if you can; go by train if possible; stay with family or friends; there are more interesting places close to home than you think; try not to leave too much impact on the environment; approach travel as enrichment rather than entertainment. And … planning ahead and traveling frugally are good ways to help you follow my guidelines.
Hi Tom! Thanks for your adds to the list as well. I actually have a friend who is taking the Q-E2 back and forth from Europe this summer to avoid flying but I’m honestly not completely convinced that loweres her carbon footprint that much. I’m not quite ready to give up flying but agree that if you can, especially if you stay on the continent, there are other option. But I LOVE the viewpoint that “approach travel as enrichment rather than entertainment.” Hmmmm…I think I do both! ~Kathy
Great tips, Kathy! Like you I am a long-range planner and half the fun of the trip is planning it ahead of time (and snatching up those great deals on accommodations). I agree with all your tips. And I’d like to add I recently got a credit card that earns me travel dollars (and a yearly companion voucher) on an airline I use frequently, and I am already seeing the benefits. Another tip: travel on off-peak times, to get even better deals on flights and accommodations, and to miss the crowds…
Deb
Hi Deb! YES! Good advice. We actually managed to use Delta Skymiles for about 4 different trips to Europe back when Delta was “reasonable” about those points. But now we just use a card with EXCELLENT rebates and use that…but if you can find a card that works for an airline that you use regularly then that is a great option. And yes to off peak travel. Anyone without kids at home should be able to travel at a more flexible time and save money. And for me, one of the best benefits is missing those crowds. Thanks for your additions. ~Kathy
Great tips, Kathy!
Another plus about planning ahead is that if visiting friends/relatives during your travels — it helps them to plan in advance as well! 🙂
Hi Donna! Yes, that’s a good one too. And guess what? We’re just about ready to start planning for NEXT summer. I’ll fill you in when I do!~Kathy
Perfect! I have my fingers crossed that that planning includes LT2020!
I am with you 100% on the planning, Kathy! One can get better deals with planning a few months ahead and I like knowing what is coming. Hans’ brother refuses to plan and he has regrettably missed out on a wedding and our 40th class reunion because of his refusal to plan. It is NOT healthy for him to behave this way. Hans isn’t a great planner either, but he has me as his concierge, LOL! I like having a loose itinerary but plans can and will change (as we experienced last winter). And I always have a plan B! Great tips about the sim card for the phone and pet sitting! We are fortunate that we have a couple of young women from our church who love to pet/house sit ($20 per night is a fab deal). Most of the time we travel by car or truck/trailer so the pooches can ride along–and they love it!
Hi Terri! I too have a lot of examples of people who end up just taking whatever they can get when they travel because the resist the whole planning bit. I get that some people see it as a “job” so they aren’t motivated but that’s a shame because like you said about your Brother-in-law, you can miss out on a lot if you don’t. Of course like you and Hans, Thom just turns it over to me and lets me take the lead. I nearly always run things by him but overall it is my choice. And lucky you having people you can trust take care of your pups. But know that the service is available if you need it! ~Kathy
I am with you about the planning. Planning is fun for me and I love the anticipation of a trip.
I am curious why you say to get a sim card for an old phone. Why not use a current phone?
Hi Michele! You’re right. It would work with your current phone but we just started doing it because we aren’t paranoid about losing the old one whatsoever. Of course we’ve never had any reason to worry but it works for us. Thank you though for pointing that out. Either way you save a bunch. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy, Something new I’ve discovered is that often hotels drop in price closer to the date… So now I always book the “cancellable” option so I can cancel & re-buy at the cheaper rate. I saved $50 on a one night stay just last week.
Hi Deb! What a great idea. The trick is to research and make sure you CAN cancel, right? And then go back and check on it. I’m guessing that happens with the bigger hotels because they have so many rooms. With smaller B&B’s an Inns it’s not usually an option. But but very good to consider for sure. ~Kathy
Kathy I’m not surprised at all that you’re a savvy traveller. We do some of the things you recommend and particularly love airbnb since we discovered it. I’m also a big fan of planning in advance and enjoying the lead up to the trip (sometimes more than the trip itself!)
Hi Leanne! Yes it really is amazing that research is now showing that people who plan, and LIKE to plan, get as much out of the trip while doing that then the trip itself. Like I said in the post, it is really a hobby for me. Now matter what is going on in my life or the world, I can get lost in my “happy place” when planning a trip. And anytime I need a mental boost, I know what to do. ~Kathy
We’ve never stayed in an Airbnb. Many friends swear by them, but we don’t travel often and it’s usually for a long weekend when we do. Hotels, with room service, are easier. Not to mention… points. ?
I used to be all about planning trips months in advance, but as we’ve gotten older that has become difficult to do. Too many family variables outside my control get in the way. Thus we’re more impulsive now which is ok, too. I figure that in the end it’s the fun you have on vacation that counts so however it comes to be that we get somewhere works for me.
Hi Ally! One of these days you might want to give Airbnb a try. But I agree, if you aren’t staying more than a few days it probably won’t work. And as long as you have to stay really flexible, that wouldn’t work either. But things change so who knows, right? And yes, I COMPLETELY AGREE that it is the fun you have that counts. ~Kathy