With schools now getting out the official first day of summer can’t be far behind. Along with summer comes vacation and the decision of whether it be a staycation or a trip away from home. If you haven’t made your vacation plans yet you are not alone according to Lisa Poirot, editor of FamilyVacationCritic.com. According to a recent survey by the site, 41 percent of families have not yet made their plans.
Here are some ideas on how to get the best deals.
Best Dates for Summer Travel. The least expensive dates for summer travel are the weekend before Labor Day weekend which falls this year on August 24-26. Historically, according to an analysis by Travelocity, this is the cheapest airfare of the summer since many families are getting ready for school and a number of schools are already back in session by then. If you can’t travel then, also take a look at making vacation plans June 22-24 or July 20-22. The most expensive dates to travel next to Memorial Day weekend are the weekends bookending the Fourth of July.
Cutting Theme Park Prices. Popular theme parks are going up in price but if you take some time to do the research ahead of your arrival you should be able to score some deals. Here’s how:
- Buy tickets online
- Use social media sites, especially Facebook and Twitter, to track deals
- Consider buying a season pass
- Check for special during off peak hours
- Check out groups you belong to for member discounts (AAA, AARP, employers, alumni associations)
Landing Cheap Airfare. It has gotten tougher to get a good deal on airfare but with a little work it’s still possible. Here are some tactics to use to land the best deal:
- Book travel on Tuesday afternoons three months out if possible
- Use Bing Travel and Airfarewatchdog to set fare alerts
- Use airfare comparison sites like Kayak and FareCompare.com
- Be flexible on traveling dates –Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays are cheapest
- Compare fees charged on checked bags and seat selection
Credit Cards for Making Summer Travel More Affordable. Another way to stretch your summer budget is to look at who is offering the best initial bonuses according to Card Hub’s most recent Credit Card Landscape Report. Card Hub compared more than 1,000 credit card offers and rated the following cards the four best:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred. Consumers receive 40,000 bonus points for taking out this card and charging $3000 on it for the first three months.
- Pen Fed Platinum Rewards. If you plan to be behind the wheel this summer this card is rated as the “best gas credit card” on the market. Why? The card offers 25,000 bonus points for the first $1000 spent in the first three months.
- Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card. This card offers 40,000 bonus points after your first purchase and 20,000 more after you have charged $3000.
- British Airways Credit Card. With more than 17% of US consumers planning a trip abroad this summer this card might be able to help them put a dent in the airfare cost. This card provides 50,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and the potential for even more depending on how much you use the card.
Quick word of warning though, make sure you read our post “The IRS May Come Calling” before signing on the dotted line.