Travelling doesn’t always have to be as expensive as you think! With the right mindset and ‘hacks’ you can get good deals that can help you out on your next trip. Whether you are looking for a cheap or free upgrade or want to collect points for rewards, here are the best financial travel hacks:
Get an American Express card
I’ve been using an American Express credit card for a while now. Although you have to remember that a credit card is not free, an Amex card can be used to collect points. Especially on travel expenses these points add up! You can then spend these on hotel bookings, upgrades, flights and lots more.
Depending on the card you get multiple travel benefits too, like fraud protection, travel insurance and complimentary lounge passes! Download the American Express App and browse for travel offers. You can use your points to pay for hotel nights and lots more, which often are better value!
Before you decide on getting an American Express card make sure you understand what it entails to have a credit card and have a good look to see which Amex card is best for what you need!
If needed, you can get a short team loan
There are multiple reasons you might need a short term loan. You have had an emergency like your car breaking down or received an urgent/unexpected bill. Keep in mind that a loan costs money and you should try to avoid prolonged cycles of debt.
For example, you have booked travel and are on track for paying this off. But then you are faced with an unexpected expense like a medical bill or car repair. In this scenario you can look at securing a cash loan. These are often small amounts of money that are paid out to you very quickly, in order to get you back on track until your next pay day.
Join loyalty programs
There are endless amounts of travel loyalty programs you can join!
- At booking.com you qualify for ‘genius’ level after booking 2 times in 2 years. This gives you a saving of at least 10% when you book, as well as options for free upgrades and breakfast!
- If you haven’t used TopCashback before we definitely recommend this! You can get cash back with most big travel companies, like Trainline, Expedia, Hotels.com and lots more.
- You can join loyalty programs for nearly every hotel chain out there. Radisson, Hilton, Hyatt and Marriot have some of the best rated loyalty programs.
- Airline rewards programs are often free to join and worth doing so! Especially if you fly with one particular airline often you will get extra benefits from joining a loyalty program. Speedy bag drop off, choosing your own seats and upgrades – different airline loyalty programs all offer different things.
Book your travel well in advance
Last minute deals are (sadly) becoming more and more a thing of the past. You are now more likely to get a good financial deal if you book in advance. Often companies offer a low or no deposit deal as well as money off for booking early. Booking early allows you to take time and find the best deals without feeling under time pressure.
The most common saving when you book in advance is free kids places. But there are plenty of other benefits, like cheaper travel insurance and a possibility for a complimentary upgrade. Also booking your travel in advance allows you to go to the shops and get good deals on clothing, technology and more.
These tips should help you save some money on your travels in the future. If you are looking for more advice, read our bloggers Q&A where they share favourite loyalty programs and travel hacks.
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