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Budget traveling can be great. Some of my all-time favorite trips have operated on a tight budget that included nothing but the bare necessities. Those were some great times and great experiences that I wouldn’t change for the world.
That being said, sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself (and/or your family) to something a little nicer. I’m picturing overwater bungalows somewhere in the South Pacific. You feel me?
Now, I’m a fairly frugal person at heart. I’m not about to drop thousands on luxury travel just because I prefer a little more comfort. Instead, I’ve learned a few tricks that allow my family to enjoy luxury travel cheaply, in true Club Thrifty style.
Leverage Credit Card Rewards
If you know me even a little bit, you know I’m obsessed with credit card rewards. Seriously, if you aren’t collecting points or cash back on your credit card, you’re doing it wrong.
I’ve saved tens of thousands off the cost of luxury travel by leveraging credit card rewards. And, when it comes to rewards programs, Chase Ultimate Rewards are my favorite. (FYI – If you’re new to points and miles and are looking for an awesome rewards credit card to get started with, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred.)
Here’s my quick and dirty guide to maximizing credit card rewards:
- Apply for a card that offers a signup bonus and rewards you will use
- Meet the requirements for the signup bonus (usually a minimum spend)
- Start using your credit card for absolutely every purchase you make – you earn points for every dollar you spend
- Pay your balance in full every month, no exceptions
- Repeat the previous two steps until you’ve racked up a bunch of rewards (it doesn’t take that long)
- Redeem those rewards for free/cheap luxury travel (or whatever happens to be your jam)
Use Hotel and Airline Loyalty Programs
Not signing up for hotel and airline loyalty programs is in the same category as not using a rewards credit card. In both situations, you’re leaving free money on the table.
You might think you don’t travel enough to bother signing up for these programs, but that’s silly. Joining a loyalty program is always free and never takes more than a few minutes. You literally have nothing to lose. Even if you only travel once a year, you’ll still earn some rewards.
Personally, I sign up for the loyalty program at every store I shop at, every airline I use, every hotel I stay in. You’ll never catch me saying no to free.
Another thing to consider is that some loyalty programs offer ways to earn rewards besides earning them through travel. Some have online shopping portals that allow you to earn rewards when you shop at your favorite retailers. Of course, if you use your rewards credit card to pay for your purchases, you’ll be earning two types of rewards!
If you travel a lot and you’re loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain, you can likely get a co-branded credit card. That way, you’ll earn rewards for that particular brand on all your purchases.
My point? If you’re serious about saving on luxury travel, take advantage of every loyalty program you can!
Book Luxury Travel Off-peak
Certain times of year are more popular for travel because of factors like weather and timing. For instance, Spring Break is a convenient and popular time to plan a family vacation because the kids are out of school.
The popularity of peak travel times means demand is high. The thing about high demand is that it also drives up prices – like way up. So, if you want to get luxury travel for cheap, consider booking your trip when demand isn’t so high.
Traveling off-peak can be just as awesome and save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars. When you travel off-peak, flights and accommodations are almost always cheaper – sometimes by as much as 50% or more. As an added bonus, many of the attractions will be a lot less crowded, too! Win-win, if you ask me.
Wait for a Sweet Sale Before You Book
Sometimes when you’re really excited to book a trip, it can be easy to rush into getting those flights confirmed without really watching the prices. Trust me, I get it. It’s not real until it’s booked!
But if you want to save on luxury travel, it makes sense to be flexible with your dates and wait for a great sale. We already talked about how peak and off-peak times affect prices, but sometimes there are other factors at play, too.
For example, an airline may discount seats to fill up a flight that sold fewer tickets than expected. Wouldn’t it be great if one of those cheap seats could be yours?
I recommend setting up an alert on your phone through a site like AirfareWatchdog.com. That way, you’ll get notified when fares to your desired location drop. In fact, I recommend doing that for several of your target locations, that way you can compare prices and jump when you find the best deal.
That brings me to my last point…
Choose the Best Priced of Your 3 Top Destinations
I don’t know about you, but there are a ton of places I’d love to visit.
If you want to enjoy luxury travel cheaply, flexibility is your best friend. Not only in terms of finding the cheapest dates, but also for finding the cheapest destinations.
When I’m getting ready to plan my next trip, I make a list of a few places I’d really like to visit. Then I start scoping out prices and dates, and I usually choose the one that comes out cheapest. Why? Because I love traveling, and I want to do as much of it as I can. By saving money on one trip, I have more for the next. It’s a no-brainer, really.
Obviously, this doesn’t work if you need to be in a certain place at a certain time – like your sister’s wedding in Jamaica next May. But for regular vacations, this strategy can help you save big.
Final Thoughts
Luxury travel doesn’t need to have a luxurious price tag. Using these strategies can help you save hundreds or maybe even thousands on your next trip.
So, what are you waiting for? Apply for that rewards credit card, join that loyalty program, and start earning your way to cheap travel. It won’t be long before you’re browsing for sweet off-peak deals and jetting off to one of your top three destinations.
About the author: Greg Johnson is a personal finance and frugal travel expert who leveraged his online business to quit his 9-5 job, spend more time with his family, and travel the world. He is the co-owner of the popular blog Club Thrifty, where he teaches others how to spend less and travel more.
