Going on a long trip? Well, it seems you got your hands full in preparation for that exciting adventure. Preparation might sound like extra work that can just cause you anxiety before you even start. But taking a few preparatory measures will save you a lot of headaches on your trip. A writer for the New York Times sets out a few tips to avoid having your getaway into a trap. He called a dissatisfied week-long vacation “the seven-day trap”. This can apply to events that occur as a result of insufficient preparations. Missed reservations, bad accommodation, and among other things can happen, many of them entirely preventable.
Coupons for the trip
Although there is no substitute for cash in any situation, you can save a lot with coupons. This is why sometimes it is best to include coupons when you’re planning for a long trip. A wise travel tip is to use any means to reduce the cost of your travel so you can have some extra to spend while you’re there. Here are some ways how coupons can help you with your trip:
Rental car and flights
With rental cars, there are coupons that will give you a discount for a bigger and more comfortable car you can use. This is especially important when you’ll be spending a lot of time driving. Your flight cost is one of the most significant expenses you’ll incur during your trip. Thus, it’s really helpful if you can use a coupon to reduce the total airfare. But if you’re traveling with a group you can incorporate additional tactics like traveling during the off-peak days and leaving early to get a more affordable flight.
Accommodations
Our accommodation is also a significant part of your trip that you’d want to plan ahead and prepare for. There are a number of ways to save on your expenses with your place to stay. Airbnb Coupons Reddit allows first-time users to enjoy sizable discounts on their stay using the coupons posted. The added bonus is that after you’ve availed for the coupon, you can post your own coupon’s link for additional benefits. AirBnb is a platform that allows homeowners to offer their place for travelers looking for accommodations. This is one of the best ways to get a good deal and reserve a place, especially for those who want to prepare things well ahead of time.
Food and other activities
You’ll be surprised how you can use coupons to save money on a lot of things you’d want to do during your trip. You can search online for coupons for different restaurants and other social establishments.
Cash for the Trip
You can do a lot with cash. It’s not even a contest, but you would want to save yourself from spending it unnecessarily. When traveling cash can help you cover a lot of necessities and other spontaneous expenses. Here are ways how having cash with you affects your trip:
Emergency - You’ll never know what will happen on the road. No matter how you prepare there is always a possibility for a dire situation. Cash can help you get yourself out of a tight situation.
It allows you to be flexible - If you want to go on a shopping splurge in a local market, where they seldom have access to cashless transactions, it will really be a relief if you have cash in their currency.
Split the bill - If you’re traveling with somebody, it is easy to split the bill if you have cash rather than asking for a separate check.
Tolls -. A long trip where you’ll have to pass through a lot of toll roads, it is important to take cash with you to avoid inconvenience.
Accommodation changes - If you are not satisfied with your pre-booked accommodation, you can just go to an alternative place without reservations and pay in cash.
The Importance of Accommodation
Your accommodation can determine how you’d feel after the trip. If you have decent accommodation you’d feel refreshed and if you have a terrible one, then you guessed it, it’ll be a nightmare. It may seem obvious to everyone but the importance of good accommodations is pretty high on the list when you’re planning a trip, especially a long one.
It’s like your home on your trip.
If you had a less favorable experience during the day you will want a place where you can find reprieve. The hotel’s amenities might be a big factor in choosing your accommodation. You may want a place where there are nearby restaurants or bars, internet connection is also a factor, as well as convenience stores. This is along with the internal facilities they offer like bed size or room amenities like hot water and air conditioning. You should also consider the security situation of the place, this is especially important if you brought a lot of your belongings.
Save on travel time
I admit that I was guilty of not considering travel time to other places from my accommodation. I failed to take into account the location of my itinerary and I booked a hotel that takes an hour from the places I should be visiting. You can select a place where there are a lot of available shopping centers, food, and transportation terminals. Also, you have to know where you’re planning to go and if the majority of those places are localized in one area, then it would be best to find accommodations near there. Sometimes you would want to find a relaxing place to stay so you’d avoid busy urban areas, it’s okay if that’s what you want. This is good if you’re not planning to move around the place during your stay. Don’t be too quick to select the cheapest place, take into account the travel cost as well.
It reflects the local culture
It is also important to experience the local culture from where you’re staying. There are many hotels that follow a global standard as part of a chain. But there are accommodations that have their own character that reflect the culture of the place. Small hostels know how to combine the convention with their own style of hospitality. This makes you feel like you’re really away from home, and still experience the comfort you’d want. In smaller establishments, you’ll get to meet more locals and different travelers who are there to discover the locality.
It’s not really a question of either-or but how can you use one to maximize the other. Cash is definitely king, but coupons will significantly boost your experience by saving you money on major aspects of your trip. So when planning for the next trip, use coupons to reduce your cost without compromising the experience of the trip, especially on your accommodations.
