3 Ways To Save on Your 2025 Vacations By Booking Before the End of the Year
Earlier this summer, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced multiple days during which they screened a record number of travelers. This means that even though prices on many everyday items have been a major concern for many people, they’re still taking to the sky to travel.
As we move into the final few months of 2024, many people will be starting to make their 2025 travel plans. But with money still in focus, finding ways to save will be important.
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Keep reading as we look into three ways you can save money on your 2025 vacations by booking before the end of the year.
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Be Open-Minded About Where You Travel
Chances are you have your bucket list of places where you want to travel. However, if you want to save money next year, it might make sense to put that list away.
Instead, look for locations with inexpensive flights. Services like Going.com and Dollar Flight Club have teams that are looking for the best deals on travel.
For example, there have been recent flights from Denver to Costa Rica for less than $400, Barcelona for $445 and even Nairobi, Kenya for under $900.
If you want to reduce the cost of airfare, be open to different locations that might not be high on your travel list.
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Use Credit Card Rewards
Credit cards can be a great way to travel for less. The sign-up bonuses and rewards you earn on purchases can help you save a significant amount of money on flights and accommodations.
When signing up for a card, choose one to help you reach your travel goals and match your spending habits. For example, if a significant portion of your monthly budget goes toward groceries, use a card like the Blue Cash Preferred® card from American Express, which earns 6% cash back on the first $6,000 yearly at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%). The cash back earned can then be put toward your travel fund.
You can also take advantage of attractive sign-up bonuses. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases during the first three months. You could then transfer those points to several different airline or hotel partners. Or, you could use your points to book travel through the Chase Travel portal. Your 60,000 points would be worth $750 in travel.
Travel During the Shoulder Months
Depending on where you’re traveling, certain times of the year can be more expensive than others.
Flying to the Caribbean in March will be expensive because of spring break. Flying just about any place is more expensive during the summer months.
If possible, look to travel during the off-season or shoulder months. Instead of traveling to Europe in June through August, choose April or October. The weather will be a little cooler, there are fewer crowds and the cost will be significantly lower.
Once you know where you want to go, understand the peak tourism months and look for flights outside these times.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Ways To Save on Your 2025 Vacations By Booking Before the End of the Year