3 tips to save costs during summer travel season

Summertime is upon us and that means the travel season is in full swing. Memorial Day kicks things off and that comes at a heavy cost, due to the popularity of traveling during the holiday. But what about those travelers looking to leave the house on a budget? These are three travel tips meant to help all individuals save money while enjoying some time away.

Avoid busy travel times

This tip seems like an easy one, but it gets more difficult during the summer thanks to major holidays throughout the corresponding months. Memorial Day and Fourth of July are just two of the holidays, and even Juneteenth is becoming a popular travel period thanks to more organizations giving staff the day off.

If you’re looking to plan a trip during the summer, avoiding the highest prices means pushing your travel time to later in the season. Instead of June and July, look at August and early September as the months you’d take to the skies or the road. According to Skyscanner, the week of August 19 is the cheapest week to travel during the summer. That week, you can save up to 29 percent on airfare and more just because of the lack of demand.

Buy & book at least 60 days in advance

If you can afford to book your hotels or purchase your travel tickets at least 60 days in advance, you’ll give yourself the biggest opportunity to save money. The closer to the travel date you wait to make the purchase, the more you should expect to pay and you’re also increasing your chances of missing out entirely. Planning can be the fun part of organizing a vacation, but missing out because you couldn’t or did not purchase the tickets early enough is a frustration that no one should have to experience. Avoid that scenario by purchasing at least sixty days ahead of the trip.

Pay attention to the weather

While it is exciting to travel during the spring and summer months, make it a point to check out the weather in the destinations at the top of your list. Not only is this time of year known for its sunny days, but rain and hurricanes can quickly swoop in to ruin a vacation. For example, Mexico may be one of the destinations on your list, but the hurricane season starts in May through November, with the worst months being July to October. That means you may want to avoid traveling to those locations during that time of the year.