Travel Expenses to Budget for Now.
U.S. News & World Report
With just a few weeks until 2016, now is the time to set travel goals and put your plans into motion. It's also an ideal time to make smart money-saving moves. Whether you want to a plan a family trip, a romantic getaway or a bucket list journey to a far-flung frontier with friends or on your own, there are simple steps you can take to travel affordably and account for often unexpected budget-busters. With some guidance from travel experts, U.S. News came up with expenses to factor into your travel budget and savvy steps to take now to help keep you and your bank account happy in the new year.
Accommodations
When it comes to planning a trip – no matter your budget or where you're headed – the key is starting the research and budgeting process early, typically six to 12 months ahead of your vacation. The reason behind that lead time: to ensure availability and trim lodging costs. Just last year the typical domestic and international leisure guest spent $131 per night on a hotel stay, according to findings from the American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2015 Lodging Industry Trends report.
Let's say you have your heart set on visiting a popular spot during peak travel times such as the winter holidays. Book nine to 12 months in advance, says Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor at Orbitz.com. And if you want to stay at a popular destination such as the Grand Canyon, which can welcome more than 10,000 visitors a day, you need to do your homework, says Dan Mahar CEO of Tauck, a tour operator offering guided tours and cruises across the globe. People are booking earlier than ever, and with a limited inventory of historic national lodges, it's important to book with a reputable, all-inclusive outfitter that can secure expert-led tours with a national park ranger and offer access to popular campsites, thanks to solid industry relationships. "We can choreograph it in a way that makes it very simple for you," he says. "It can make your time more efficient and a lot more stress-free."
