How To Book A Dream Vacation Without Going Into Debt

John Jan 02, 2023
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boats on a tropical beach
Table of Contents
  1. Choose Your Dream Vacations Travel Dates Before Looking At Costs
  2. Decide On Costs Before Looking At Your Dream Vacation Spots And Travel Dates
    1. Research The Best Dream Vacation Spots
    2. Check For Promo Codes and Discount Offers
    3. Book The Essentials
  3. Conclusion
    1. Related Articles

When it comes to planning a dream vacation, cost is often a major concern when you have a set travel budget. With so many different destinations and activities to choose from, it's not always easy to find an affordable dream vacation that also meets your personal expectations while saving more money. Whether you want to travel somewhere exotic and getaway-worthy or prefer a staycation in a cheap but cozy cabin—the cost of dream vacations and associated travel expenses are major factors in determining where, when, and how long you go away. Whether you have a small travel budget or are trying to save money on your next vacation, the steps below will walk you through how to book a dream vacation without going into debt.

woman standing on dock near ship holding luggage and carrying handbag

Choose Your Dream Vacations Travel Dates Before Looking At Costs

This might seem like an obvious tip, but it's important that you know exactly when you want to travel before you start looking into costs. Why? This will help you to see the best deals on flights, accommodations, and car rentals to determine if you have enough money in your travel budget to cover all expenses dependent on the week or month of travel within a given calendar year. For example, if you're trying to find flights to a Caribbean island dream destination in winter, you'll see that there are usually a ton of deals and special offers from mid-April to mid-December, with high priority booking times covering January through March. Keep in mind that prices tend to fluctuate depending on the season and date, so you'll want to check them regularly and see what's available to you for each month when researching your dream vacation destinations and comparing those options against your travel budget.

Decide On Costs Before Looking At Your Dream Vacation Spots And Travel Dates

If price is a key factor and you have flexibility with your schedule, it's helpful to know the best airfare rates by month. One of the best tools for finding discount flights is WayAway. It's an easy to use flight aggregator comparing airfares offered by all major US and global airline agencies, providing travelers with the best rates on airline tickets to enable you to compare rates for all top dream vacation spots. What's unique about WayAway is their innovative flight search finds the best option for specific travel dates while also offering alternative dates with lower prices. It's the best way to find the lowest airfare available and take the guesswork out of searching for the best price to get you started on your dream vacation while saving cash!

white concrete house near body of water under white and blue cloudy sky

Research The Best Dream Vacation Spots

Once you've decided on your travel dates, take some time to research your dream vacation spot. This way, you can think about what you want and need out of your vacation in terms of location and activities, like if you want spa treatments, views of dramatic mountain peaks, hiking trails, rich history, gorgeous beaches, scuba diving, white sand beaches with tropical palm trees, delicious food (like authentic street food😋), unique cultures, and many other hidden gems that come to mind. This will also allow you to find out how much things will cost, allowing you to plan your budget travel accordingly. For example, if you're thinking about a trip with jaw dropping landscapes and breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea, you'll want to look at things like the weather, average temperatures, and hurricane season, so you know what to expect while you're there and can plan accordingly, like securing simple, yet dependable travel insurance from a top provider like Ekta to packing the right clothing and gear to make your dream vacation as pleasant and low-stress as can be. You'll also want to check out average costs and prices for your best destinations so you have an idea of total costs for each dream vacation destination to plan your budget travel.

The best resource for researching a dream vacation destination, and one that's been around for almost 23 years, is TripAdvisor. If you've ever traveled anywhere, good chances are you've used TripAdvisor. It contains thousands of reviews about hotels, restaurants, excursions and “things to do” for all of the best dream destinations. Plus with TripAdvisor, you can compare low prices on hotels to find the best deals. And you can choose between thousands of tours and attractions worldwide, for instance if you want to visit a UNESCO world heritage site or simply take a sunset catamaran cruise and view the natural beauty, which is super-beneficial if top on your priority list is an inexpensive experience.  If that's you, start first with your destination of choice, and begin browsing tours and attractions under “things to do.” Travelers who use TripAdvisor have access to rich content spanning 795 million reviews, 1.4 million places to stay and an uncountable number of things to do, so the sky truly is the limit.

two people riding a jet ski

Check For Promo Codes and Discount Offers

Before you book your dream vacation, you'll want to do a quick search for promo codes and discount offers on any websites or travel booking sites you plan to use. Many of these websites offer coupons and special codes you can use to get money off your trip, or you may be able to find a special deal for dream vacation spots through some of the top dream vacation package travel companies like Booking Buddy, Funjet Vacations, and Great Value Vacations. You can also check the websites of hotels and other travel booking websites to see if they have any special deals or promotions available for your dream vacation destination. Many of these sites will also let you create an account to sign up for email updates, which is a great way to stay on top of the newest offers and promotions. 

For luxury style accommodations at a fraction of the price, you need to look into Hilton Honors and take advantage of their points system.  By signing up, you automatically receive Hilton Honors points that you can apply towards their hotel brands at a reduced or even free cost. After signing up, Hilton Honors will offer you a Hilton Honors Credit Card. The benefit with this card is that you can rack up Hilton Honors points on everyday purchases throughout the weeks and months (like gas, food, groceries, bills, utilities, shopping, etc…), and after a year you will have enough points for a reduced cost or even free booking at one of your favorite dream vacation spots.  It's the smart way that savvy travelers utilize all of the time to their favorite dream destination while staying on budget. Again, the first step is to sign-up with Hilton Honors, and then take advantage of the Hilton Honors Credit Card offer that follows, through either email or mail. 

When it comes to airfare promo codes, WayAway Plus Membership gives cashback on flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, and more. With the WayAway Plus Membership, travelers gain exclusive access to premium travel support, travel content prepared by locals, and cashback on flights, hotels, car rentals and other travel services at their dream vacation spots. Their promos are the same ones that savvy travelers use to get the best deal for the greatest experience, and one you should take a look at and do some comparisons to see for yourself. 

wooden chalet by lake in mountains

Book The Essentials

Once you've decided on your travel dates, where you're going, and looked into any deals or travel promotions available, it's time to book the essentials for your dream destination. This includes things like your flight or any train or bus tickets, your hotel or Airbnb, car rental, and any excursions or activities you plan to do while you're away. When booking things like hotels or Airbnb rentals, it's often best to book as early as possible to get the best deals. A rule of thumb for saving money is to book your travel as soon as possible well ahead of the planned travel date as the travel and tourism industry will increase their prices as demand increases. The smart travelers know this, and plan their vacations sometimes a year or two in advance.  It's one of the best ways to secure a visit to the top dream vacation spots.

blue sea under clear blue sky

Conclusion

No two vacations are ever the same, and the amount of money you spend to visit one of the premier dream vacation spots is really just a number. You can travel to almost any destination and experience something new, regardless of what your budget is. The question you should ask yourself is what makes the better Christmas gift? A well-intentioned gift-wrapped present, or an incredible, life-changing experience to one of your favorite dream vacation spots that you and your family will remember the rest of your days?

The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and make memories. Remember, there are many ways to save money when traveling, and it is possible to get the vacation you want even if you've got a small budget. All it takes is a bit of research, some patience, and a willingness to search for deals.

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Table of Contents
  1. Choose Your Dream Vacations Travel Dates Before Looking At Costs
  2. Decide On Costs Before Looking At Your Dream Vacation Spots And Travel Dates
    1. Research The Best Dream Vacation Spots
    2. Check For Promo Codes and Discount Offers
    3. Book The Essentials
  3. Conclusion
    1. Related Articles