Are you and your girls craving to getaway? Do you feel like you don’t have enough time to see each other? Then you deserve a girlfriend’s vacation! First things first, do your homework before confirming plans. Yes, we know you haven’t had to do homework for a while now but we promise you will like the outcome of this homework because it will help you save money on your fabulous vacations. Follow our tips below to help ease the stress of planning the perfect girl’s getaway!
Air Accommodations
Start searching now! Get an estimate on how much it’s going to cost, then download an app like Hopper that will notify you the best times to book a flight to your destination. Peak season and holiday weekends have a higher demand, so try to be flexible when you’re booking. The best days to fly are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and the most expensive days to fly are Fridays and Sundays. Are you now stressing out thinking about booking your flight? Don’t worry! MarinePerks has personal travel agents and they’re just a phone call away. They will find you the guaranteed best price for your flight. If you find a better price for the exact trip, MarinePerks will double the difference up to $100 in addition to your Cash Back Reward – that’s the Good as Gold Guarantee. Oh! We haven’t even mentioned the Cash Back Rewards yet. Every time you book your trip through MarinePerks, you earn 3% Cash Back. Yes, MarinePerks will pay you 3% to go on that trip.
Activities Accommodations
You’re on social media all the time anyway, so you might as well use it to your advantage! Follow local Facebook groups to get notifications about great travel deals. Just search “Discounted Travel” on Pinterest, and you will dive deep into tips and deals on pretty much any destination you can imagine. Once these sites notice that you are searching for travel deals, they will “magically” start showing up in your feed. You are bound to find a great deal!
Room Accommodations
Debating between booking through an online homestay site or a hotel? Booking that home rental is a great service, but there are a few downsides to that amazing price. You are at the mercy of your host and hoping that the place is as nice as it looks in the photos. Staying at a great hotel doesn’t have to demolish your budget. Using discount sites seems easy, but sometimes if you call the hotel directly the reservation specialist will give you a special rate or find you a room even if none appear to be available online. Worried about booking too early? Like air travel, you can sign up for email alerts that will notify you when the prices start to drop. That way you can feel secure about getting the best prices. Even if you are booking a last minute trip, you can still save. Apps like Hotel Tonight and Booking Now are able to locate great deals on the fly. Did you know that when you book through MarinePerks, you are not only getting the best price, but also receiving 5% Cash Back Rewards? You and your girls deserve a true vacation. Go ahead and book that hotel because when you use MarinePerks, you are basically getting paid to sleep in a comfortable bed!
Luggage Accommodations
Yes, we all over pack. But to avoid paying those expensive fees that airlines charge for luggage, you have to deal. Always make a list of everything you need for the vacation. This helps you remember everything when you are packing for your trip and then repacking for the journey home. This will also make it less likely you will need to buy something that you forgot. You may want to consider creating a group packing list with your girls. You don’t all have to bring a curling iron, hair straightener, lotion etc. Get each gal to commit to bringing one thing that you all can share. Even share books and magazines for the trip!
Food Accommodations
Before you go, plan your food destinations. This will help you really stick to your budget. Research restaurants before you go so you can get the scoop on daily specials and sign up for restaurant coupons. Do you have a kitchen where you’re staying? If so, use it! Go to the local farmer’s market in the morning and grab fresh foods to cook for later. Check to see if your hotel includes free breakfast. Yes, we all love to brunch, but this is a way to cut back on costs and make sure everyone has a nutritious meal before going on your adventures. Talk with concierge to see if there are coupons or deals in the area. Also, always pack snacks before going out. This way you won’t get hangry and choose a place out of desperate hunger!
We know it’s easy to say “Hey! It’s vacation so I’m just going to treat myself.”, but it’s important to find the balance between rewarding yourself and reining it in so that your bank account isn’t in complete shambles when you get back. An easy way to be prepared is to set up a specific savings account for travel. You can set up an automatic transfer each paycheck to go directly into that account because when your money is out of sight, you are less tempted to spend it. This will keep you on track especially when your group decides to go on an impromptu road trip. Marine Bank also offers a quick and easy way to help build your savings by using some “Common Cents.” Every time you use your debit card on everyday purchases, the amount is rounded up to the nearest dollar and that difference will automatically drop into your savings account. How easy is that?
Do your homework and follow the above tips to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Using everything MarinePerks has to offer, your getaway will be both glamorous and rewarding.