Previous Story
6 Ways To Save Money On Luxury Travel
Affordable travel often means doing away with luxuries, but what if you could actually afford to stay in five star hotels and fly first class. Here are a few tricks for saving money on luxury travel.
Time your trip right
Prices of flights, accommodation and attractions are always more expensive during peak season. Travelling out of season can significantly reduce the cost. You can also save money further by making plans on weekdays as opposed to weekends (rather than planning a weekend away, why not try a mid-week break). In fact, a midday out-of-season one-night stay in a five star hotel could cost just as much as a weekend peak-season night in a two-star hotel.
Go luxury in a cheap destination
It’s possible to get more luxury for your money by choosing the right destination. Going off-the-beaten path and avoiding the classic tourist destinations can be the best way to save money. You may not be able to afford a five star hotel in Paris, but a five star hotel in Sofia or Krakow could be within your budget.
Increase your chance of free upgrades
Ever wanted to get upgraded to business class or first class on a plane? While luck can play a factor, there are other ways in which you can increase your odds of being chosen for a free upgrade. The first is simply to ask. Other factors that can influence you getting chosen include travelling alone, dressing up for the flight, taking a middle seat between two strangers or sitting next to a baby.
Try renting/chartering
There are many luxury experiences that you can get a taste of affordably by renting or chartering. For instance, you may not be able to afford to buy your own yacht, but it’s possible that chartering one for a day could be within budget. Similarly, while you may not have the wealth to buy a luxury villa by the sea, renting a luxury villa may be an option.
Take advantage of membership clubs
There are various membership clubs that can allow you to experience luxury travel affordably. Joining a boating club could give you unlimited access to boat hire and could be much more affordable than buying your own boat. There are also hotel clubs that can allow you to accumulate points – these points can allow you to get discounts on hotels in the future, which could allow you to afford a cheap (or even a free) night’s stay in a five star hotel.
Try comping
‘Comping’ involves simply applying to as many competitions as you can to maximize your chances of winning. There are hundreds – if not thousands – of luxury vacation giveaways out there. Some will have big costs involved when applying, but others can be cheap to apply to or even free. By focusing on the latter type of competition, you may increase your chances of winning a luxury vacation without spending much in the process. You can find tips on comping online.
