Clark’s Travel Tips: How to Plan a Trip
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AdvertisementWe all have to travel, whether for work, family or friends or to get away on vacation.
Clark Howard is a money expert and former travel agent who has spent years perfecting the art of planning and booking vacations. In this article, we’ll reveal his secrets and show you the best way to plan a trip that suits your needs while staying within budget.
How to plan a trip
It would be best if you started by creating a plan. You can make it as simple or complex as you like. Others like to plan minimally and fly by the seat-of-their pants, while some people want to know every detail of the itinerary before they leave home.
There are some steps that you can take to travel on a tight budget, no matter what type of traveler or traveler you may be:
Choose your destination: Your destination may sometimes be chosen for you. You might decide to travel because you have a few days off work. If you’re Clark, wait for a good deal and let the destination choose.
Determine the length of your trip: This may already have been decided for you if you only have a few days to spare. If you are flexible with your schedule, you can save money by adjusting the number of days for your trip. Your destination will also play a role in this decision. You can do all you want in a small city in just a few days, but New York City may take a week to see everything.
Do some research on your destination. It would be best to get accustomed to the area when going to a new place for the first time. You can decide where to stay and how to travel by determining what you plan to do on your trip. You can use the research process to estimate the costs of lodging, transportation, meals, and attractions. This will help you stick within your budget.
Be aware of the rules. Policies and procedures are subject to rapid and frequent changes. Before leaving, you must have your documents (such as a passport or driver’s license) and be familiar with the rules. From Team Clark’s Consumer Action Center, Lori Silverman recommends checking travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date information about your destination. Remember to also check the CDC website for the latest regulations about your destination.
How to Book Flights
After figuring out the plan, you must decide how to get there. You can fly if your destination is outside driving distance or you don’t like moving.
We found that the best flight search engine we could find was Google Flights.
Clara Bosonetto, a travel expert, says that Google Flights is the best website to find domestic and international flights before booking with a specific airline. It’s a great site for booking one-way flights, nonstop flights, multiple city trips, or if you need to fly with a particular airline.
Google Flights shows the options available for your chosen dates and tells you if they are higher or lower than average. With its price graph and calendar features, you can also explore prices for alternate dates.
AdvertisementThe site will display the cost of the ticket, as well as what is included in the fare. If available, you’ll see what upgrading your access will cost. The site will tell you how much it will cost to check in bags.
Google Flights sends you directly to an airline’s site to complete the transaction when you are ready to book.
You can also track the prices on this site, which could help you save a lot of money. When you toggle the Track Prices button, Google will notify you if prices on the selected route change (you need to be signed into your Google account). Please note that Google Flights does not display fares for Southwest Airlines.
How to Find a Hotel
There are many options for choosing where to stay on your trip. There are more options for travelers thanks to the increasing popularity of Booking services and other private accommodation booking sites.
Clark offers a three-step method for booking an affordable hotel room.
Book a Room with a Refundable RateClark says that if she is flying, “you usually book your flight pretty far in advance,” and she will also book her hotel room. “I always book the best hotel room deal for my destination, but it’s always non-refundable.”
You can cancel the reservation if you find a cheaper deal before your trip.
Cancellation of the original booking
If you have found a better offer, the last thing you should do is cancel your original booking.
Clark says that sometimes the room you reserved when you booked an airline deal is the best deal. If you follow my advice, you will save a lot of money.
Watch Clark explain his three-step hotel booking process in the video below.
If you’re looking for a unique travel experience, Airbnb, Vrbo, or the vacation rentals offered through significant travel sites such as Tripadvisor or Expedia might be the way to go. This also applies if you need a larger space, prefer your cooking facilities, or plan to stay for more than a few nights in a destination.
Renting a condo or home from a private landlord can be a better deal. Be sure to check the total price before clicking “Reserve Now.” In a podcast, Clark noted that vacation rentals often charge fees on top of the nightly price.