New Year’s is one of the most common times for people to travel. Apart from all of the holiday festivities earlier in the week, this period is when people want to break free and start their new year off with a bang. Of course, traveling and finding entertainment during this time can be a huge hassle. Not to mention, it may cost you an arm and a leg if you’re not careful. Luckily, there’s a few things you can do to avoid the high prices, so you don’t have to begin your fresh start on the wrong financial foot. So, pack your bags and let these ten frugal tips guide you to an extraordinary holiday.
1. Stay With Loved Ones
If you’re going to be away from the home, then you may want to travel somewhere where you know people. This can be a huge asset if you’re looking to save money on hotel costs. This will allow you to spend time with friends and family too, which will make the holiday seem even better. During this time of the year, hotels skyrocket in price, especially if you didn’t have time to plan ahead. So, finding a loved one to crash with will ensure you won’t even up in the hole before the fresh year even begins. Plus, sometimes it’s hard to even book a hotel room during this time frame, so you might end up spending ages looking for a place to sleep if you plan on playing your hotel by ear. Even if you’re not staying far from home, you may want to try to stay with the loved ones you’re celebrating with. This will help prevent potential accidents, which flourish during the late night celebration.
2. Extend Your Vacation
Sometimes, the best way to cut down on the rate of your hotel or airline costs is to make your vacation last a little longer. Sure, this may sound like it’s going to make you spend more money, but when you add it up you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. For starters, the best airfare tends to happen a couple of days after New Year’s, which will mean your return flight will cost you a lot less. Typically, January 5 is the best time book your flight home, which gives you four extra days of rest. Hotels are also more affordable after the holidays, because there is a sudden decline in business. Also, when you stay at a hotel for longer, you should be able to get a reduction on the price of your room. Last but not least, when you vacation a little longer, you’ll be able to relax and feel renewed for when you do return to work and your real life. This will help you get a great start on your brand new year.
3. Drive
Since it’s already so close to the last day of the year, you may find that booking a flight is nearly impossible to do, unless you’re willing to spend some big money. Thus, driving may be the only feasible option for your holiday plans. If you’re not going across the country, then a New Year’s road trip could really add a lot of fun to the holiday. Generally, the price of gas will cut down on your spending opposed to paying for an airline ticket. Plus, if there’s more than one person going along then this will be the most frugal option. Taking your car with you will also give you the freedom of not having to take taxis everywhere you go. This alone could help you cut down on your spending. Don’t worry about parking though because most hotels will offer this for free with the price of your room. Of course, you should make sure to follow driving safety tips, especially if the weather isn’t convenient.
4. Show Up Early
When it comes to going to holiday events, the best thing you can do is show up to the event early. In some cases, this may mean spending most of your day at the event. So it might be wise to do a bit of research before you choose exactly what you plan on doing for the countdown. For instance, most people claim that you need to arrive at Time Square by 3 in the afternoon if you plan on seeing the ball drop. This can mean lots of time on your feet. Other events aren’t as demanding when it comes to when you should arrive, but it’s always wise to be there a reasonable amount of time early. This might not be as big of a deal for small town events, but if you’re doing anything in the city then be prepped to do a lot of waiting. It’ll all be worth it when you’re having the time of your life though, so don’t stress just be aware of time restraints.
5. Find Entertainment Alternatives
If you’re not in the mood for waits that will consume your entire holiday, then you may want to look around for some alternatives. You may be surprised as to how many events big cities and small towns will host for this holiday, so make sure to do a bit of research before you actually book any tickets. Whereas a big event may seem right up your alley, you may find something that’s even more exciting than the typical New Year’s activity. Even if you already think you have your night planned out, it’s never a bad idea to come up with a plan B. This will allow you to bypass any hiccups that could make your night less than perfect. Simply researching what’s available may not just you entertained from dusk til dawn, but it could even save you a pretty penny in the long run. So, this year, do a little looking around, you may find a brand new tradition locally or in a faraway city. Or, you could find a whole new way to watch the iconic New Year’s countdown.
6. Think Small
Many people tend to make huge plans for the holiday, because they feel like it’s a great way to ring in the new year. However, you may be surprised as to how amazing a small celebration can be. If travel is your main concern, then don’t travel far. Try looking at nearby cities or towns to see if there is going to be a celebration that will be fun for you and your family. Keeping close by allows you to start fresh in a new environment, but won’t force you to have to book a hotel room or book an airline ticket. Not to mention, a lot of smaller venue events are more affordable if not free, which is sure to suit your budget more than the large scale event you might have originally thought of. If there’s nothing close by then consider traveling a little further. Hotels outside of tourist areas shouldn’t cost you as much as cities would, so you’d still be able to save.
7. Keep to the Budget
It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling half way across the world to celebrate the New Year or if you’re going to a nearby town, you should always know what your limits are, so you don’t make any spending mistakes. Make sure you look up expected costs for your trip before you leave, this will let you know what the full price will be, so you can make sure you have it covered. You may want to plan to budget in a little extra money though because sometimes prices aren’t what they were expected or an emergency arises. Once you have your budget set and ready to go then ditch your credit or debit card. If you’re not comfortable with leaving it at home, then keep it in the safe in your hotel room. Carrying cash will help you keep track of your spending and will ensure you see money as something tangible and finite.
8. Be Prepared
Some of the biggest money mistakes happen because of people being ill prepared for the event they plan to attend. One of the biggest things to consider when you go to an event is the weather. Sometimes, it may seem like it’s a clear day out, but before you know it the temperature drops or it begins to rain or snow. If you can, try to bring a coat with you or have a plan allowing someone from your group to leave to get weather gear if an emergency arises. Also, food and water is a major must. Many people, especially those at Time Square, have to stand for hours on end, so having food and water is going to be crucial when it comes to making it to the event. You should always plan on staying hydrated anyway. Of course, it’s often better to bring these items on your own as buying them at an event will be ridiculously expensive.
9. Avoid Vendors
One of the worst temptations during this time of the year is outdoor vendors. Sometimes, after standing for long periods of time waiting for an event, you may be tempted to fall prey to the vendors in the area. Generally, these vendors will sale comfort foods, easily portable snacks and warm beverages at a price that may not make you think twice if you’re over hungry or tired. Of course, it isn’t just foods and drink that can tempt you into spending a small fortune. They often sell glow sticks, souvenirs and items designed to make kids beg for them. If you can, try to find a place that is vendor free or buy these items in advance so you won’t feel pressured to spend your hard earned money on overpriced junk. Although these items will cost you upfront, some of the souvenirs may even force you to pay more for your luggage when you bring them back home with you.
10. Use Rewards
If you’re still trying to get a good deal on an airline ticket or hotel, then you may want to go ahead and check out what your rewards card can do for you. Whether you have a credit card that offers points or miles, or a simple hotel rewards club card, then you may be surprised as to the deals you can find, even though it’s last minute. Sometimes, you may even be able to buy a full ticket with your rewards, depending on how often you traveled this year. If you’re not sure where you stand with your card, then call and ask. You could be privy to some major savings that you didn’t even know about. With any luck, you may even be able to get a travel package, which could cover the cost of some of your activities too, which will certainly save you some good money.
Having a blast during New Year’s isn’t hard to do, but money can ruin your plans in no time flat. These ten tips should help point you in the right direction when it comes to finding savings so you can make the trip of your dreams. Whether you’re going near or far, you should be able to find the perfect solution to your last minute travel and entertainment problems.
