Do your daydreams lead you to places with pristine white beaches, twinkling aqua oceans, and stretches of clear blue skies with candy floss clouds as far as the eye can see?
Many people share the same daydream destination as you, only for a quick glance at their bank statements to bring them crashing back down to earth. Or so they think. We’re here to help you turn your daydream destination into your next holiday destination.
You see, contrary to popular belief, a vacation to a luxury island won’t set you back as much as you think. In fact, an island vacation might even cost you less than what a visit to a regular vacation destination would.
Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash
If you want to learn all the tricks of the trade on how to get an island vacation on a budget, you’re in for a treat as today’s article will be addressing just that.
Explore Local Destinations
Don’t think that in order to have the island vacation of your dreams you have to travel far and wide to do so. Some of the world’s most attractive island destinations can be found in and around Africa.
You could have just as incredible an experience near home and save drastically for doing so.
Be mindful that the shorter the traveling distance, the cheaper the cost of traveling. Also consider that not all islands require visas. This means you’ll not only save on flights, but chances are the only documentation you’ll need will be your passport.
Go as a Group
If you desire to enjoy an island vacation is shared by any of your family and friends, why not consider going together?
Traveling as part of a group is a fantastic way to score an island vacation on a budget. It opens the door to discounts on accommodation, activities, and excursions & sometimes even reduced dining costs.
Sure, you’ll probably lose out on alone time but the discounts you’ll receive are difficult to ignore and the benefits of group travel are plentiful.
Book at Off-Peak Times to Enjoy Off-Peak Prices
A tried and tested trick to score island holidays at unbeatable prices is to book your vacation during the island’s off-peak times.
While you may think that the perfect way to spend your December holiday or Easter long weekend is on an island, many people have the same idea and as a result, prices skyrocket.
Besides the time of year, the day of the week is also important. For example, it’s generally cheaper to fly on a Thursday or Sunday than it is to fly on a Friday or Saturday. Also, flights with stopovers are usually far cheaper than direct flights.
Plan Well in Advance…
The key to getting an island vacation, or any vacation for that matter, on a budget, lies in proper planning.
One of the easiest ways to save money on flights, accommodation, and car rentals is to book them as far in advance as possible. In most cases, booking as much as six weeks in advance results in cheaper fees. Even if the saving won’t be significant, every little will help.
Airline discounts are generally issued between ten and four weeks prior to the departure date.
…Or Leave it Till the Last Minute
This last budget tip is only applicable to the brave who have a penchant for gambling or those who are traveling alone.
Sometimes, booking your flight just before you’re scheduled to leave results in much cheaper airfare. Because it makes little financial sense for airlines to depart with empty seats, they’ll often flog those seats off at heavily discounted prices.
Of course, it’s not a given that you’ll get a seat. Or you may find yourself in a situation where only one or two seats are available & you’re traveling as a group of three people or more.
If you’re planning a solo trip, this might be the key to sticking to—or even beating—your budget.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you realize that soaking up the sun on a luxury island isn’t a vacation option reserved only for the rich and famous. Use the top tips we’ve outlined today and turn an island vacation into an attainable goal for 2020.
So tell us, which luxury island will be hosting your vacay on a budget this year? Name drop in the comments below—who knows, you might just find a budget buddy who’ll be joining you on your flight.
