14 Things to Watch out for on a Budget-friendly vacation

It is nice to take a vacation and hop on a plane to a far away destination. There is so much competition and it seems like traveling is affordable today more than in the past. There are many travel sites and airlines that draws your attention, what is not to like. It is tempting! However, is it what we go through when we are actually planning and doing it? Having a vacation for me is, going away somewhere. This is the case for many. I get on the process of looking for destinations, Travel ideas and mode of traspotation. Taking a plane is always the faster solution. Although train travel is also getting very popular in countries in Europe. Not so much in the USA. 

When you are in the process of looking for flights, you may have your preffered site or airline. Once the destination is chosen you are looking for deals. There are flights for all prices. There are destinations less than a hundred dollars from where you are. You get excited and you have gone through the process and bought the tickets. It was actually a cheap ticket.

Here's where it becomes tricky. I am at the checking counter witnessing so much chaos with passengers that they have over looked some of the details and ended up in that situation. I am sure you have seen such senarios on TikTok and other social media. This promted me to write this. Follow up with me to avoid last minute mis haps. When we get excited we tend to forget things that get us in those situations.

I am exactly like you. I goto my favorite site or airlines to look for deals. If its a deal that you are getting, read everything. It is no more reading the fine prints. They make it so difficult,  half the the time the information isn't there for you to read on the same page. Let me give you some examples.  

• check-in before you arrive at the airport or pay $$ to get a boarding pass. 
• selecting your seat particularly if you are traveling with someone and want to sit together.
• processes that are automatic is no more like getting a beverage on the plane.
• check in bags and weight restrctions. 
• carry-on is no more free and there is a particular dimention.
• a backpack is not allowed as a personal item.

So one would imagine that all that information is readilty available when booking. It is not. This is where the chaos. Therefore the preparation has to be thorough before you get to the airport. This is mainly if you are traveling with in the continental USA. The foreign destinations are a little easier.

This brings me to the next subject. If you are paying for all the services, you would expect it to be better and you will have good service. This is not the case most of the time. They almost always look at you like it was obvious and you should have known.

I understand things need to be controlled as passengers sometimes have no common sense. Every traveler carries a backpack. This needs to be a given. But it is not. Just as much as we are enthusiastic to travel, the airlines are doing the same by charging for everything. Choosing your seat once was first come first serve basis but today you pay for that. The hidden charges such as this and the overhead luggage charges can make your trip way off budget and puts you in an unpredicament situation. This makes the flight that you thought was affordable, becomes impossible.

Planning that took a couple of hours while multitasking, becomes a focused and pay attention kind of thing. As a rule read everything take photos or keep receipts. It has become mandatory.

Next thing to consider is, Cheap flight tickets means many layovers. Again you have to be careful with that. As this can go to the next day. This means airport food either from vending machines or places to eat. This is one more expense that you may not have considered. Airport food is not cheap. A couple meals can add up real quick. This in return could cut down on your spending budget at your destination. They do have some nice fancy places to eat and is tempting. Believe it or not some of the unusual and good food I have eaten are  at the airport. I am not against it, but the idea of an affodable vacation becomes questionable.

Once I was flying next to an off duty pilot and learned a couple of things. The cell phones on flight mode apparently does not realy matter. As it really does not affect the take-off or landing. It also becomes very apparent as they don’t even announce that as before.

However if you take the same airline to go abroad becomes very civilized like American Airlines regardless of what price range you paid. This most likely to include check-in baggage and seat selection.

A CHECK-LIST TO WATCH OUT WHEN PLANNING YOU VACATION

1. Its a good idea to use a familiar travel site you have used in the past  without any incidences. Unless their policies have changed. 
2. Choosing a package combining flight, hotel and car brings the price affordable. The price you got does not include evething like baggage, check-in charges if any, breakfast at the hotel etc.
3. Chose a hotel with breakfast. 
4. Unlimited miles on a rent a car.
5. Check-in prior to arriving at the airport even if you have bags to check in.
6. Check the baggage and carry on policy with the air line. Also make sure the dimensions and weight limits. What they consider a personal item. 
7. If you have a layover pack a sandwich or take some snacks. TSA does not seems to mind about that.
8. Take an empty water bottle to fill after the security check point.
9. When traveling with someone at check-in select seats together if possible and pay if its affordable. 
10. You are allowed to check-in 24 hours prior to a flight and take advantage to be the first one for available seats. 
11. Book your vacation way ahead to get better deals. Usually the flights get fully booked last minute. 
12. Getting to the hotel from the airport can be stressful and expensive. Yes there is Uber, Taxi, buses, subway, train etc. Getting to know this prior to arrival will make it less cofusing and affordable at the same time. 
13. Find the best way to get around while you are at  your destination. Google maps makes it simple for you to get around cities with public transit. This is also possible in most countries. 
14. Look at the subway system how wide the network is compared to where you need to go. Buy daily, weekly passes to suit your stay in that city. Manhattan New York is one such example.

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