Are you vacation ready?

June 6, 2022

With summer approaching you are likely thinking about what beach to escape to or European city you want to explore. Making travel plans can be time consuming and expensive. We have compiled a list of 5 travel hacks sure to make your experience more pleasant and less expensive!

Use a rewards card- Credit cards can be a great way to accumulate points and perks for travel. Many cards offer large one-time incentives to sign up and the perks far outweigh any annual membership fees. The Platinum American Express card, Chase Sapphire card and Capital One Venture card offer 5x points on most travel bookings. Look for other perks like access to lounges, discounted travel services, and upgrades.

8 week flight rule- On average most flights reach their ideal pricing 8 weeks from travel. This may vary depending on where you are traveling & many websites like kayak.com offer price alerts to help you keep track of price fluctuations.

Group travel- If traveling with a group home share options like Airbnb or VRBO may provide you with not only an exceptional experience but a huge savings over a hotel. Many home shares offer amenities on par with a hotel experience.

Play within your budget- Can’t afford that trip to Paris this summer? Wait for off season discounts!

A return flight from San Francisco to Paris in July starts at $1,500. If you wait until October that drops to $500.
Using points for upgrades could save you compared to booking an upgraded cabin upfront. Keep in mind many airlines will confirm your upgrade a few days or hours before your flight.

Pack light- Many domestic and international carriers are now charging for checked luggage. One way to pack less is the ability to wash your clothing; ask your Airbnb/VRBO host if a laundry is available to you. Shoes often take up a lot of space. Consider cross functional shoes that can be worn to walk a city by day, and pair well with evening attire. The consensus across travel bloggers is that Away (awaytravel.com) is the top carry on travel bag.

Bon Voyage!

Proud member of XY Planning Network! Advisors displaying this badge have been accepted into XY Planning Network by vowing to adhere to strict fiduciary standards, and carry the CFP® designation. XY Planning Network is the leading financial planning platform for fee-for-service financial advisors who want to serve their Gen X and Gen Y peers by providing comprehensive financial planning services without product sales or asset minimums.

Hamilton Walker Advisers is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the State(s) of California and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The presence of this website on the Internet shall not be directly or indirectly interpreted as a solicitation of investment advisory services to persons of another jurisdiction unless otherwise permitted by statute. Follow-up or individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by Hamilton Walker Advisers in the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation shall not be made without our first complying with jurisdiction requirements or pursuant an applicable state exemption.

All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Hamilton Walker Advisers, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to other parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.