Most of us daydream about the perfect vacation, but planning one is a different story. Rising airline prices make booking a beast, not to mention the impact of inflation on travel budgets. With smart planning, however, a dream vacation can still be within reach. In the following pages, experts share strategies for stretching your travel dollar, from securing the cheapest airline tickets to finding the best affordable food. You just need to know where — and how — to look.
Get the Best Prices on Airplane Tickets and Hotels
1. Consider shoulder season
Demand during peak times, such as summer, major holidays, and spring break, drives up prices. Flexibility is key to finding deals, says Hayley Berg, lead economist for the travel booking app Hopper. “For example, the week between Passover and Easter will always be the most expensive of the spring break weeks. If you can travel even one week before or after, you can save significantly.”
If you’re planning a big summer trip, Berg recommends shifting it to the end of the season. “Rates and fares peak in June,” she says. “Typically you could take that same exact vacation at the very end of August or in September and save 30 percent on airfare and accommodations.” Or choose a “winter” destination, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, or Hawaii, says Wendy Marley, a travel adviser for AAA Northeast: “Hawaii is never ‘cheap,’ but it can be less expensive in the summer months.”
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2. Fly on a weekday (and never on a Sunday)
Depart and return on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and avoid Fridays or weekend air travel. “Sunday return airfares can drive up ticket costs by as much as 40 percent,” Berg says.
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3. Book well in advance — or last minute
Most travelers start looking at flights later than they should. Start tracking fares using a price monitoring tool, such as Hopper, Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak, at least three months in advance. For travel between mid-June and August, for example, book your flights by early May at the latest, Berg says.
Or, if you’ve got some flexibility and a spontaneous spirit, wait until two or three weeks out for the chance at lower rates on still-empty airplane seats.
4. Don’t be an airline loyalist
“In a city like Boston, you have lots of airline choices that not everyone has,” says Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, a site focused on travel rewards. “So for the best deals, look across multiple airlines, always.”
5. Shop around
Rates vary by booking site or platform, none of which is reliably the cheapest. When comparing booking directly with an airline or hotel and booking with your travel credit card, carefully consider what you might earn with your card, Berg says, “because those benefits could be worth a little extra.”
When shopping for travel, be sure you’re logged into whatever site you’re using, because “sometimes you see different rates depending on whether you’re logged in or out,” Berg says.
Credit Card Points: “Earn ‘Em and Burn ‘Em’”
If you’re just starting to explore using points for travel, opt for a travel card with transferable rewards over single-airline frequent flier miles, says Henderson of The Points Guy. Unlike frequent flier miles, points will often transfer to dozens of different airlines, as well as to hotel and car rental brands.
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The best time to use points is when you aren’t locked into a certain time frame, because you can search for dates when they will fetch the most, or when cash prices are highest, he says — that’s when your points have their highest value.
For the most desirable seats, such as business class international, your best bet is to book either a year in advance, when the seats first open, or last minute. “Don’t get too fixated on getting the max amount of your points to the point you are paralyzed from using them,” Henderson says. “Over time, they do get devalued, so the whole point is to earn ‘em and burn ‘em.”
7 International Destinations that Offer the Most Bang for Your Buck
New Zealand
The strong exchange rate has meant the US dollar has gone far in New Zealand, a safe destination with breathtaking natural sights that’s navigable by car. Flights from the United States are at their lowest in August, according to Kayak.
Peru
Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, is famous for its ruins and affordable food. It’s the gateway to Machu Picchu as well as the less-crowded Sacred Valley, and offers reasonably-priced hotel options.
Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city and a favorite for history buffs, is exceptionally walkable—and relatively easy on the wallet—with a recent average daily hotel rate of under $100, according to hotels.com.
South Africa
For those seeking adventure, the Eastern Cape of South Africa offers one of the best value-for-money safari experiences, especially if you’re doing your own driving, says Matt Nilsson of Audley Travel, a Boston-based custom tour operator. Food in this part of the country is also budget-friendly.
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Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city, is famous for its night markets and street food scene, which make dining out affordable and fun. Hotels.com data show the average daily rate for lodging in Taipei is $130 a night this season.
Costa Rica
From relaxing beaches to stunning nature and wildlife, Costa Rica is a traveler’s dream. Good transportation options— including chartered bus travel for groups —make it easy to explore, and accommodations at a range of price points help keep costs down.
Mexico
The island of Cozumel is a nature-lover’s alternative to the busier and pricier Playa del Carmen and Cancún, with abundant opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling in the Mesoamerican Reef, as well as for viewing submerged sculptures at Chankanaab adventure park.
Strategies for Getting the Most Out of Your Hotel
1. Book refundable hotel rooms
This way, if prices do drop, you can rebook at the lower rate.
2. Book the night prior
Securing early check-in can be extremely difficult, so if you’re arriving at your destination early — say, on an overnight flight — it can be worth booking the previous night at your hotel.
It’ll cost you more, says AAA Northeast’s Wendy Marley, but will pay off in how much better you’ll feel having a shower and a nap before getting a fresh start on your day, instead of having to wait around to check in at 3. Or bide your time with ResortPass, an app that offers day passes to hotels and hotel pools around the world.
3. Look for last-minute deals
For the spontaneous, HotelTonight is an app designed for last‑minute stays, with deals in dozens of countries.
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4. Upgrade to “concierge-level”
Many hotels and cruises offer rooms that include a higher level of customer service. You’ll pay a little more, but the return can often be money-saving, Marley says. “Generally, there’s an included breakfast, cocktail hour, and evening hors d’oeuvres, which can be quite substantial,” she says. “It’s a value add that many travelers don’t know to ask about.”
5. Use a travel agent
An experienced travel agent can often negotiate better deals and score perks such as free breakfasts, late checkout, spa credits, and more.
6. Ask for a later checkout
Will it transform your vacation? No. Will an extra hour to linger over breakfast help you leave on a high note? Absolutely. Try asking (nicely!) at check in, or a day or two before you leave. The worst they can do is say no.
The Surprising Savings of All‑Inclusive Vacations
All-inclusive resorts and cruises, which range from entry-level (think Carnival Cruise Line) to ultra-luxury, make sense for many these days — they’re increasingly plentiful and pleasingly decision-free. “All-inclusives are a great option especially for families, because your bottom line is clear from the get-go,” says Gail Rosenberg, a Westborough-based travel consultant whose favorite such spots are the Hyatt Ziva Cancun and the Hyatt Zilara in the Dominican Republic. “You’re not losing your mind every time your kid gets a $10 smoothie and takes three sips.”
New England’s proximity to three major cruise ports — Boston, New York, and New Jersey — can make cruise travel more affordable by eliminating the need to fly to your port of departure. Cruise lines issue some of their biggest booking incentives during the first part of the year, through the end of March. Rosenberg says you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck if you book early — she’s already booking cruises for 2026.
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Airbnb Tips, From a Host
I love great hotels, and the conveniences they can provide. But as an Airbnb host myself, I know short-term rentals can offer great value . Particularly so for larger groups: The average price of an Airbnb for six people is 33 percent cheaper than three hotel rooms in the same city, according to Nerdwallet. The longer you stay, the better the value: On average, the nightly rate for a seven-night stay in an Airbnb is 32 percent cheaper than for one night — not a bad trade-off for having to make your own bed. A few tips on short-terms rentals:
- Read reviews, but take outliers with a grain of salt.
- Ask before reserving: How’s parking? What kind of mattresses? What’s the Wi-Fi speed? How close to the nearest bagel?
- Research the neighborhood, including the proximity to tourist attractions and transportation options for getting there.
- Let the host know why you’re coming and who you’re coming with — you might find some personalized touches when you arrive. Most hosts love where they live and want you to as well.
5 Money-Losing Mistakes Travelers Make
1. Banking on a last-minute deal
Last-minute deals should be considered a pleasant surprise, not a given. “If you’ve got your heart set on going somewhere, it can be disappointing — and more expensive — when that doesn’t pan out,” says Wendy Marley of AAA Northeast.
2. Reverse-engineering your trip
“Backward planning” — booking based on the cheapest flights — can backfire. “You should first have a very clear idea of what you want to do, and how much time you’ll need to do it, before you spring for that ‘budget’ airfare,” Marley says. Otherwise, you could end up sacrificing fun for the sake of the air itinerary.
3. Not checking layover times
Just because you can book flights with a fast connection between them doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. “Check your transfer times,” says Gail Rosenberg, the travel consultant. “For example,” she says, “flying into Terminal 3 at Heathrow and out of Terminal 5 — I avoid that one at all costs.”
4. Forgetting about visa requirements
Nonresident travelers need a special permit to enter some countries, even if they’re just passing through the airport.
5. Skipping travel insurance
Insurance protects against unexpected scenarios such as health emergencies. Marley says third-party agencies such as Allianz offer more comprehensive options than the insurance offered by airlines. And, some credit cards offer insurance as part of member perks, as well as coverage for lost baggage and car rental insurance.
Read more from the Spring Travel issue
- Eight ways to find good, cheap food wherever you travel
- Cherry blossoms, great food, free museums: The case for a long weekend in D.C.