Paying for your Dreams Trips

I head to Alaska next month (and this time I get to be a "tourist" and enjoy a 7-night cruise through the Glacier National Park!) After my conference, it will be a nice break to just enjoy a vacation and not attend site inspections or meetings :)

Alaska is considered a Bucket List destination for many people. Since it's not a cheap trip, it got me thinking about how we pay for dream vacations like this. Money is the number one thing that people blame as to why they don’t go on vacation.  Second to money is time, but we will save for another day.  Today though, let’s focus on some tips and ideas you can use to make money less of a worry.  I also personally use these ideas to allow me to save money so I can keep traveling and not go insane!

---

Intend to travel. The first step in making your travel dreams a reality is to set an intention to go on your vacation. There is a saying that a wish without a plan is just a dream. By setting an intention, you can lay the groundwork for planning your trip and actually make it happen.

Determine your dream destinations and the costs for visiting them. Think about where you would like to go, and then create a cost analysis for a week’s vacation there. Actually write all of these numbers down.

Don’t skimp here. Think about what you actually want. Sure, a Penthouse suite may be out of the question depending on your current budget. What I mean by not skimping is don’t consider 2-star or less hotels and red-eye only flights. Instead, consider your best case desires without being unrealistic.

Then, write down the average costs associated with a week long getaway there including flights, hotels, a daily budget for food and attractions, etc… You may find that one of your dream trips is actually less expensive than you initially imagined. Pick one of the destinations and proceed to the next step.

Set a date that you would like to go on this trip by.  Plan a date six months to one year away. Then, call Destinations HD at (913) 244-9195, and we can give you the actual details and costs related to your trip. From there, you’ll want to put a monthly deposit towards your trip. The earlier you make your reservation; the smaller payments will be. Keep in mind that most packages will require full payment around 45 days in advance.

Look for ways to make a little extra income to boost your vacation fund.  Here are some ideas we found from personal experience and other money saving websites online:

• Sell DVDs, CDs and electronics you’re not using anymore to Gamestop, Best Buy, Amazon trade-in or on eBay (among many other sales avenues)
• Have a garage sale
• Ask for money towards your trip in lieu of presents for birthdays and holidays
• Use cash back reward credit cards (note: Be careful not to go into debt while using credit cards. The best option is to always pay your monthly balance in full)
• Work a few additional hours at your day job
• Consider a side-hustle to earn additional income
• Sell broken jewelry to gold brokers

When you set a date, and have a goal to strive towards, it’s amazing the creativity that will be stirred up to get you on your way. It may not always be easy to go on a dream vacation, but vacations are good for your body, mind and heart. The trip may cost some money, but the experiences you have while traveling are priceless. Life is short! You deserve to have that priceless getaway from time to time.

Call Destinations HD at (913) 244-9195 today, and let’s get you one step closer to your travel dreams coming true!  Experiences Await...