7 expert tips to help you travel more in 2024
In 2024, traveling will be as big as it was before the pandemic in 2019. But just because everyone is traveling doesn't mean everyone has the budget or capacity to travel frequently.
According to Going's State of Travel 2024 report, 29% of people said time would be an obstacle to traveling this year. While 25% said money was their main deterrent. This information was published by thrillist.com.
However, the lack of time and money should not be an obstacle to getting a well-deserved vacation. With the advice of Going experts, you can make more frequent travel a reality in 2024.
1. Let ticket prices choose your destination
You're going to find the cheapest airfare by having the flexibility to choose where and when you travel. Instead of having an overly specific list of destinations, keep in mind the type of travel you're doing.
You can use tools like Googling to find out the prices of cheap flights. On Google Flights, you can also use the research tool and leave open dates and destinations to find the best possible deals.
2. Travel during off-peak seasons
Traveling between peak season and off-season is a great way to find cheap airfare and accommodations. The off-peak season is not a set time of year for every destination, it will vary depending on where you are traveling.
3. Make your long layover work for you
Layovers are usually a drag. But sometimes you can use these layovers in other cities to learn more about them while traveling. You can maximize your long stop or give yourself an intentional stopover. These two-in-one tickets are built-in stopovers that give you a day or two in a city en route to your destination.
4. Increase your PTO
Thrillist has a guide on how to maximize your PTO to get the most out of your vacation days. The trick is to strategically reserve days off before holidays and long weekends so that you have longer vacations at work. Longer vacation periods mean you can go to faraway places, travel on weekdays, and have fewer hotel bookings on Friday or Saturday. By developing such a strategy, you will get longer vacations, enjoy more travel day flexibility, and avoid price spikes on holidays.
5. Learn more about points and miles rewards
While airline points programs are becoming less efficient, the ways to earn points and miles are not. Almost all credit card points can be converted into payment for some part of your trip. In addition, there are ways to link everyday accounts like Uber and Lyft to hotel loyalty programs.
6. Work remotely
Most people dream of working remotely, and they're not handing out these jobs like candy right now. But this tip from Going is more about organizing temporary remote work than trying to find a new remote job.
"Being able to work remotely, even from time to time or for part of your trip, can help you stretch your limited vacation days," Going emphasizes.
7. Embrace your inner Cameron Diaz and swap houses
The cost of accommodation can quickly wipe out any hopes of maintaining a tight travel budget. But there are platforms where you can swap houses or leave your home for someone else and completely cut this expense off your list. Thrillist has a guide to some great new platforms that connect travelers with house sitting, home sharing, and pet sitting options.
Earlier, TravelWise reported on how to buy the best airfare.