When people are asked if they have any regrets in their life, their most common answer is to have travelled more or after a taste of travel, wished they started travelling at an earlier age.  

I have always had to get creative on how to do more, see more and travel more.

Let me share with you

The 10 Great Tips I have learned to get you flying to your dream destination faster.

1. MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU!

Start earning rewards points for every dollar you spend. We all have daily bills so why not earn rewards? I pay everything on credit card to earn flight reward points (tip: do plan to pay it off completely every month if you want to keep ahead!). Before you know it, your points can be converted into flights or travel dollars. I just got a flight to Auckland, New Zealand during peak season for just $13 through the Virgin Velocity program - what a bargain! My trips up and down the east coast of Australia have all been through redeeming reward points through Velocity.

2. CHECK OUT WHAT PROMOTIONS ARE ON OFFER!

Check out what is on offer from credit card promotions. I am very loyal customer to particular airlines. I am also a very nervous flyer (ironic being a travel blogger) but things such as service and safety record are paramount. Gone are the days where I was happy to board ‘Dodgy Airlines’ to jet across Europe. Trust me - I did board quite a few, music ‘Killing me softly’ being piped through the cabin and the cabin interior literally falling apart.  A bit tragic.

I am a dedicated Virgin flyer. I am sure Richard Branson has the criteria of a sense of humour embedded in the recruitment selection for his staff as it really shows. I share the company values and ethos and at this stage in my life, that is important to me.  Thus, check out what your credit card company is offering. For example, I redeem a $129 voucher every year for simply being a Virgin Australia Velocity Credit Card Holder. I use this in conjunction with velocity points to book flights to start a new adventure.

Use websites and apps to search for the best deals. There are a number of search engines on the web that will do the hard yards for you in finding the best deal in the market. Do make sure to check any add on costs, such as taxes, luggage fees etc. have been factored into the final price. Also check whether meals are provided, as adding this on can bump up the costs.  The other critical observation is to check that the itinerary is not ending up as a vacation at the airport with long delays between connecting flights. No one wants to spend time on a horrendous 30+hour flight with some mysterious stopover resulting in being sold into the slave market! (not sure if fact or fiction but was told this did happen on occasion in the 80’s!)

3. SKYSCANNER

This is a fabulous website and app. It is a meta search engine that scans the airways for the best flight deals on offer. A great search engine. Simply check with the airlines for the deal advertised. This is a free service and acts like an aggregator for flight deals, car rental and accommodation.  Plug in where you want to head to and check out the best flight deals.  I would however check for any deal advertised that it is with a trusted and reputable company.

4. SCOTTS CHEAP FLIGHTS

Is a service that sends email alerts to users about cheap airline tickets saving potentially up to 90% on international fares. These are the cream of the crop fares, handpicked by a team of researchers.  Join for free or opt for a premium version costing a subscription of $49 per year. According to the reviews, the premium version will pay for itself easily. The key for this is  ‘Flexibility is King’.  What I love most about Scotts Cheap Flights is he encourages you to think outside the box for travel destinations. If you can be flexible with your dates and destination then be absolutely sure to check this website out. (Updated: This service is now only offered to selected countries in the world - check website for details)

5. NEXT VACAY

A website that also sends deal alerts on airfares.  Membership costs $25 a year. It takes the hassle and time out of spending hours searching for good flight deals for busy people. Again, simply plug in where you are leaving from and where you want to go and the deals will be sent directly to you. This is also a search engine, so you book directly with the airlines. Check that you are booking with a reputable and trusted company.

 6. PROMOTIONAL OFFERS

Signing up for a new credit card/insurances/services/loans is an easy way to activate the promotional points. Friends of mine look for the latest promotional deals and sign up for the reward points or the offer (N.B. special conditions or criteria may apply so be sure to read the fine print. (Disclaimer: I am not offering financial advice, simply ways to access points to get you flying faster). I have a couple of sets of friends who have travelled to Bali from Australia for $1 return each person this way.  A guy at work who got this deal said he wasn’t even planning to go to Bali but when you get a flight for $1 you would have to be crazy to pass up 2 weeks in Blissful Bali! The money you save on the flights can be spent on other things like luxe accommodation, extra massages and spa days!

7. VISIT YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL EXPO

Typically you can get free entry into a travel expo by simply pre-registering. If you have an idea of where you are going, are reasonably flexible with your dates, then you can potentially save a lot by booking your flight on the day of the expo.  I booked flights to Canada for my daughter and partner saving $1000 simply by making the commitment to book on the day. Travel Expo’s are a great way to look for deals particularly for flights but I have also found great deals for cruises and accommodation.

8. CHANGE YOUR DAYS OF TRAVEL 

When booking a flight, search days either side of the date intended for travel. Simply moving the dates can dramatically drop the price of your airfare in the same way that this applies for accommodation.  The best days for cheaper airfares are generally Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays (avoid Sundays as typically can be the most expensive).

9. CHOOSE YOUR TRAVEL DATES WISELY

This tip may be obvious but it is generally more expensive to travel during school holiday periods or peak seasons such as Christmas, Easter or special events. Avoid these times if wanting a cheaper fare.

10. BOOK A RETURN FLIGHT

I booked a return flight to New York however wanted to see San Francisco, LA and Vegas as well.  We headed to New York first and stopped for refuel in LA.  The consultants at the local Travel Expo informed me that you could book a return flight to New York but choose to stay on in LA for as long as we wanted if we pre-planned this in our itinerary.  So we did just that. We got off at LA and went to Vegas and San Francisco for 11 days, then returned back to LA airport to resume our journey home all on the ONE return fare. This saves purchasing another one-way ticket thus saving quite a bit of money.

Get creative in your thinking. A dream holiday can absolutely be achieved! There is really nothing holding you back. With so many more opportunities now, you can start planning your journey and getting excited about making it happen! Check out my upcoming blog on ways to 11 Clever tips to find Accommodation to fit your budget!

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