by Instead of jumping on a plane to travel, Michael Downie opts for the train.
“You have your bedroom, you get three meals a day, and you just look out the window and watch the country go by. You can experience anything,” Downie said.
For the YouTube travel blogger, travel is travel itself.
As the spring break season approaches, those looking to escape Canada’s cold, wet snow for sunnier skies will likely face a steep price tag for their getaway, inflation and rising demand. driving up costs.
But Downie said there are cheaper ways to travel if you know where to look and aren’t afraid of the unconventional.
The Vancouver resident has traveled by train to most parts of Canada and the United States via Via Rail, Amtrak and the Rocky Mountaineer.
More recently, Downie traveled from Jasper to Vancouver by train, as part of Via Rail’s route called The Canadian which departs from Toronto and arrives in Vancouver four days later. The 24-hour stretch from Jasper to Vancouver costs as little as $190 for an economy fare or up to $4,250 for the most luxurious option.
While on the tracks, Downie said he enjoyed zipping through the Rocky Mountains, stopping in Kamloops and participating in wine tastings on the train.
“When people go somewhere hot for their vacation, they come home and they’ve lost their luggage, it’s stressful,” Downie said. On the train, “you just have to sit back, rest and relax as the train sways back and forth. And you miss (the scenery) when you’re flying.”
If you choose to fly this spring, Barry Choi said those looking for a deal should avoid the March Break week if possible.
Instead, the personal finance and travel expert suggests traveling during off-peak hours, say, a week before or after. If that’s not an option, Choi said travelers should consider cheaper destinations, such as Portugal rather than Spain, or countries in the Middle East rather than those in Europe.
And once you’re in the country, you can cut costs by thinking more about your accommodation, noting that those in towns’ downtown are much more expensive than staying 15 or 20 minutes away.
“You always have to think outside the box,” Choi said. Even simple things like researching museums and attractions with free admission or stocking up on groceries so you don’t eat out at every meal can save you money when traveling abroad.
In reality, it’s about managing your costs as flights and hotels have become more expensive and travel dynamics have changed post-pandemic, Choi said.
“If you’re trying to get that last-minute deal to a distant destination, it’s just not going to happen,” he said. “Most of the time if you’re looking for a last minute flight, the airlines will charge even more because they know you need it.”
It’s important to pay attention to sales and vacation packages instead, Choi said.
Choi also recommends settling in with a credit card that will earn you points for travel.
“If you want to fly to Italy, you should start earning Aeroplan points now,” he said. Say you don’t know where you want to go, then choose any program, like American Express Membership Rewards or Scene Plus. Some credit cards also come with a “generous welcome bonus” if you can meet minimum spending requirements.
To budget for your trip, prepare a rough estimate of what you’ll spend on flights, hotels, food and entertainment, then work backwards, he said. If you are planning a trip that will cost around $3,000 and you want to leave in 12 months, you need to save $250 per month, for example.
Saving for travel rather than impulsively booking travel is important, but what’s more important is making sure your debts are paid off in advance, said financial educator Jessica Moorhouse.
“If you have very expensive credit card debt, this should be your priority because it can take a toll on your finances,” Moorhouse said. Once this is paid off, you should also consider saving for an emergency fund which typically covers your cost of living for six months if an event occurs where you can no longer work, such as being laid off from a job. .
Building on Choi’s recommendation to save little by little each month, Moorhouse suggests opening a separate bank account with higher interest rates for savings. In addition to making your money grow, keeping your savings in a separate account prevents you from spending them impulsively, she said.
While social media feeds are bound to be filled with travelers showing off their getaways this upcoming travel season, fear of missing out shouldn’t be a reason you’re willing to risk your financial stability, Moorhouse said.
If you are lucky enough to go on a trip and cannot afford it at the moment, chances are there will be more opportunities to go in the future, she said. .
“It sucks to go on vacation, come home, and keep paying for something that’s already happened. But if you find yourself in that situation, make a plan to pay it back by the end of the year. year at the latest.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 31, 2023.
