This year the spring travel season will be busier and and more expensive, especially if you are planning to travel around Easter with your family. To avoid the highest prices and sold out flights, hotels or packages, plan ahead and follow our tips on how to save money on your Easter vacation.
When planning your vacation, you should know that Easter is right in the peak of the spring travel season – March 31. Spring brakes for both schools and colleges will be also in March or the beginning of April. The season will be crowded and the prices of tickets along hotel room rates will rise. If you haven’t noticed by now, airfares and hotels around the world are by now up on average 5 to 10 percent compared to this time last year. So, you can expect that your Easter Vacation cost will be higher, that’s why try to plan ahead and take advantage of all discounts and promotions you find. Of course, the earlier you book a hotel stay or a flight ticket, the less you will pay, but see our other tips for saving money this Easter.
Purchase a family vacation package
There are many websites and agencies offering bundled discount prices in case you are travelling with your family.
Use coupon codes and cash-back options
They are available for a number of services – flights, hotels, and rent-a-cars and you can easily find them on various websites.
Book early and purchase return tickets
Return tickets are always cheaper, no matter how you travel – on a plane, train or boat. Usually discounted rooms and rates are limited in quantity, so make your reservation in advance to save money.
Arrive and depart on weekdays
Airfares are in general most expensive on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Besides flying on weekdays will save you the long lines at airport security points and possible delays usually occurring on the days leading up to and shortly after Easter Sunday.
If you think you are already late to take advantage of discounts and lower prices, you can always look around for last minute deals and flash sales. A lot of online travel agencies are offering discounts in the last minute. It will be hard to find significant discounts during that time, though.
Avoid the most popular destinations
On Easter and the preceding Holy Week Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, fills with pilgrims from all over the world – Orthodox, Catholic Christians, and more. So, it will be crowded and pricey. Pick up some unusual, but cheaper destination, or even try a cruise, which in fact is not a very expensive option – food is typically included in the ticket price, often unlimited. Cruises also offer many opportunities to have fun with plenty of shore excursions, casinos, spas, dance clubs, pools, karaoke and many others.
