That was the subject line in two emails I received this morning and it got me thinking about how to make that big decision: Where to Next?
I have been lucky to work in positions where the timing of my vacations doesn’t really matter too much, so I can let the deals help me decide. Usually the best bargains are found in off season or shoulder seasons, which of course depends on the destination so flexibility helps. If you are in this position, then signing up for email alerts like the Travelzoo Top 20 can be a great source for inspiration and deals. Even if you don’t find an exact match for you, it can be a good jumping off point to start searching.
Sometimes you can be flexible on dates, but have a specific destination (or two) in mind. When you know where you want to go there are several apps that will allow you to set up alerts so you know when there are great deals on airfare for those specific destinations. Right now I am jonesing to get back to New Zealand so I have Hopper, Airfare Watchdog, and Skyscanner all helping keep an eye out for airfare deals.
If you are in a position that doesn’t allow you to be as flexible on dates, if you have school aged kids for example, it might be more challenging to find the deals, but they are still out there. Summer is peak time for most of the US and Europe, but it’s a great time to go south since it’s their winter. If you are set on traveling in the Northern Hemisphere during summer, you can find some great deals right at the beginning or end of the season. Set your alerts for early June or late August and see where the deals are.
No matter how you search, keep in mind that airfare is only a piece of it, if the cost of food or lodging will be too expensive then the great airfare might not be worth it. One year I found an amazing deal on a flight to Sydney for New Year’s, I was imagining seeing the fireworks in the harbor up close…until I saw that it was going to cost upwards of $1000 per night for a hotel! That bucket list item was benched unfortunately. Use a variety of apps and emails to see as many offers as you can and compare the deals and destinations to find the best choice for you.
Happy hunting! And here’s a little inspiration…
avr adventures 