How to book a post-lockdown holiday on a budget
Avoid getting caught in non-refundable deals or blowing your budget with these travel-savvy tips.
![ElanaWagner-03-11-2021-Travel-SavingTips.1](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/elanawagner-03-11-2021-travel-savingtips-1.jpg)
Ready to travel again? We certainly are! As more and more countries are open to tourists again and travel is becoming easier, now is the time to take advantage of specials, without getting conned by following these three tips:
Take time to research
There are more specials and more regulations in the travel world right now than ever before. While it can be really exciting to visit a bucket-list destination at a reduced rate, you do need to be careful about the small print. With the uncertainty of the pandemic and the possibility of another lockdown happening somewhere in the world at any given time, you want to make sure that you understand the changes or cancellations T&C’s before you commit. Be careful of penalties and double check review sites to see what people said about the accommodation and airline you are planning on using.
Find out online, check in person
Starting your research online is great, but don’t trust everything you read on the internet. A lot has changed during the pandemic, so bear in mind that the photos and places you find online might be quite different post-lockdown or might not even exist anymore. The best option is to speak to someone who has visited your destination before. Find out everything you can – the good and bad – and then check online for recent comments on your chosen accommodation’s social media platforms and look at the dates of the most recent reviews.
Plan and pre-book
You now know where you are going and when, so start putting together an itinerary and pre-book as much as possible from accommodation to tourist attractions and even travel passes in your destination. Besides taking advantage of early bird specials, you will also avoid disappointment if popular attractions are booked up for the day. Budgeting will also be much easier, as you will know exactly how much everything will cost.