I always get the question, where are you going to next? And I absolutely LOVE that question because if anyone knows me, you know how much I love to travel. Traveling is something I am passionate about because as I travel I am gaining memories and experiences that material things cannot give me. I get to see exciting new cultures and try new food! Check out 5 tips below that allow me to incorporate travel into my life!

1. Always be watching for flights!

There are a few websites I use in order to monitor flights. The number one site that I use is  Pomelo Travel. They have the option to sign up for free flight alerts or the option to do a yearly subscription (which is NOT expensive) I get alerts that I can actually use, flying out from various cities with destinations like China, Bali, Thailand, Greece & More.  Currently they have a giveaway going on for two free flights to Europe or Hawaii! Go sign up for free flight alerts using this link: http://www.pomeloflights.com/giveaways/europe-hawaii/?lucky=27901

Another site I check regularly is Google Flights in the ‘Calendar View’, this works well when you have flexible dates. And you need to be checking pretty consistently because prices are always going up and down!

2.  SKYMILES, SKYMILES, SKYMILES!

Delta has a great program that helps you get skymiles to use towards free flights, not only do they have the skymiles program but they also have the Delta Skymiles American Express Card. The regular skymiles program will give you points every time you fly with Delta and you do not have to have a card in order to sign up. BUT using the Delta Skymiles AmEx will get you significantly more miles, on top of bonus miles. You earn points for using it on everyday purchases, flights and more. If you’re terrified of the idea of having a credit card, I get that, but also if you are smart and use it like a debit card (aka: Only spending what you have & paying the balance off before the bill is even due) you won’t ever have to worry about going into debt. Plus you get early access to concert tickets, you & up to 5 guests get to check your bags for free, you get the occasional upgrade & you get to fly for free! If you’d like more information & 60,000 bonus miles follow this link: http://refer.amex.us/ALEXICLBsQ?xl=cp52

3.  Have an idea of where you want to go.

Something I always do when traveling is figuring out where I might want to go first, then I research everything I can about the destination to be sure that’s really the place where I want to invest my time & money into. You can’t plan a trip without knowing where you want to go.

4.  Find ways to Budget.

This one was really hard for me at first, but as I took a look at what I was spending each month on various things it allowed me to see how much extra money I could really be saving for traveling. Instead of eating out I will eat at home, instead of buying a new dress I’ll put that money into a savings account, I share a Netflix & Hulu account so that I don’t have to be spending money each month. Every penny saved is another penny put towards my ability to travel.

5.  Give yourself time to plan. 

Although you might need to purchase flights on a whim in order to get them at cheap prices, it doesn’t mean you have to leave the next week. Spontaneous trips are fun, but typically you end up spending more than you need to on last minute trips. Take the time to plan out your trip. This way you’ll be able to get an idea of how much you’ll be spending, what you’ll be doing & you will be able to make the most of your time during your vacation.

Hopefully your travel bug gets cured quick! What are some of the tips you have when it comes to how to travel frequently?

XOXO-

Lex