Stress-Free Spring Travel

For students and families alike, spring break goes hand in hand with sun and fun. However, it often also means big crowds and higher prices. Americans will be taking off on trips throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico in search of sprawling beaches, lively nightlife, and inspiring culture.

“When it comes to booking it really helps to get an accommodation that you’ll never forget, something really special,” said Stephanie Oswal, Travelgirl Editor. “One of favorite companies that do this is booking.com. They have created a list called Book the US. It has all these fabulous places to stay all over the country, all 50 states plus Washington DC. We’re talking about castles in Kentucky, Europe and Delaware just really amazing, treehouses in Ohio, just really cool things. It makes it really fun and exciting just looking through this list. Even though Booking.com data shows that this year spring break will cost two percent more than last year that’s the bad news but the good news is there are some sunny destinations where you can save money; like Panama City Beach, San Diego, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and anything Key West they are up and running back in business after the hurricane.”

You picked your destination but the unexpected does occur. “Unfortunately, sometimes we have to plan for the unexpected because that happens sometimes and you want to make sure you have a little piece of mind and one way to do that is with travel insurance,” said Oswald. “Companies like Allianz can provide that safety net that you need in case something goes wrtong, like a delayed bag or a stolen piece of luggage. Those are the times when you want to make sure you will get reimbursed for what normally a non-refundable fee. There are a lot of cards out there but one I like is the Penfed Pathfinder credit card. It has all the perks with no annual fee.”

Stephanie’s Tips

Don’t procrastinate: Depending on your destination, you may find soaring prices and limited availability. If you want your fall travel to come in under budget, do your research and plan early!

Be prepared: An emergency can rack up that credit card bill or wipe out your savings. Travel insurance is a smart investment.

Spend and save: Reevaluate your credit cards to find the rewards program that works for you and your family- from airline points for your next vacation to lodging and activities get the most for the purchases you make.

BYOS (Bring your own snacks): Food and beverages are one of the biggest expenses on a vacation. Make sure your lodging has a fridge and microwave available, and you can save money by packing snacks

Do your travel Spring cleaning: Update all luggage tag contact info, repair anything broken, toss out anything that’s seen its fair share of journeys. While you’re at it, check your IDs for expiration dates and renew as needed.

For more great tips visit BetterStuffforLife.com

MORE ABOUT STEPHANIE OSWALD

As the Editor-in-Chief of Travelgirl Magazine, the Travel Correspondent for “News with a Twist” for ABC New Orleans, a former Web Correspondent for The Weather Channel, and a globetrotting travel correspondent for CNN, she has reported on everything from stress-relieving spa treatments and unique escapes around the world to the human side of a hurricane. She is the co-founder of Travelgirl -- the first national travel magazine to launch after the events of 9/11. The travel and lifestyle publication was chosen by industry leader Mr. Magazine as one of the "most notable" launches of 2003. Oswald is a native New Yorker who spent more than a decade globetrotting as CNN's travel correspondent and host of the weekend program, CNN Travel Now. In 2003, she also launched a groundbreaking series called The Weather Channel Road Crew that showcased the "fun" side of weather. In 2004, she filed written and audio reports during Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne as the very first Web Correspondent for Weather.com. As anchor and correspondent for CNN Travel Now, a weekly program on worldwide destinations, travel trends and cuisine, Oswald specialized in adventure travel, filing reports from Europe, South America, Asia and the Caribbean. Her reports also appeared on CNN Headline News, CNN in-flight programming for Delta Air Lines, CNN International and the CNN Airport Network. In her current role reporting for WGNO/ABC New Orleans she continues to bring viewers the best adventures of the region, taking them on colorful travels throughout the Southeast. Recent series have highlighted eco-tours, family adventures, offbeat romance and how to plan the perfect beach road trip. Stephanie welcomes any specific station or viewer questions ahead of time at travelgirlsteph@gmail.com

Courtesy: Booking.com, Allianz, and PenFed Travel Rewards

Photo Courtesy: Booking.com