Travel: how to save without opting for flexible packages – 08/23/2023 – Market

Flexible packages —without a set date or confirmed reservations— have won over the public in recent years due to their low prices. The cheap, however, came out expensive: both Hurb (former Hotel Urbano) and 123milhas, leaders in the modality, had to suspend the issuance of promotional tickets due to financial problems.

The good news is that you can travel cheaper without having to resort to these packages without fixed dates. Check out tips to save money when you hit the road.

ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP IN ADVANCE

For journeys where you have to buy a plane ticket, planning is the key to not breaking your budget. And that goes for high and low season.

“For international destinations, I recommend starting to organize a year before traveling. For nationals, six months”, says André Coelho, professor of MBAs at FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas) and specialist in tourism.

Once the period is defined, mark it on the calendar: to leave the country, buy tickets three months in advance. For domestic travel, purchase between one and two months in advance.

“More than that is to be paid in installments. The value does not change much, since it is calculated by the number of people on each flight”, says Anderson Dias, the first Brazilian to visit all 196 countries recognized by the UN and creator of content at @196sonhos .

SEARCH ON COMPARATIVE SITES

Another rule of thumb is to use sites that compare prices on different airlines, such as Google Flights, SkyScanner and Kayak. In them, bet on flexibility: “Instead of fixing a date, search for the entire month and see which day is cheaper”, says Dias.

Also check out Skiplagged, a search engine that popularized ticketing for “hidden cities”, or “skiplagging”. It allows disembarking at the stopover, which is usually cheaper than buying a direct ticket there.

For example, if you intend to go to Madrid, and the capital of Spain is the connection for a flight to Paris, it is possible to disembark there and discard the entire remaining leg. The tactic, however, requires the passenger to carry only hand luggage and not check in luggage.

For those who want to go by land, bus ticket search engines such as Click Bus, Quero Passagem, Buser and FlixBus may be the way to go.

MAKE A BUDGET WITH TOURISM AGENCIES

Some travel agencies manage individual promotions with partners and suppliers. It’s worth checking if it works for you.

There are those who opt for agencies in search of greater peace of mind. Since the Hurb case came to light, in May, Emerson Belan, general director of CVC Viagens, reports a greater demand for the company’s packages.

“Since last week, we have had greater movement. We believe that the second half of this year’s revenue will exceed that of the pre-pandemic”, he says.

CHOOSE STRATEGIC HOURS

Although it is a myth that airline tickets are cheaper at dawn, choosing flights at strategic times is not.

“There’s no time to buy, but there’s time to fly”, says Lucas Estevam, content creator at @EstevamPeloMundo. There are days and departure times when flying is cheaper.

The tip is to avoid weekends and departures between 7am and 8am on weekdays, which tend to be the flow of business trips for executives.

Prioritize flights between Tuesday and Thursday, and lunch and early morning hours.

BET ON A MILES PROGRAM

Using miles can lower —and a lot— the final price of the trip. Invest in airline loyalty programs, or credit card companies that convert points.

“It’s not just the ticket, but hotels, tickets, car rentals, cruises. They are the guarantee of the best price”, says Estevam.

There are programs that even offer bonuses on day-to-day services. It is possible, for example, to buy Uber credits through Gol’s Smiles program to earn miles.

BE FLEXIBLE WITH HOSTING

Nothing beats a hotel breakfast. But, for those traveling in a group or planning a longer stay, it is worth betting on vacation home rentals. For this, Airbnb is a good choice.

Another tip is to check the booking sites for inns, flats and hotels. “The secret is to explore the filters. You can choose by price, evaluation, number of people and rooms and proximity to public transport”, says Anderson Dias.

It’s also worth keeping an open mind for hostels. There are options for beautiful and airy spaces, and even individual rooms.

Location and infrastructure also need to be considered. “If the place has good public transport infrastructure, it’s worth staying close to a subway, for example. If not, you’ll have to rent a car, and this also needs to be put on paper”, says André Braz, economist at FGV /Ibre (Brazilian Institute of Economics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation).

The rented car can also be an ally in the search for cheaper accommodation. Depending on the destination, it is worth staying in a neighboring city, or in suburban regions, and driving along the route.

COMBINE EXCHANGE EXCHANGE STRATEGIES

Traveling abroad still requires care with the exchange rate. One way to lessen the risk of currency fluctuations is to buy cash bit by bit.

“The exchange rate changes, sometimes in an unfavorable way, and you have to put that into the account”, says Braz. One way to mitigate the fluctuation is to buy when the real appreciates and follow the commercial price.

At the same time, it is worth betting on international digital accounts. Operations like this are charged the IOF (Tax on Financial Operations) at 1.1%; with traditional cards, the incidence is 5.38%.

“Combining the two is a good way for anyone who wants to be more secure and not run the risk of losing all their money in the event of robbery or theft. If you lose, your vacation is over”, says Braz.