Timing and planning can significantly affect costs
According to Abhinav Pathak, CEO and Co-founder of Escape Plan, travel expenses are highly sensitive to timing.
Travelling during shoulder seasons or adjusting trips by a day or two can reduce flight and hotel costs by 20–35%. Choosing accommodations slightly outside central locations may lower lodging expenses by 30–45% without compromising convenience.
Smart planning extends beyond booking.
Pathak notes that impulse purchases during trips can cost ₹1,000–3,000 per person. For shorter journeys, road trips of 200–300 kilometers can save 40–60% compared with flying. With direct flights available, 4–5 day trips can be condensed to 2.5–3 days, improving both cost and time efficiency.
Timing hotel bookings also matters. Early reservations or those made after initial peak windows can avoid price surges of 25–40% as occupancy rises. Comparing hotel websites and aggregators can uncover bundled inclusions or flexible offers, allowing travellers to prioritise essentials while controlling costs.
Credit cards usage: Aligning spend with travel behaviour
Ashish Lath, Founder and CEO of SaveSage, says travellers often miss value by using generic credit cards for travel. Flights and hotels frequently offer accelerated reward points, sometimes three to ten times higher than regular spending.
Using non-aligned cards reduces these rewards and may forgo built-in benefits such as lounge access, travel insurance, or fee waivers.
Common mistakes include spreading travel spend across multiple cards or booking through channels that don’t qualify for higher rewards. Lath advises matching credit cards to travel behaviour, tracking points, and redeeming them efficiently. This approach can enhance value without increasing expenditure.
Features of travel-friendly cards
Travel fintech platform Scapia highlights that modern travel-focused cards aim to streamline payments, rewards, and planning. Key features include:
- Zero foreign exchange markup: Avoiding hidden 2–3.5% charges on international transactions.
- Transparent rewards: Points that are easy to understand, track, and redeem directly for flights or stays.
- Broader airport benefits: From dining and shopping to essential purchases, extending beyond lounge access.
- Fully digital issuance: Instant virtual cards for last-minute bookings and rapid approvals.
- Integrated booking platforms: Managing flights, hotels, and experiences in one app.
- Add-on cards with independent access: Allowing family members to earn rewards and track usage.
- Partnerships and flexible payments: Offering immediate discounts and EMIs for travel-related expenses.
Practical takeaways for travellers
Experts agree that cost-efficient travel relies on three pillars: planning strategically, spending smartly, and using aligned financial tools.
Adjusting travel dates, selecting appropriate accommodations, and optimising credit card usage can help travellers save money and extract maximum value from rewards.
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