Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2017

FITNESS travel
Sandi Favre
Professional Travel Advisor and owner of Viagio Travel
PHYSICAL & FISCAL
With the beginning of a new year comes a wave of opportunity — from resolutions to life changes and
new goals. For many people, travel can be a far away aspiration, one that we always hope to
achieve but struggle to make a reality. For those looking to finally make
their dreams of travel come true, there are a variety of ways to save money in
the process, from airfare to hotel costs. “The easiest way to be sure to get the
most for your money is to work with a professional travel advisor,” said Sandi Favre,
owner of Viagio Travel. “There are lots of deals out there and you can spend tons of time looking
through them and still being unsure, or you can ask someone to do this for you who has easy access to what is available. You want to work with someone
who is getting you the most value for your money, giving you creative ideas, and is willing to help you stay within your budget.”
Finance blogs such as The Penny Hoarder have set out to help today’s travelers find the lowest-priced options to meet their budget needs. When it comes to flying, they recommend a few tips and tricks to get the best bang for your buck. For instance, collecting travel rewards points is a big first step. Not collecting your miles when you fly is a huge missed opportunity.
Becoming a research expert is another great way to save money when you travel. Sites such as Skiplagged and momondo search the web and hundreds of travel sites to pinpoint what your best deal is. These sites are
great because they can combine multiple one-way flights to ensure you’re getting the lowest possible price. Other tools such as AirfareWatchdog and Hopper allow you to track particular routes and send out an alert once fares for that flight drop.
Many travelers know that certain prime travel dates can affect the price of airfare, but did you know that the date you book can also play a part? According to The Wall Street Journal, Fridays are the most expensive day to book a flight, with Sundays being the most affordable. They also say that booking at least 57 days prior to a domestic flight and 176 days prior to an international flight will help to ease the cost of flying.
“When it comes to traveling on a budget, remember to look for value, and not just the total cost,” said Favre. “I had someone who had given me a firm budget for their air and hotel, and while I could easily find a resort within their budget, I gave them an option for
a few hundred dollars more where they would also
get a free room upgrade, a spa credit, complimentary parking, and daily breakfast. The total value of their upgrade and amenities was over $2,500, and they spent only $220 more to receive this value.”
72 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • January 2017
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photo courtesy of Sandi Favre