5 Tips to Maximize Your Travel Plans is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine.
We always have so much fun traveling! I had to go over some great tips I learned along the way to help you to maximize every minute of your vacation and the money you spend on your vacation.
5 Tips to Maximize Your Travel Plans
- Maximize drive time. Depending on where we go, it can work out several ways. When we go to the Florida Keys, we leave at 4 AM and arrive in Key Largo at 7:30 AM. This allows us to watch the sunrise, go to a nice breakfast and most importantly, we miss the Miami traffic! Then we make our way to the Keys!
- Leave the night before. When I worked my corporate job, I would always plan my flight for the night before so I worked the day I left on vacation. You can also take the red-eye so you arrive in the morning and start your vacation as early as possible!
- Be a good planner! Plan while you are home. Weather forecasts can be correct sometimes, right? On our last trip to Tennessee we knew it was going to be cold and to bring in the cold front there would be some rain. This way we always have something to do, no matter what the weather is like.
- Take time to rest. Don’t over-plan to the point where you are not having fun anymore because you are tired or stressed running to the next activity. You may find something you want to do that is not on the list and if you are overextended already you can miss out on something you were not aware of.
- Get a great travel credit card! I love using one vacation to pay for the next vacation! A great way to do this is with the Navy Federal Visa Signature Flagship Rewards card! Flagship features and benefits have been already receiving great rewards but Navy Federal made it even better! Whether you are using the card for everyday commuting or taking your dream trip around the world, the perks of this card are amazing!
- Receive 3x points on all travel, such as airline, train tickets, car rentals, and hotel stays. Any travel-related arrangements will qualify including everyday travel and travel experiences. All of these points means more to spend on your next vacation!
- Getaway Travel: Airline, train tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, travel agencies, cruises, campgrounds and RV parks, timeshares, boat rentals, motorhome rentals, and travel-related arrangement services
- Everyday Travel: Ride-sharing services, bridges, tolls and ferries, parking garages and lots, bus lines, limos and taxis, commuter transport, passenger railways
Travel Experience: Public golf courses, amusement parks and tourist attractions including museums, vineyards, and aquariums
More Benefits with Flagship
- 2x points on everything else you purchase.
- There are no caps on the rewards you earn and rewards never expire as long as the account is open and in good standing.
- One point is now equal to $0.01 when you redeem for cash, travel or gift cards. For example, 10,000 points will get you $100 in cashback, flights, hotel stays and more!
- The Flagship credit card is reserved for Navy Federal’s seasoned travelers who deserve a premium card and the highest rewards. As always, Navy Federal will continue to offer 24/7 member service and a low annual fee.
Apply and once approved you will receive a $100 credit towards TSA Pre✓! Visit the Navy Federal website and learn more about the Flagship credit card!
What are your favorite travel hacks?
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73 responses to “5 Tips You Need to Know to Maximize Your Travel and Vacation Plans!”
The flagship card sounds like a great option!
Thanks Lisa!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
Thank you! We definitely have many places left to see.
Thanks for sharing the great tips! I am sure I am one to try to do to much on 1 day.
We like to leave around four am so the kids sleep or after work. We also plan everything out so we can get as much in as possible. Great tips.
Great travel tips! That card does sound pretty great!
Thanks, Nicki!
These are some great tips! We have been traveling around the country for over twenty years together ~ our boys love riding in the car (I know, strange – right?). We’ve learned how to maximize our times driving and plan ahead of time. What we haven’t learned is to rest. LOL.
Honestly, I love driving as well!
I love the overnight flights because we can sleep on the plane and hit the ground running. But we always underestimate how tired we are that night so we keep the first day relaxing and end it early.
Exactly, Kim! I would do it the same way!
We try to work half a day and leave in the afternoon. That way we can use the first day to rest and relax and figure out what our plan is for the rest of the vacay.
Great plan!
These are great tips! I love to ensure time to rest. My sister and I made a whirlwind trip to New York. One of our fondly remembered moments was when we had planned an afternoon of rest at the Waldorf, where we ordered a pizza, watched Law and Order. It was a really good time and gave us a break, that we needed.
How fun! Thank you, Jennifer!
Great tips! We usually use our credit card points to help pay for our vacations!
Thanks, Kristi!
Great tips – If planning a road trip, I love to leave early in the morning – but I sure like your idea of leaving on a workday as to not to waste a vacation day! I always incorporate an extra day for rest and catch up before going back to work, but I am in total agreement of not overdoing it during the vacation. I hate needing a vacation from my vacation – LOL!
Thank you, Susan! Great minds! lol
We have the Venture card and LOVE IT!! Plus I’m a morning person, so leaving early works best for us.
I need to travel so I can use some of your tips. I’m ready to plan!
Get out there!
I agree with checking the weather reports ahead of time. Last time we went to TN it stormed our entire trip. We were entirely unprepared for it and it made the trip a lot less enjoyable than it could have been.
Oh no! Next time!
Great travel tips! I love flying the red eye and arriving at my destination in the morning ready to begin the day. Since I don’t sleep well in the plane I’m guaranteeing that on my first night of vacation, I’ll sleep, after a full day.
I would be sleeping great too, Cindy!
I actually never knew that you could get a travel credit card where you could earn points for your next trip. That might be something to look into someday. Thanks!
My pleasure, Alexandra!
Get a great travel credit card is the best tip ever. How many times did we have trouble using a credit card in other countries? Some don’t work, some have enormous international fees. Thank you for sharing these wonderful tips
That is so true. Thank you!
We love to maximize every minute of our vacation and the money we spend on our vacation. We like to find coupon books for the areas we visit.
Great idea!
Great tips! I currently use the Venture card but will definitely check out NFCU’s card!
Thank you, Tracey!
Excellent tips! I always try to leave the night before, especially when I travels with my kids…they slept most of the way!
Another excellent point!
GREAT tips! I love the idea of waking up early to beat traffic and watch the sunrise. Sounds like an adventure. Thanks for sharing:)
It is awesome! Thank you!
Great tips! Agree with taking time to rest – In the past, I’ve returned from vacation feeling like I need a vacation… no good! 😉
Dragging back to work is not fun!
Love my travel points from my banks. I agree, time efficiency is super important to maximize fun!
Absolutely, Hera!
LOVE the idea of leaving on a workday – sounds so simple, why haven’t I thought of that before!
When you want to start traveling more on your PTO every minute is precious!
Great suggestions! I travel often and follow these guidelines as well!
Thanks, Susan!
I can always use more tips for better travel! Thanks 😊
Awesome Leigh Ann!
Great tips!! I always try to leave the day before or early so I get that extra day in to settle into my vacation time!!
Absolutely, Holly!
These are great tips! We always strive to leave early, but for some reason are never able to!
You might have kids if…… LOL
Great tips!
Love it! Short, to the point!
I have a list similar to this for going to Disneyland. Hoping to post one day soon. Thanks for the reminder! : )
Can’t wait to see it!
These are great travel ideas. I love that this blog is geared to those 50+. I hope to travel a lot as I get older
Thanks, Julie! I appreciate that!
I’m big on leaving after a work day. I’d much rather have my vacation days for the actual vacation!
There is no other way to do it, Janine!
Love the travel tips! I’m just beginning to use credit cards for points for travel. I think about those everyday purchases put them on the card, get the points then pay it off so I’m not paying interest. When driving our number 1 hack is to leave super early especially with drive 8+ hours. Planning is key and rest too! Traveling is fun, but can be exhausting as well 🙂
Yes it can Kristi!
Great tips! I love the idea of leaving on your work day so you don’t waste any time.
That one is one of my favorites too!
Very good tips! I am a big lover of my travel cards – I have one for the hotel chain we stay at most often and one for Southwest.
They are a must!
Whenever I make a road trip to Las Vegas, we usually like to leave around 4 am,, that way we miss the traffic and make it into Vegas early morning. We’ve always been able to check-in early , I think we had to wait only once.
Often the hotel will keep your bags so you can start having fun in the room is not ready, as well!
I agree! Especially about traveling on the work day. My husband usually gets off around 4:30 and we try to reach our destination before we go to sleep! I love waking up ready to start vacation, not start ready to start traveling!
Exactly, Michele!
Great travel tips! Totally agree on not packing your schedule so much to allow time to rest. Sometimes when we go on vacation we all want to experience everything and cram it all in. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Nissa! We do the same thing. I need another vacation when I get home!