December 22, 2025Travel More, Spend Less: How I Make Every Trip Affordable

A great trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Over the years, I’ve learned how to plan incredible travel experiences for myself and my clients without financial stress or post-vacation regret. The secret? Maximizing value and planning ahead. Here are three strategies I use to make travel more affordable.

1. Work with a Travel Advisor

Working with a travel advisor is a smart investment for any trip. In addition to expert destination knowledge and personalized planning, you may receive:

• Onboard credit on cruises
• Room upgrades or early check-in times
• Resort credits or added amenities
• Exclusive offers not available when booking directly

These perks can easily add up to hundreds of dollars in added value, without increasing the cost of your trip. 

Bonus: If something goes wrong while you are traveling, you get the peace of mind of knowing you have a real person advocating for you.

2. Use PEFCU to Plan Ahead

Instead of accruing vacation debt, I use simple financial strategies to start saving early.

• Set up recurring savings transfers into a dedicated travel account.
• Use a PEFCU Visa® credit card to earn points, get built-in fraud protection, and avoid high interest rates. The PEFCU Visa® credit card has a great, non-variable 9.90% APR*.
• Put extra funds into a share certificate to grow your money faster. Right now, PEFCU is offering a limited-time 4.50% APY share certificate for 13 months**!

While traveling, you have easy access to the PEFCU mobile app to check your on-trip spending in real time to avoid any surprises when you get home.

Consider this: $250 a month deposited into a travel savings account equals $3,000 per year, ready to spend on the destination of your choice. 

3. Choose Inclusive Vacation Options

Some of the most affordable trips are the ones where almost everything is included upfront, such as:

• Cruises
• All-inclusive resorts
• Pre-packaged itineraries

When your room, food, drinks, entertainment, and transportation are bundled together, there are fewer surprise expenses. Your travel advisor can also work with you to set up monthly payment plans to ensure your trip is fully paid off before you leave home.

Combining expert travel planning with smart financial tools is the perfect way to see more of the world without overspending. 

 

*Rate effective as of 11/1/2025. Subject to change. Application required. Approval based on creditworthiness.

**Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 12/15/2025. Rates subject to change without notice. 4.50% APY is only available for members with a minimum account balance of $1,000. For complete details, view Share Certificate rates on our website at PEFCU.com and access all account disclosures. For all Certificate products, the APY assumes dividends remain on deposit until the maturity date. A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal. At maturity, the 13-month share certificate will automatically renew as a 12-month share certificate at the then-current rate and terms. Dividends are credited monthly. Membership qualification required.

 

 

Amber Miller is the owner of Booked Travel Planners, where she specializes in European vacations, luxury travel, and honeymoons. She also manages travel for the CEO of a publicly traded company and has over a decade of diverse professional experience, including roles in insurance and higher education. A lifelong Tampa Bay resident, Amber holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and a master’s degree in Human Resources. She is also a volunteer with Make-A-Wish and enjoys reading, crafting, and fitness classes in her free time.