Travel

It Pays To Travel

Posted: 8/5/2010

Some travelers get cash back from their credit cards.

(NAPSI) - Your next vacation can keep you on the road to both fun and financial well-being if you heed a few hints:

• Don't make vacation another job. In our can-do culture, many of us have lost the ability to relax. This summer, leave a few days unscheduled. If you're traveling with children, remember that seeing the Washington Monument at sunrise may not top their list. And spending a day at the hotel pool provides a bit of relief for the finances as well as the schedule.

• Pack light. If possible, try to have no more than 20 pounds in a carry-on-sized bag. Carry-on luggage is less likely to get lost, broken or stolen. You may also save money limiting yourself to a carry-on bag.

• Look out for new charges. Chances are, travel perks that used to be free now cost money. Save on checked-bag fees by finding out your airline's policy and packing accordingly. Bring your own earphones if you plan to watch the in-flight movie. And pack a lunch or satisfying snacks unless you want to pay $10 per sandwich on board.

• Plan for emergencies. If you're taking a car trip, prepare a just-in-case kit--jumper cables, flashlight and flares, basic tools, wiper fluid, water, and a first-aid kit including medication, bandages and hand sanitizer. If leaving the country, be sure to keep copies of your passport in your checked bags, carry-on and wallet.

• Let your travel be an enriching experience--literally. Chase Freedom customers can sign up to earn a total of 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases on plane tickets, hotels, car rentals and gasoline from now through September 2010. In addition, customers automatically earn a full 1 percent cash back on all other purchases they make, from the first dollar spent. And this summer, Chase Freedom customers can have more fun with their card. Customers can enjoy VIP seating and behind-the-scenes access to concerts, beach parties and movie nights.

• Make a flexible spending plan, not an oppressive budget. The word "budget" comes from the French for "small purse," and nobody wants to go on vacation with a small purse! Instead, plan ahead a spending range that works for you and determine which expenses you'll pay off right away and which ones you'll spread out. Chase Blueprint gives travelers clever ways to pay down larger purchases--hotel, airfare--sooner, and its "Split" plan lets customers choose the number of payments or the monthly payment amount that works for them. Chase does the math and makes it clear on every statement.

You can learn more and sign up for the fun and the savings online at www.chase.com/freedom.