Six Steps to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation
Do you want to plan a truly magical trip without upsetting your piggybank? Here’s how to plan a free theme park vacation in six easy steps.
Are you dreaming of a Disney, Universal, or another theme park vacation but think you can’t afford it? Maybe you can. From roller coasters to immersive lands, theme parks offer endless entertainment for people of all ages. Who wouldn’t want to experience that? With some planning and creativity, you can enjoy the thrills and excitement of your favorite parks without breaking the bank. In this article, I’ll show you how to plan a free theme park vacation. So get ready to pack your bags and prepare for a fun-filled adventure that won’t bust your budget!
1. Understand the Basics
Learn how to budget and pay for travel using points, miles, and other rewards.
You’ve likely heard the saying that knowledge is power. In planning a free vacation, knowledge will give you the power to earn rewards. The more you learn, the more you’ll likely earn. So, before you do any planning, read How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation by H. Kinney. The book is an easy-to-read and helpful guide that explains what you need to know in order to plan a free trip. It offers valuable insights and practical tips to help you save. You’ll learn:
- Why rewards are valuable.
- How to find and compare rewards programs.
- How to strategize your spending for maximum rewards.
- What credit card rewards are, and how to use them.
- How to earn cash and gift cards without credit cards.
- How to create a plan for your free trip.
- Ways to save before, during, and after your vacation.
2. Define Your Ideal Trip
Think about what you want.
Once you’ve read the book, it’s time to brainstorm. Begin by thinking about your ideal trip. Where do you want to go? Who would go with you? How long would you stay? How would you get there? What type of lodging would you prefer? Would you visit multiple theme parks or just one? Would you travel anywhere else during your trip? What types of experiences would you like to enjoy during your vacation?
If you plan to travel with others, now is a great time to get their input. You don’t need to iron out specific details at this point in the planning. You just need to agree on the general expectations of the trip. If one person wants a luxury experience while another wants something more rustic, this could make planning challenging. Decide on the basics, and write them down, before moving forward to the next step.
3. Research the Cash Cost
Get organized and begin planning.
Once you have an idea about the type of trip you want to take, it’s time to begin researching information for your free vacation. But before you do, you’ll want to decide on a method for keeping track of the details of your plan. Since you’ll be recording a lot of information, staying organized is key. You can use a notebook, spreadsheet, or the How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation Companion Workbook to help you. The workbook has all the planning pages you’ll need in a convenient format.
With your notebook or workbook in hand, list all anticipated expenses you’ll likely incur during your trip. Take into account transportation, lodging, meals, tickets, and all other costs associated with the vacation. Even small expenses like tips, parking, and snacks should be included. I also suggest adding a buffer for unexpected expenses.
Now, find the estimated cash cost for each item you listed. Go online and research typical prices. For lodging, you don’t need to know exactly where you want to stay. Look at several properties to get an idea of the pricing. You can do the same for airfare unless you have an airline preference. For meals, you can find menus online that will give you an idea about costs.
Once you have an estimate for each item on your list, add up the expenses. This is the cash cost, or approximate value, of your trip. This is the amount that you’ll want to cover with points, miles, and other rewards.
4. Explore Rewards Options
Research alternative ways to pay for your vacation.
Once you have a rough estimate of the cost of the vacation, now it’s time to find ways to pay for it. For each expense you listed in the previous step, research whether a rewards program exists.
For airfare, find out how many airline award miles you’ll need to pay for the flights you’ll likely take. Be sure to look at several dates to get a more accurate idea about costs. You’ll need to pay the taxes and fees on award bookings, so include that amount in your plan.
For lodging, research how many points you’ll need to cover the cost of a hotel stay. If you don’t plan to stay at a hotel that has a rewards program, research whether you can use flexible rewards to book your stay. Some on-site theme park resorts, like those at Universal Theme Parks, can be booked with points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points.
Don’t worry if you can’t immediately find a rewards program to cover every expense. Some things will may need to be paid directly. Record how much cash you’ll need for these expenses. You can earn money to pay these costs through various rewards programs and credit cards. Read the articles on this site to help with your planning.
Learn More: Plan a Free Universal Orlando Trip Using Rewards
Learn More: How to Plan a Free runDisney Trip: A Runner’s Guide
5. Earn Rewards
Put your plan into action.
Once you know how many points, miles, rewards, and cash you need to earn to pay for each expense, it’s time to earn them. Create a way to track the rewards you earn, or use the handy chart in the Companion Workbook.
If you’re not already a loyalty member for the rewards programs you plan to pursue, sign up for them now. While you’re signing up for things, create accounts for shopping portals and other rewards programs. These programs allow you to earn rewards for everyday shopping, or for doing simple tasks, and can provide a source of cash or gift cards for your trip.
One of the most lucrative ways to earn rewards for your trip is with credit cards. If you plan to pursue credit card rewards, refer to the advice in How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation. Welcome bonuses will give you the most bang for your buck. Read the terms of the bonus carefully and make sure you meet the terms within the timeframe. Since bonuses can vary, be sure to search for the most valuable offer available. Refer to the Rewards page for some lucrative bonus opportunities.
Before applying for new credit cards, research them thoroughly and time your applications carefully. Some card issuers have rules regarding new accounts. Chase, for instance, will most likely deny you if you’ve opened five or more new credit cards from any issuer within the past twenty-four months. If you’re planning your trip with another adult, you can coordinate the timing of new accounts to achieve the rewards you’ll need.
Since airfare and hotel prices can sometimes increase as the day of travel nears, you may want to concentrate on those rewards first. You can open a brand-specific credit card, commonly called co-branded credit card, to earn rewards and also pursue rewards through programs like survey sites.
Learn More: How to Choose the Best Brand-Specific Credit Card
For cash expenses, cash back credit cards and flexible rewards credit cards are good options. Some people don’t like to redeem flexible rewards for cash because these points can often be used in other ways at an increased value. For instance, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can redeem points for $0.01 each. That means if you earn 60,000 points, those points are worth $600 in cash. Or, if you book travel through their portal, points could be worth more. However, the prices in the portal are sometimes inflated and may not have the redemption you’re looking for, such as an on-site Disney resort. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also allows transfers to travel partners, which can provide an increased value for your points. If booking through the portal doesn’t fit your free vacation plan and you don’t plan to transfer points to travel partners, cash is a great redemption option to have.
Learn More: How to Choose the Best Cash Back Credit Card
Learn More: How to Choose the best Flexible Rewards Credit Card
6. Book Travel
Redeem rewards and get ready for a great trip.
As soon as you have enough rewards for each part of your vacation, make your reservations and redeem your rewards. Some travel providers offer reduced rates for nonrefundable reservations. Unless you’re willing to risk losing all of your hard-earned cash, points, and miles for a little bit of added savings, stick to refundable bookings. Read the terms carefully before you book.
Even after you’ve booked travel, stay on the lookout for new deals and offers. As long as you’ve booked refundable rates, you can rebook travel if the rates go down. Keep checking for discounted hotel rates. Also, take advantage of free services like flight alerts from Google Flights and car rental alerts from Autoslash. These helpful services let you know when prices change. Even though Google Flights only tracks cash prices, some airline rewards are tied to cash prices. So a change in price may mean a change in rewards. Any savings you can recoup now could go toward a future trip. Or, if you booked with cash, you can use that unexpected savings for something extra on the trip you’re planning.
In summary, a free theme park vacation may seem impossible at first, but with careful planning and research, it’s definitely doable. By following the six easy steps above, you can plan a magical and unforgettable trip without breaking the bank. With a little effort and creativity, you can make your dream vacation a reality. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your theme park adventure today!
About the Author
Written by H. Kinney, author of How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation. She writes about using points, miles, and cash-back rewards to reduce the cost of theme park travel.
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