Planning a trip is an experience in itself. It’s a space suitable for fantasizing and enjoying the anticipation created by choosing the destination, buying the tickets and saving the place to stay…or at least that’s how we hope it will be.
The truth is, no matter how much you enjoy planning your long-awaited vacation, There is a high probability of being overwhelmed with the sheer number of decisions that need to be made. How do I know if I’m buying the ticket at the best price? What if my luggage exceeds the allowed dimensions? Did I choose the accommodation well? And the list goes on.
The good news is that BioBioChile We are preparing a complete guide that will help you organize your trip, so that you will not only enjoy your trip but also the experience of planning it.
purchase of tickets
Not counting destination selection, buying tickets is perhaps the most important part of your trip (and where you’ll spend the most money if you haven’t planned enough).
The travel market is dynamic. This means that prices can vary due to a number of factors, which is why it is essential to do extensive research before purchasing your flight tickets.
The law of supply and demand when you buy tickets
First of all, you should know that while there is a high chance that these will be cheaper if you buy them in advance, it is not always a sure thing. For example, if many people buy a ticket 6 months in advance to travel to an event, it is very likely that the prices will be inflated.
“If many people are interested in the same flight, its prices will rise just as if it starts to fill up. In the same way, if there are still no occupied seats, the price may drop, to make it more attractive,” explained Sofia Federero, Content Manager of Turismocity.cl.
Along the same lines, often booking flights on less popular days of the week or less common times can result in lower fares, precisely because there is less demand.
Use a comparison tool
Sites like Google Flights, Desparar.com or Turismocity.com themselves can be excellent allies when it comes to comparing, in real time, the prices and schedules of different airlines for the same route.
Federero points out that “not all booking platforms show the same prices. Comparing different sites and using a comparison tool can help you find the best deal.”
There is an opinion that the cheapest value will always be the one that appears on the airline’s official website, but Federero assures that “this is not the case, since the same flight can be sold at different prices on different websites, even sometimes for a specific campaign or action.”
Does deleting cookies help me get cheaper prices?
“Although there are theories according to which airlines adjust prices based on search history, there is no conclusive proof of this,” says the expert.
“The reality is that prices change all the time and it could be that every minute a price goes up or down depending on the demand it has or due to some marketing action of the site that sells it. But the truth is there is no way to know when that will happen,” he added.
The choice of cargo
The appropriate baggage will depend on elements such as the duration of your trip, the destination and, of course, the amount of baggage indicated on the ticket you have already purchased.
In general, the maximum weight allowed for checked baggage ranges from 20 to 23 kilos, although this depends on the airline and the type of flight it operates. For example, if they are local or international.
Soft or hard luggage?
One of the main concerns of people traveling with checked baggage is that it is damaged and as a result damages its contents. In this sense, the question arises whether it is worth buying a soft or hard suitcase.
The truth is that it is not only about whether the suitcase is hard or not, but also about the material from which it is made. According to “El Equipo de Viaje”, a Spanish company dedicated to the sale of travel products, a hard case made of ABS will withstand less damage than one made of polypropylene or polycarbonate.
In the case of soft luggage, the risk of breakage is much lower, and many find them more practical because they usually have external pockets for storing things. Of course, it is important to make sure that the material they are made of is waterproof, to prevent any malfunction.
Important tip if you carry bottles with liquid products: don’t forget to wrap them in plastic bags. The pressure inside the plane can cause the contents to spill inside your suitcase. Avoid disasters.
cabin cargo
Almost everyone travels with a bag or backpack on a plane ride, regardless of whether they have checked bags or not. This is where we keep items we want to have close at hand, such as our passport, electronic devices, a book or a toothbrush.
The main question that usually plagues travelers, especially those who carry all their luggage in the passenger cabin, is whether their bag will meet the maximum dimensions defined by the airline.
According to the LATAM and Sky Airline website, the maximum dimensions of the small bag or backpack (the one that fits under the front seat) are 45 x 35 x 20 (or 25 cm in the case of Sky), including the pockets, wheels, handle, etc. However , if you have purchased a fare that includes hand luggage (the one that goes into the overhead compartment), the maximum dimensions are 55 x 35 x 25 cm.
advice: Recently, some travel backpacks designed to fit airline carry-on dimensions have gone viral on social media. You can search for them as “viral travel backpack”. Its price ranges from 15 thousand pesos to 40 thousand depending on where you buy it.
Booking accommodation
Unless you’re a spontaneous adventurer who enjoys going out to “live” your travels, you’ll probably want to include accommodations in your trip planning.
The truth is that staying in a place you have never visited is, for many, a leap into the void. That’s why we recommend you pay attention to the following points before marrying the first alternative you find that looks half decent.
Hotel, hostel or rental?
According to Ezequiel Rubin, country manager of the online travel agency Despegar, to El Economista México, it is extremely important to define the purpose of the trip before choosing a place to stay.
“This is extremely important because we need to know how much time we will spend at the hotel. For example, if the trip is focused on outdoor activities and discovering the destination, it is likely that you will not spend that much time at the accommodation, so the best option is to book a hotel that simply serves as a place to stay.” .
On the other hand, he explained that if what you are looking for is time to rest, the best option would be all-inclusive accommodation with services such as a spa, gym, children’s play area, a variety of restaurants, among others. .
At the end of the day, the type of accommodation you need will depend entirely on the level of comfort or amenities you require on your trip. If you are looking to prioritize your level of comfort, or require special services such as cribs for small children, extra beds or shuttle service, a hotel with these services may be the best option.
On the other hand, if you are looking for more affordable prices, a hostel or guesthouse is often cheaper. Along the same lines, rental accommodation can also offer cheaper prices at the expense of fewer services, such as included breakfast or cleaning service.
Compare accommodation options
Avoid looking for accommodation at the last minute. If possible, start looking at options after you’ve already purchased the tickets. This way you can allow yourself to review a greater variety of alternatives before making a decision.
Despagar’s country manager assured that there are currently points of sale that allow you to find more discounts.
“Taking advantage of these tourism promotions gives the user the possibility to find a wider and better variety of options for the place where he plans to stay,” he said.
