Tips to Take the Stress out of Travel

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but under planning and overspending can lead to financial stressors. Consider the following tips to reduce travel-related anxiety and help you make the most out of your time away—whether journeying across state lines or overseas.

1. Create a travel budget. To help you make well informed financial decisions while away without compromising your long-term savings goals when you return.
2. Think mini getaway. Taking shorter, more frequent trips versus one big faraway bonanza not only requires less planning, and is generally less expensive, but offers more opportunities to unwind year-round.
3. Plan in advance. Trip planning can be stressful. Research destinations, make reservations, prepare itineraries, and create a budget. Create a reasonable timeline and budget and ensure you have your affairs in orders (impending deadlines, medication needs, and baby-sitting, dog-sitting, or house-sitting arrangements).
4. Control what you can. Unexpected surprises--flight delays, lost or stolen items, can quickly sour your vacation mindset. Travel insurance can help you recoup some of your expenses and soften the blow to help with smooth sailing. Some credit cards - especially those designed for travel - offer protections for delayed flights, lost luggage, trip cancellation, accident insurance and more.
5. Accessing accounts abroad. When traveling outside the United States, make sure to inform your trusted community banker of your plans to avoid an account freeze or declines for "suspicious activity."

As always, remember that as your trusted community bank, the FreedomBank team is here to help. We hope you take these tips into consideration and enjoy a well-deserved vacation.