Holly D. Johnson, Bankrate

Although I value every type of travel – including adventure and sightseeing trips world wide – I attempt to plan a family vacation that’s each relaxing and fun. Since we have now two teenage girls to maintain comfortable and entertained, my partner and I don't need to over-plan or attempt to do an excessive amount of on vacation. Instead, we like to take a seat back and loosen up, enjoy per week (or longer) without cooking or cleansing and spend time together, chatting, playing and sunbathing.

Are cruises value it? I definitely consider that. It's fun and with cruises you possibly can book nearly all of your vacation plans with just a few easy clicks. Here are a few of the other big the reason why I really like cruising—and why I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

1. Cruises offer good value for money for family trips

One of the major reasons I really like cruising is the worth you possibly can get by shopping around and searching for deals. It goes without saying that a cruise is each your hotel and your transportation to the destinations in your itinerary. But cruises also include a spread of activities, entertainment, pools, water parks and more.

The price may be phenomenal for what you get for it. For example on the brand new one MSC World AmericaSet to sail from Miami, Florida in April 2025, a family of 4 (with children ages 13 and 15) can book a seven-day Caribbean cruise starting at $689 per person for an inside cabin or $1,029 per person for a balcony room.

The total cost for the seven-day trip for 4 people is $2,002 to travel in an inside cabin, meaning the cruise costs about $286 per night. And remember, the fare includes your hotel room, three meals a day (plus snacks and basic drinks), and an expensive, scenic ride to wherever your ship is currently sailing.

For this special cruise, MSC World America will make stops in San Juan in Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata within the Dominican Republic and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises' private island within the Bahamas.

2. Meals in addition to dishes and cleanup are included in the value

Did I mention meals are included on cruises? While dining options vary, most cruise ships and cruise ships have a major buffet (or multiple buffets), major dining rooms, restaurants that serve quick and simple meals, and a handful of specialty restaurants.

We're not big eaters, but we’re vegetarian, and we normally find that the food served on cruises is perfectly wonderful and sometimes even great. It's also good to know that each one meals (except specialty meals) are included within the cruise price. We also found many cruise deals with free drink packages, which is one other big perk I search for when booking.

3. Fewer financial surprises at the tip of a visit

Another advantage of a cruise also applies to all-inclusive resorts. Once you've paid the cruise fare and transportation to the cruise port, there will likely be fewer financial surprises to observe out for because the trip progresses.

Of course, cruises charge gratuities along with the value of the trip, which have to be planned for, and there are excursions you possibly can book in case you don't need to explore the world on your individual. And yes, once in a while we buy something at an onboard store or pay for a meal at a cruise specialty restaurant.

The thing is: These are all things you possibly can research and book upfront, and we've never come home from a cruise and had a big vacation bill that was higher than expected.

4. Head to the cruise port for further savings

There's another excuse I like cruises that doesn't typically apply to all-inclusive resorts. While most resorts that provide food, drinks, and entertainment are positioned outside the United States and require a flight, there are cruise ports scattered throughout the United States that you would be able to drive to.

We sometimes fly on a cruise depending on the fare and timing, especially since we’re inland in our state. We also do a number of international cruises. However, we typically head to the cruise port in Port Canaveral, Florida through the winter holidays to board our annual New Year's cruise, and it's nice to have this selection considering there are sometimes travel delays through the holidays. Not only that, if we drive 15 hours and spend just a few hundred dollars on gas, we'll easily save greater than $1,600 on round-trip flights for the 4 of us.

5. Discover latest cultures and travel destinations

I'm not going to lie – my family of 4 rarely leaves the ship anymore once we cruise the Caribbean. We have been to all of the cruise ports and luxuriate in all of the amenities of our ship on the times when everyone else is off. With this in mind, our Caribbean cruises are more about leisure activities and never about providing a cultural experience.

However, we frequently book cruises world wide and get to know latest cultures. For example, last yr we booked a seven-night fall vacation cruise that departed from Athens, Greece and stopped in Kusadasi, Turkey. Cyprus; and the Greek islands of Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. In total, we paid lower than $3,800 for this seven-day cruise, including a balcony stateroom and an inside stateroom across the hall for our children.

My husband and I also enjoyed a 12-day Norway cruise on the MSC Preziosa last yr while our two children were at summer camp. Not only did we stop on the Arctic Circle and see the northernmost point of continental Europe, but we also explored the Norwegian coast with stops in Tromsø, Trondheim, Ålesund, Bergun and more.

During the trip, we sampled local Norwegian delicacies, climbed 1000’s of ancient Sherpa stairs built into the mountainside, frolicked in small villages, and hiked through the wilderness.

This means you possibly can make a cruise a soothing getaway or an adventurous getaway, whatever suits your style best.

6. Paying with bank card rewards helps offset costs

Finally, it's essential to do not forget that I rarely pay full price for cruises due to my stash Credit card rewards. When we fly to the cruise port, we almost at all times do that Redeem airline miles to cover our flight costs.

We've also used Flexible Travel Rewards to pay cruise fares directly, and we've booked an almost infinite variety of cruise excursions and day trips through them Pursue ultimate rewards Points.

I don't have any co-branded cruise bank cards because overall it's much easier to earn more rewards and have more flexibility in case you select one flexible travel bank card as an alternative. In this sense, my Favorite cruise bank cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

I just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for cruises since you get 50% more points toward the cruise fare while you book a visit through the Chase travel portal and since you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points toward pre-departure hotels, airport pickups, and cruise ship excursions can use.

The Capital One Venture is now suitable

The final result

Are cruises value it for families? Are they the most effective ways to travel? Well, my family loves cruising and we don't plan on stopping any time soon. We have cruised with MSC Cruises, Carnival and Princess up to now and enjoyed all of our experiences in alternative ways.

Aside from the incontrovertible fact that your accommodations, transportation, meals, and fun are all included within the cruise price, a cruise feels more like an “event” than other sorts of travel up to now. As long as cruise ships proceed to supply good value for money and I can reap the benefits of it rewards bank cards To cover different parts of our family vacation, I’ll proceed until the tip of time.

©2024 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Originally published: January 16, 2025 at 12:45 PM PST

Country differences

Outcome of the US election

Fear of violence and verbal abuse

Connect

One thing I at all times carry is an extension cord. Nothing fancy, just an easy 6-foot two-prong cord that you may buy almost anywhere. It's especially handy in hotels where the outlet won’t be exactly where you need to plug in your device, but sometimes I would like it since the only outlet nearby is behind a nightstand. It also gives you not less than two outlets. An ordinary cord has three outlets, but two large plugs, corresponding to those from smartphone or laptop chargers, can block an adjoining outlet. If I actually have lots of gear, I may additionally bring a second cord or a small travel power strip, which often has multiple outlets and infrequently two or more USB plugs. For my travel gear, I attempt to avoid three-prong plugs, but be sure that you’ve an adapter in case you wish it.

If you’ve multiple USB device, or should you and a travel partner each have a phone, it is sensible to think about a multi-port USB charger. I now have a USB charger with two USB-A ports and three USB-C ports. Many newer devices, including most smartphones, now use USB C, although lots of us still use devices with the older and bigger USB-A port.

Cables have a nasty habit of getting tangled in your travel suitcase. I often pack mine in plastic pill bags which are just large enough for a cable. Another option is a braided magnetic cable that stays neatly wrapped around itself when not in use. I bought one from Amazon for about $20.

If you're going to be away from power outlets all day, it's a very good idea to bring a transportable power bank with you unless you're sure your phone's battery will last all day. However, bear in mind that navigation apps like Google Maps use more power while in use, so a phone that normally lasts all day is probably not enough should you're using it to navigate an unfamiliar area. Before traveling to an area where cell reception could also be poor, consider downloading the Google map for the world you'll be staying in.

Navigation and entertainment

Speaking of navigation, here's a Google Maps trick you may not learn about should you use it for directions. Once you begin walking, you'll see the Live View icon, which looks like a teardrop surrounded by 4 curved lines. If you click on it and point your camera at a constructing or sign, you'll see an arrow showing you the best way. It's not perfect, nevertheless it often works well.

When I fly, I often carry a small tablet. Before departure, I download movies and TV shows from Amazon Prime and Netflix, which permit subscribers to download some but not all content to look at offline. I even have a small stand to prop the tablet up on the tray table. Sometimes I watch movies on the seatback screen. Most wireless headphones include a cable that plugs into the airplane's headphone jack, but when you’ve Bluetooth earbuds, you'll need a small airplane adapter (often around $30) that plugs into the headphone jack and transmits sound over Bluetooth.

If you’re traveling for business, I like to recommend a light-weight laptop like a MacBook Air or Asus Zenbook, or several models from HP and Lenovo.

Non-technical articles

Other things I attempt to take include a small flashlight, which is beneficial on the plane, especially should you don't have your phone handy to make use of as a flashlight. I also carry a travel bottle of baby shampoo that I can use for multiple purposes, including washing clothes within the sink. Resealable plastic bags are handy for a lot of things. The jumbo bags are large enough to pack a suit, which minimizes wrinkles. I also carry smaller zip lock bags and a light-weight nylon backpack on the plane and when I am going out during my trip.

Facebook friends and followers comment

I asked my Facebook friends and followers what they prefer to bring and got several suggestions, including a shiny lightbulb for dark hotel rooms, a small electric teapot, a small first aid kit, various foreign power adapters, slippers for the plane, a mini umbrella, a transportable water filter, a lightweight wool scarf for cold planes, candy for the flight attendant, small bills for suggestions, AirTags or other trackers for luggage, Covid test kits, Paxlovid and antibiotics.

Practical apps

Apple or Google Wallet might be very handy in your bank cards and other documents. I also keep pictures of my passport, driver's license, eyeglass prescription, and other necessary documents on a cloud storage system with a link on my phone. I actually have apps from my favorite pharmacy and healthcare provider with prescriptions and other health information, and have apps from the main airlines I exploit in addition to my favorite online travel site. When you're abroad, a currency conversion app will enable you work out what things cost in dollars. I also keep my bank card app available so I can confirm the accuracy of transactions, including currency conversion, and I at all times ask it to charge me the fee within the local currency to avoid extra conversion fees.

Comcast, DirecTV, and YouTube have apps that allow you watch your shows on the go, but should you're outside the US, you could need a VPN service to look at them. I also download my favorite music to my Spotify app so I can hearken to it once I'm on a plane or otherwise offline.

Originally published: September 5, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.

Where are the Parisians?

Get in – and get around

Speak a little bit of the language

to eat out

Cooling down without air con

Escape from town

Kari Karanikos is 25 years old and has six figures in debt. Karanikos is a social media director living in Pittsburgh. She is certainly one of the numerous Gen Z members who like to travel despite their high levels of debt.

A recent Bankrate survey on “Credit Card Rewards Despite Debt” found that just about one in 4 Gen Z (24%) and one in three Millennials (32%) have bank card debt. At the identical time, nearly three in five Gen Z (60%) and Millennials (61%) plan to take a summer vacation this 12 months.

Experts—and young people like Karanikos—know the way difficult it could actually be to balance debt repayment with the needs and needs of your budget. But it doesn't must be all or nothing. Learn how Karanikos balances spending and experiences, and discover ways you may do the identical.

Spend money on travel

When you book a flight, cruise or other type of travel this 12 months, go searching—you'll likely see more younger faces than older ones. That's because about 3 in 5 Gen Z (60%) and Millennials (61%) plan to Take summer holidays in 2024Only half of Generation X (50%) and lower than half of Baby Boomers (44%) say they are going to.

Younger generations are also more likely to spend more on travel this 12 months—and go into debt to accomplish that. According to at least one study, Generation Z (44%) and Millennials (37%) are more likely to spend more on travel in 2024 than in 2023, in comparison with Generation X (20%) and Baby Boomers (24%). Bankrate Discretionary Spending StudyIn fact, travel was the preferred purchase that young people were willing to borrow for, in comparison with live entertainment and dining out.

Rita-Soledad Fernández Paulino, a money and self-care counselor, says her clients often wish to repay their debt and still travel. Fernández Paulino is all for it.

“It’s important that people have a range of self-care activities that they can engage in … that allow them to take care of themselves even on different budgets,” she says.

How a Generation Z member deals with debt

When it involves balancing fun and financial savvy, Karanikos isn’t any stranger to the challenge. She does her best to juggle the 2 while keeping the larger picture in mind.

Karanikos is barely just a few years out of faculty and now faces years — and even a long time — of debt to repay. Of her six-figure debt, the bulk comes from student loans. She also has about $5,000 in bank card debt and about $3,000 in debt from a automobile lease.

Karanikos began accumulating bank card debt within the months after graduating from college but before she got her full-time job. Now she makes it some extent to Emergency fund without increasing her debt. This is because Karanikos is moving to New York City in just a few months and needs to have a number of money in her pocket.

“I am definitely thinking about [my debt] every day,” she says. But by keeping track of her debt and having a repayment plan, she feels empowered to make smart money decisions. She also tracks Side jobs to pay off their debts.

And although Karanikos recently got a raise, she is trying to keep her costs stable. In her words, she does not want to fall victim to Lifestyle inflation.

Why Generation Z prioritizes travel

It may be hard to understand how people can spend money on travel when they're already in debt, but Karanikos' motivation for travel is more than just an Instagram-worthy photo.

Karanikos' grandparents and parents are immigrants from Greece and Australia. She explains that during her childhood, her family was trying to find their way in a new environment. They often valued sacrifice over fun. But now, as a young adult, Karanikos doesn't want to miss out on anything. And she wants to be financially positioned so that she can give her family experience back.

“I think my immigrant background is a main motivator,” she says. In fact, she says traveling and experiences with family and friends are the 2 most significant things in her life.

It's also value considering the years that young people have largely missed through the pandemic. Karanikos says she and a few of her peers (aged about 24 to 26) feel like they missed the possibility to be young, to travel and never worry about money. Now they're making up for lost time.

“Logistically speaking, my debts will not be gone in the next year or two,” says Karanikos. “I don’t want [experiences] put it aside and finally live my life when I'm 30 or 35 and regret it.”

Fernández Paulino believes Gen Z members like Karanikos have the right idea. “Money is just a tool to support your well-being,” she says. “Becoming debt-free is part of your financial self-care. Traveling is a form of interpersonal self-care, emotional self-care, some would even say spiritual self-care.”

What distinguishes younger generations?

When it comes to spending differences between younger and older Americans, here are some possible factors to keep in mind:

—Young people are less likely to already be burdened with debt. According to Bankrates' survey on “Chasing Rewards While Incurring Debt,” Gen Z (24%) and Millennials (32%) are less likely to carry a credit card balance from month to month than Gen X (39%) or Baby Boomers (38%).

— Young people don't stay in debt for as long. In a November 2023 Bankrate survey on credit card use, 22% of Gen X and baby boomer credit card borrowers had credit card debt for five years or more, compared with 8% of Gen Z and 13% of millennials.

– Young people maximize rewards. Gen Z (77%) and Millennial (74%) cardholders are more likely to make all or at least some effort to maximize credit card rewards than Gen X (69%) or Baby Boomers (69%).

—Young people are less worried about their finances this year. In a November 2023 Bankrate study, Generation Z (59%) and Millennials (49%) were significantly more optimistic about their personal financial situation in 2024 than Generation X (33%) or Baby Boomers (20%). Karanikos says, “I’m pretty optimistic [about my personal finances]Maybe it's because I have a plan.”

—Young people want to present a certain lifestyle. Karanikos explains that their peers tend to compare themselves to others on social media, even though they may have different incomes. “I think the majority of Generation Z puts [travel expenses] on credit cards,” she says.

Travel without breaking the bank

Want to travel this 12 months but are on a decent budget? Here's how Gen Z members like Karanikos are spending money smarter when traveling.

Build a redemption fund

When Karanikos traveled in college, she worked extra shifts beforehand, but still had to enter debt and pay it back after the trip. Now she has developed the habit of Redemption fund. Three months before a trip, she starts putting money aside so she can travel without increasing her debt. While she still uses her credit card for travel expenses to earn points, “I attempt to be certain that the savings are there before I spend it,” she says.

To follow their example, you could get a free high-interest savings account This allows you to earn a competitive APR while still having access to your money when you need it. By setting aside a certain amount each month, you'll have cash to spend when your trip comes around.

Cutting back on your expenses will also help you build your savings fund. For example, you could spend less on take-out food or new outfits so you can enjoy local cuisine and shopping at your destination later.

Earn extra income

Fernández Paulino says that when it comes to paying for travel, you first need to understand your cash flow. “You must know your numbers,” she says. And instead of just cutting expenses to increase cash flow, Fernández Paulino advocates looking for ways to make more money.

“I’m working on it, [my clients] increase their income,” she says. “There isn’t any limit to how much we will increase our income.”

She recommends listing your skills and committing to the almost two out of five Americans with a part-time job (39%). You could use LinkedIn or your network to find better-paying job opportunities. Or you could monetize something you own, such as renting out a room in your house.

Benefit from credit card rewards

A Rewards bank card you may collect points or miles to pay to your next flight or hotel room. In addition, many Travel rewards cards allow you to collect additional rewards when you book travel through the card issuer’s portal.

Karanikos uses the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to earn points and miles that she can redeem for flights. Earn money while shopping every dayyou can save hundreds of dollars on your next trip.

Be practical with your travel destinations

Karanikos tries to visit places where her friends live so she has a place to stay. She's also going to Atlanta for a work conference this year and will extend her trip by a few days to explore the area. And she and her friends plan to visit another friend's lake house this summer.

Choosing affordable places is crucial when traveling on a budget. Some cities are more affordable than others, and you can leverage your network for accommodation and other shared resources. A Travel budget app can also help you save money while creating new memories.

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©2024 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ready to spend money

Financing summer trips with loans

Old World Wine Tour

Wine tour within the New World

Hannah Johnson first visited Walt Disney World together with her mother when she was still in college. After a transient hiatus as a consequence of COVID, the Ringgold, Georgia resident has resumed their travels together as an annual event.

“I decided that (the annual trip) should be what I did for her,” Johnson said, “kind of in return for all the things she did for me.” I could just see how joyful she was and the way much it meant to her.”

According to Meghan Hayes, an independent travel consultant, it’s a growing trend for adults to travel with their parents.

“This trend is particularly increasing because fewer people are choosing to have children, or because they are choosing to have children later in life,” Hayes told Yahoo Life, “but they are still willing to travel in style.” “It's a bucket list thing to do and they want to do that too. Include their family in these trips.”

Hayes said adult children traveling with their parents have grown to just about 25% of their business, from about 5% to 10% before the pandemic.

Yahoo Life spoke to individuals who say they think it's necessary to travel with their parents and what advantages they think it has for them.

“My mom loves the Germany Pavilion (at EPCOT), so we spend about an hour there,” Johnson said. “Then we go to Casey's Corner (a hot dog restaurant in the park) at the Magic Kingdom and sit there and people watch. We like to do the PeopleMover (a tram-style attraction that gives park guests a tour of the Tomorrowland area) and other relaxing things because (my mom) isn't a particularly exciting person.”

How do these trips help her mother?

“My mom has anxiety, so just learning how to navigate and deal with a crowd instead of just freaking out and shutting down is a big deal,” she said.

Megan duBois, who wrote the Yahoo Life article, said she takes a couple of trips annually together with her parents, who’re of their late 50s and early 60s.

The writer and her mother, 63, recently traveled to Machu Picchu. Although the older woman needed a bit of help to achieve the highest, she still made it to the spot overlooking the ruins.

“My mother and I sat together and leaned over to tell her how proud I was of her and that she can still do anything she puts her mind to, even if it's scary,” duBois wrote.

For Carly Caramanna, traveling together with her mother is a method to socialize. “It's exciting,” she told Yahoo Life, “because instead of visiting each other's homes, we're exploring new destinations.”

The couple travels to a domestic destination every two months and takes a visit to Europe every winter. “It’s a form of revenge in the best possible way,” she said.

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©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.