If you're itching to jump on a plane but hesitant about the costs that come with travel, check out Next Vacay. This travel subscription service makes it easy to put together a budget-friendly trip anywhere you want to go. Gone are the days of searching through tons of websites and setting multiple flight alerts for the perfect deal, only to see the flights vanish when you're ready to book. When you're ready to see new places across the globe, Next Vacay can help you get started. Below, we review this cool new service and explain how it can help you save money while traveling!
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What Is Next Vacay?
Next Vacay is an annual subscription service that searches flight databases to find you the best flight deals. For a very low annual fee (seriously, it's just $25 per year!), you'll have access to personalized flight deals out of the closest airports to you. Next Vacay is not a booking service — they just find you the best deals. Then, when you see a flight that's too good to pass up, you follow the instructions to book directly with the airline offering the deal.
Naveen and Shaylee Dittakavi, a husband and wife team, founded the membership service. They created software to search for cool, affordable vacations from their home airport and started getting their own alerts for amazing flight deals. The pair started helping their friends get flights and then decided to expand the service to anyone who wants to travel the world.
The Dittakavis also know how hard it is to book short-notice vacations just to take advantage of cheap flights. Instead, Next Vacay focuses on deals that are one to six months out to give you enough time to perfect your trip. They know you're going to have to request time off from work and coordinate your plans with your family and friends. Instead of sending you last-minute deals that you can't actually use, you get enough time to plan ahead while still having access to super cheap flights.
You'll get emails with links to real ticket itineraries so you book a flight on the spot. Next Vacay focuses on a mixture of international and popular domestic seasonal destinations as well, such as mountain cities in ski season. Next Vacay even finds desirable holiday deals for New Year's, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so you can afford to travel during otherwise expensive times.
Who Should Use Next Vacay?
Next Vacay's subscription service is ideal for individuals looking to travel more, all while saving big on flight prices. You'll love Next Vacay if:
- You're a frequent traveler.
- You don't have time to spend hours searching for affordable flights.
- You're intrigued by travel hacking, but the process is too much to deal with on your own.
- You get excited about trips and like to travel on impulse.
- You can travel with a few months' notice.
Whether you're constantly jetting off to new countries and want to save on flights or you're just getting into traveling and need help checking new destinations off your bucket list, Next Vacay will come in handy. You'll get a few emails each week with personalized recommendations for super cheap flights leaving from nearby airports. You don't have to do one bit of work. You just log into your email, get inspired by the deals you see, and book your flight.
If you're someone who tends to book a trip without doing much research first, Next Vacay can help you get organized. Next Vacay sends you deals for flights all across the globe to get you inspired, then you can book a flight through the airline well in advance once you see the right deal. Then, you can take some time to look for accommodations, pick out a few landmarks to visit, and choose some must-visit local eateries. Next Vacay gives you a little extra time to plan so you don't miss out on key activities.
A lot of the hidden costs of travel come from forcing decisions at the last minute, but Next Vacay lets you jump on great flight deals while still giving you time to plan ahead. That's a win-win for eager travelers.
Finding Flights With Next Vacay
You could spend hours upon hours searching various flight databases to find the best deal...or, you could let Next Vacay do all that legwork for you. You just need to sign up for a free trial month and put in the airport closest to you to get started. Right now, the service works for members in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, but it sends notifications for flights all over the world.
You'll start getting email alerts with jaw-dropping flight deals right away. Next Vacay searches for flights out of your closest airport as well as airports within a three- or four-hour drive, assuming you won't mind a slightly longer trip to the airport if it gives you access to an amazing flight price. For example, if you live in southern New Jersey, you might be able to easily get to airports in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. to take advantage of flight deals. Next Vacay will take that into account.
The emails you get will only be for nearby airports, and you'll only see cheap prices for round-trip flights. These emails will give you instructions on how to book directly with an airline. Booking direct with the airline has tons of advantages. You won't waste time calling an airport or grappling with a middleman — you just book your flight as if you found it yourself. That means you can also use airline miles or credit card points to pay for the flight or even upgrade your seats, which is great for especially long flights.
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Instead of picking a destination and searching for deals for that place, Next Vacay finds all sorts of flight deals out of your closest airports. They'll tell you what date ranges work for the deal, and all you have to do is click on a link to book the least expensive ticket.
Booking directly with airlines means you're also covered if there are problems with the flight. Often, airlines can only help you out in the event of flight delays or cancellations if you booked with them. If you book a flight through a budget website, you might be out of luck if your flight is canceled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Next Vacay's system simplifies the whole process by allowing you to access great prices while still booking directly with an airline.
Since you book directly with the airline, you can take advantage of Next Vacay's deals for your whole party. If airlines have seats available at that price, you can go ahead and book seats for your partner, your friend, your parents — anyone traveling with you. If you're trying to plan a family vacation or a backpacking trip with a group of friends, Next Vacay can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Next Vacay's payment structure also makes signing up incredibly low-risk. If you like the email alerts you're getting, you pay the annual fee of $25. You'll likely make back that money in savings with the first flight you book! If you don't get a deal you like in six months, you can also get your money back.
Next Vacay's Advantages and Challenges
Next Vacay makes expanding the list of countries you've visited super easy. The service comes with plenty of advantages for both seasoned travelers and those looking to start traveling more. However, there are a few factors to keep in mind when you use Next Vacay, too.
One great advantage is the reward you get compared to the effort you put in. You don't have to do anything aside from putting in your closest airport to start your subscription. Then you just need to sit back, check your email, and jump on those amazing deals as they start coming in. You'll reap the benefits of Next Vacay's sophisticated software, all without putting in any of your own time to do it.
Because Next Vacay is member-based, you'll also know you're getting real deals. The service doesn't get a kick-back from airlines. Unlike other flight subscription services, the team behind Next Vacay doesn't earn a commission based on flights booked. The service operates on subscription fees, so you can book confidently knowing you're getting an unbiased deal.
The Next Vacay service is a great subscription to use if you're someone who enjoys working with smaller companies. The small team behind Next Vacay lets you get truly customized service. They take your feedback to continually update and improve the service, making it even easier to use. It's like having a helpful travel agent help you plan your vacations without having to pay an exorbitant fee.
Depending on the type of traveler you are, Next Vacay has some disadvantages. The service isn't built for last-minute deals, so if you're someone who wants to see a deal and get on a plane the next day, this service won't do that for you. You'll also see deals mostly for economy tickets, though you may be able to use your frequent flyer miles or credit card points to upgrade your seat.
You set your home airport, not a destination, with Next Vacay. If you're looking for cheap flights to only one or two places on the globe, this might not be the best way to find them. Next Vacay works best when you're open to inspiration, using the deals you do get (and you'll get a lot!) to inspire your next trip.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of this service is that if you're not sure if it's right for you, you don't have to take any risk. The free first month combined with the option to get your money back if the service doesn't prove useful in six months lets you try Next Vacay out and see if it's working for your needs before committing to a subscription.
Tips for Maximizing Your Next Vacay Membership
Ready to try out Next Vacay? Keep a few tips in mind so you can make the most out of your membership.
In terms of timing, staying flexible with your travel dates will allow you to get the best possible deal. You can often save significant money by shifting your ideal start or end date by a day or so. If you're open to trying out different dates depending on what deals come your way, you have the best chance of getting that super cheap, jealousy-inducing fare.
Next Vacay's longer lead time makes it easier for you to be more flexible than might be possible with a last-minute deal. It's a lot easier to ask for time off work a few months in advance than it would be to plead for time off a day or two before you plan to leave.
Being flexible with your destination also means you'll get the most out of Next Vacay's service. Think of Next Vacay as a way to get inspiration for travel. See the deals you get, then use that to get excited about a city or country you might not otherwise have considered.
Pro tip: Make sure you check out visa requirements for any country you're visiting. Travel insurance is also a must for any savvy traveler.
Instead of waiting around for a good price for one particular location, jump on deals that fit in with your schedule. You'll expand your perspective of the world, connecting with cuisines, cultures, and places you might not have imagined you could visit.
Conclusion
Budget-friendly travel is easier than you ever expected thanks to Next Vacay. This travel hack is not only easy to use, but it's also sure to save you big when you're planning vacations to exciting places. Get inspired by your Next Vacay travel alerts and start exploring all the world has to offer.
Read more: How to Travel Cheap: Save Money on Flights, Hotels, and Meals