Plan ahead to control cost of a trip to U.S.
As the border finally reopens, be prepared for higher prices on everything from food to fuel
Super! You can almost cross the border by car now, if all goes well between Canada and the U.S.
But, if a good old-fashioned road trip to shop, see the sites or attend games is what you’re looking for, be prepared, because the costs are high.
Here’s what’s going on and how to prepare financially.
The exchange and inflation will be working against your wallet
What’s happening to your hard-earned Canadian dollars is they are worth less in the U.S. It’s not the worst rate over the past five years, but it will still cost you around $1.25 to buy $1 USD. So, when you budget, which I highly recommend you do, tally up your expected total costs, plug them into your favourite currency calculator (I use Google), and then you’ll see the real cost of your adventure.
It used to be that the price tags on U.S. goods seemed lower relative to comparable products in Canada. But inflation might be the worst factor at play here. It’s at a 13-year high, which means everything you buy costs more. So a good deal isn’t that easy to find.
Here’s how to cut the costs down where you can.
Plan your driving route
Get out a map and plan your route to save time, motel and fuel costs. You may even want to pre-book your accommodations, trying to take advantage of sales and avoiding in-demand times like Friday and Saturday nights. Ensure your car is properly maintained and in good working order so you don’t have mechanical problems along the way.
Incorporate some free entertainment into the mix
Maybe your original plan was to shop your heart out along your journey and see shows. Shift gears and incorporate free or low-cost sightseeing, hiking, biking and more. The great thing about driving is you can pack extra gear for outdoor adventures.
Even pre-pandemic, one of my favourite things to do was to run my way through every place I visited. It cost nothing and allowed me to experience the sites while working off the calories from whatever treats I’d consumed the previous day. Search the internet for sites to see that may be free.
Book some stuff in advance, but be flexible
Sometimes tickets are a better deal when you’re buying them directly versus through a travel website. My advice is to prebook only what’s most important to you (eg. tickets to a game), and leave the rest open.
When you reach your destination, you can firm up the rest of your plans and source tickets directly. When I got to Boston a few years ago, I took advantage of same-day symphony tickets that went on sale at 50 per cent off when purchased on-site.
If restaurants are where you want to spend your money, you probably will want to book some reservations early.
The point of this trip is to have fun and de-stress, right? So, as you cruise down to the Florida Keys, keep tabs on your budget so you don’t go over and feel stressed.
Spend your money on this road trip on what matters the most to you. If it won’t make you happy, skip it and bank the savings for something else.