INDIANAPOLIS — The month of May is right around the corner and offers a flurry of activity in central Indiana. The checkered flag at the Indy 500 will wave and the kids will home and looking for things to do.
For some of us, summer travel plans are beginning to take form. But with higher gas prices, travel expenses might add up more quickly than in years past.
Sunday on 13Sunrise, Cherie Lowe, the Queen of Free, shared her ideas for getting a jump on summer and saving some money through some astute planning.
Check your calendar
Before you book anything, check the family calendar. There could be a mandatory practice, game or summer camp or meeting that falls during the week you're planning your getaway. So before you place a deposit you stand to lose if you have to cancel, double check your dates.
Do your research
Cherie recommends crowdsourcing your destination by asking friends and family about the trips they’ve recently taken and enjoyed. This helps if you have selected a destination to find restaurants others loved, attractions to visit, and free things to do. In her blog, Cherie suggested strategies to maximize your choices for things to do by using tourism websites got your destinations. "Not only will you be able to see community calendars of upcoming events, but you’ll also might find discounts and deals connected to that city," she said.
For staycations around central Indiana, use Visit Indy. Cherie contibutes to the Indy Daily Deals portion of their website that has dozens of deals for attractions, restaurants, and hotels. Many cities have similar resources stocked with travel ideas, itineraries and more.
RELATED: Queen of Free: Gas saving strategies
Book your stay
"Probably the most expensive and important piece of your vacation is where you’ll actually lay your head at night," Cherie said. Options abound with hotels, Airbnbs and VRBOs now. To find your best fit, Cherie's advice is to read reviews and book early.
Take advantage of rewards programs and discount points.
If you're traveling to a large city, think about parking. Does it cost to park downtown or is parking free at a suburban motel?
Communicate expectations
Cherie uses a Google Doc before a trip to share with members of her family who will be traveling. It listed confirmation numbers and addresses. Rather than a detailed itinerary, it’s more of a loose collection of data. But it establishes expectations about the plans and serves as a guideline for how long stays will last in each location.
At Disney, "Cherie asked each child to choose one “can’t miss it” experience for each park.
Watch Cherie's full 13Sunrise segment in the video player.
Summer travel should be fun and thinking ahead and planning can save you plenty in the long run.