Unlock Unbeatable Savings for Your Next Vacation with Amazon Prime Day

It’s no secret that Amazon is one of my favorite places to find the necessities we need for upcoming vacations. And Amazon Prime Day is something my family takes full advantage of to make our dream vacations way more affordable.

Waiting until the last minute makes it way too easy to get carried away and splurge on all those last-minute items. Next thing you know, you’ve blown your budget even before stepping out of the house!

So, what should be on your radar this July 11 – 12? Let’s dive in and find out!

Travel Necessities

Many people remember to add things like flights, hotels, and Park Tickets into their budget. But, your budget should include luggage, backpacks, portable chargers, and other things that you know you’re going to need.

Since Amazon Prime Day often had deals on luggage, aim for higher quality. While it’s more of an investment now, they will last you longer. There are some items you can get away with paying less for. But, for luggage, I believe you’re better off going for a better and sturdier brand.

We’ve gone the “cheap route” on luggage. And let me tell you, it’s not worth it. The worst investment I’ve ever made was for a cute, child sized, hard-sided suitcase, on sale, at Target for $20.

It was a last minute purchase to hold all of the diapers our son would need for 8 days in Florida. Once the diapers were gone, it would be used to carry souvenirs back to Houston. The plan sounded good. And the price was right.

But, as we were packing for our trip, the seams to the top zippered compartment was already ripping. By the time we made it back to Houston, the fabric completely separated from the zipper. And the outside was scuffed and scratched so bad that it looked like we had been using it for years.

Travel Toiletries

Unless I’m using my ExtraCare Bucks at CVS, Amazon has always been one of my favorite places to get our travel sized toiletries. I’ll never get why stores want to charge almost the same price for those itty-bitty travel-sized products.

If you’ve ever had to pay double for a small bottle of sunscreen on vacation, you’ll know that stocking up on these items during a sale, like Amazon Prime Day, will absolutely save you money in the long run.

If you’re particular to a certain brand, don’t forget to check for deals on the travel-sized versions or look for deals on some good refillable bottles that won’t leak everywhere.

Travel Gift Cards

While these aren’t exclusive to Amazon Prime Day, you can find Gift Cards at discounted prices.

As a travel professional, I was hesitant to put this on the list. It’s not because I don’t want you to save money. But, it’s because of the types of Gift Cards you end up finding…and purchasing.

With the price of airfare going up, finding discounted Gift Cards for specific airlines are always a win. You’re still purchasing your flights directly with the airline, which means you adhere to their policies for rebooking, cancelling, frequent flier miles, etc.

But, discounted Gift Cards that include many different brands (especially hotels) is what I want you to reconsider.

I know it’s tempting to want to save a few dollars by booking through a third party site / booking engine. But, there’s a reason that travel professionals try to sway you away from them.

The savings doesn’t usually make up for the hassle of dealing with them. After all, their sole job is to fill rooms, not to make sure your vacation goes smoothly.

Not only do you give up things like flexibility, specific room preferences, special promotions, and loyalty rewards, you’re betting your money on the fact that this company is going to give your money, and your information, to the hotel you’re planning to stay at.

Have you ever gotten to a hotel and they had no record of your stay? Or have you had an issue and the hotel couldn’t help you because you didn’t book on their website? Misunderstandings happen a lot more than you’d think when you’re dealing with a booking engine. And since you’re dealing with their rules, not the hotel’s, you may end up losing money if you need to cancel or reschedule your trip.

That’s why Travel Advisors work directly with the supplier. We don’t want to leave anything to chance. Not only are we able to avoid potential complications or misunderstandings, we address your specific needs or concerns to make sure the itinerary we’re building is something that actually makes sense for your family.

Theme Park Merchandise

Since you’re reading this blog, I’m drawing the conclusion that you’re probably thinking of going on a Disney or Universal Studios vacation.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. We buy a lot of our stuff ahead of time. The majority of my Ears were not purchased in the Parks. They are either acquired through Amazon or WaltLife, a Disney subscription box.

We have purchased everything from Ears and ponchos to bubble wands and autograph books before ever setting foot on an airplane. Not only do we save money and time, our items are different than what everyone else is walking around with. I guess I like to be a little bit different.

What are you buying this Amazon Prime Day?

Got questions? Feeling a bit anxious? Not sure where to begin? We help families, just like yours.

Planning an entire vacation can be overwhelming. But, here’s the good news: we have the answers to the questions that have been stopping you from pulling the plug on your next vacation.

We understand the journey, the ups, and the downs. We’ve been through the training, made our fair share of mistakes, and learned valuable lessons from them. This is what makes us the perfect people to assist you.

From thoughtfully crafted itineraries to having direct access to your dedicated Travel Professional, our mission is to remove the stress from your vacation planning. With our simple 3-step process, we’re here to help you every step of the way, ensuring that your dream destination becomes an unforgettable reality.

This post contains affiliate links. By providing these links, we may receive a small commission when you purchase items through these links. This does not come at an additional cost to you, nor does it provide us with any of your information. These commissions, however small, help small businesses, such as Explore With Catherine, stay afloat. So, THANK YOU!