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Champagne Travel on a Chardonnay Budget

Krista Nannery

Sometimes clients come to me wanting a luxury experience in Italy or France in the peak of summer travel and then quickly realize that they are priced out of what they imagined. I never want anyone to give up on their dream vacation, so here are some of my suggestions on how to experience Champagne travel if your budget is more aligned with Chardonnay…

Book in Advance

Book flights and hotels as far in advance as possible. Most flights and hotels will open up for booking around 330 days prior to departure. So in January of 2024, you should be planning for March of 2025, if that makes sense. I know this is hard for people to do but honestly, the best pricing is available when you book really far out. (On this note, if you have kids, as soon as their vacation schedules are available, book your trips!)

Investigate All Your Flight Options

Use Google Flights’ “Anywhere” feature to figure out good value destinations from your home airports. I like to look for direct flights or flights with one stop and a minimum 2.5 hour layover. I add a carry-on bag as well so I don’t get stuck with Group 6 boarding. Then, I look at all the business class and Premium Economy routing.

Travel to Popular Destinations in the Off-Season

Centrally-located 4 and 5 star accomodations in London, Paris, and Rome are going to cost a fortune in June and July. For the most popular destinations, try February/March and October/November instead.

Prioritize the “Second Cities”

Instead of London, try Edinburgh of Belfast. Instead of Paris, try Bordeaux or Lyon. You can have an amazing, cost-effective luxury trip by prioritizing smaller cities. Even during peak travel season!

Prioritize Unique Destinations

Instead of Croatia, try Montenegro. Instead of Italy or Austria, try Slovenia. Instead of Greece, try Albania. Very few people consider Poland, Romania or Bulgaria but your dollar will go a really long way in these destinations. And you can live like a king! Having a sense of adventure can really help you save a bit of money.

Consider Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia. You can have an amazing luxury vacation across many destinations Southeast Asia. Thailand can get pricey but there are still values to be had if you pivot away from the more popular destinations. But don’t overlook Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. I have traveled extensively across Southeast Asia and would love to help you with your trip. Definitely set up some time to chat!

Fly Premium Economy

Instead of business class, fly Premium Economy. I’m always surprised by the number of people who don’t even realize that Premium Economy exists. On international flights, Premium Economy usually means a slightly bigger seat with a footrest, a smaller cabin with dedicated service, and a bigger TV screen. Totally worth it, IMHO. Note this is different than Economy Plus seating which is just an Economy seat with extra legroom.

Bid or Pay for Airline Upgrades

Another idea is to book a Premium Economy ticket and then bid for an upgrade or pay for an upgrade at check-in. It doesn’t always work but I’ve done a lot of business class flights on British Airways purely by paying for Premium Economy and then paying $650 USD at check-in for a lie flat bed! (I normally only do this for overnight flights.)

Empty Your Frequent Flyer Accounts

For whatever reason, many of us just sit on all of our points. Use them! Recently, I flew to Amsterdam on United in business class…I emptied out my account to make it happen. I honestly haven’t touched those miles in years so it was time. I also use my IHG points to visit my dad on the west coast of Florida. Don’t save your points for a rainy day. Spend them!

Purchase a Priority Pass Membership

Buy a Priority Pass membership for airline lounge access. Especially if you are going to hit a number of international airports within the course of a year, you can get a lot of value out of a Priority Pass membership.

Book Airport Transfers through Your Hotel

Contact your hotel and ask about airport transfer prices. Personally, I’m a train gal. But if I have a lot of luggage and/or if there’s no train available, I always ask my hotel about the price of a transfer. Hotel transfers are usually a bit cheaper than 3rd party transfers. They usually send a nice car too! There’s really something to be said about exiting baggage claim to find someone waiting for you with your name on a sign.

Sign Up for Your Hotel’s Newsletter

Make sure you have your email address registered with all the hotels you are staying at. You never know what they might offer you! Check their website for deals too.

Investigate Business Class Train Tickets

For European train travel, always look at business class train ticket pricing. Sometimes it’s not that much more expensive than coach. Also, you usually get a bigger seat and some sort of food/beverage service. It’s usually also just a bit less chaotic. I am a big fan of spending money on business class train tickets. Especially on the Eurostar, which actually has two classes above coach.

Check Your Hotel’s On-Site Offers

After you check in to your hotel, make sure you read all the documentation in your hotel room and pay attention to anything the front desk gives you. A lot of hotels will hide little promotions in their marketing material. Perhaps the front desk will give you a free drink voucher or there’s an offer on your hotel room television for 10% off at the restaurant or spa. Honestly, I’m always surprised by what I find! Sometimes it’s even worth asking the front desk or concierge if there are any promotions at any of the hotel restaurants or bars. I have made many a meal out of a free drink voucher and hotel bar snacks.

Don’t Travel Alone

I’m a huge fan of solo travel but…booking all those hotel rooms and transfers for myself gets expensive. One of the best ways to achieve Champagne travel on a Chardonnay budget is to share the costs with friends !

Consider Club Floor Rooms

Some hotels will offer Club Lounge access with some room types. This usually includes breakfast, some light snacks at lunch and dinner, and an afternoon tea service. Consider the delta between a regular room and a Club Lounge room. Normally, if I can snag a Club Lounge room for $100 over the regular room, I will go for it because I know I will get my money’s worth. (Club Lounges usually include alcohol in the evening.) The other great thing about Club Lounges is that there is usually a dedicated concierge. Club Floors can be an amazing value for families traveling together. If you need help finding club floor rooms, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Seek Out Hotels with Complimentary Happy Hours

This is still a bit more popular in the US than elsewhere, but look for hotels with free happy hours to save a bit on drinks and snacks. The Kimpton chain is well known for their 5 pm happy hours!

Use a Virtuoso Travel Advisor (i.e., ME!)

Use me for my complimentary breakfast amenity and hotel credit. That can save you $40 to $140 a day alone! Check out my VIrtuoso site here.

Consider Group Tours

There are a number of group tours on the market that might help you experience a destination for less money than it would cost you to duplicate the itinerary on your own. There are different types of group tours but my recommendation would be to consider ones for fewer than 24 guests. This is where a travel advisor can be very handy! I can help you find the right tour for you, your budget, and your dates. Book a consultation here.

Make Lunch Your Main Meal of the Day

When I travel, I start early and then I’m ready for a break around 1 pm. I find a fantastic restaurant and splurge on a great multi-course lunch. Lunch is usually a much better value than dinner! This is an especially great trick at Michelin-starred or Bib Gourmand restaurants.

Consider a European River Cruise

A European river cruise will help you see multiple destinations and you’ll never have to unpack. Plus, all your meals are included! When you really break down the costs, river cruises can be super great values. I have so many great relationships with river cruise providers so definitely let me know how I can help. Contact me for more details.

Look for New Hotel Openings

When a hotel first opens, rates can be more affordable. Looking for new hotel openings can be a great way to experience Champagne travel on a Chardonnay budget. Because Forbes Travel Guide tracks all the best hotels, I think they are the best source for new hotel openings. Here is their 2024 list.

This is my list as of March 30, 2024. I will update it as more ideas occur to me!

About Krista

I’m a Notre Dame grad and a Chicago Booth MBA. I spent over 11 years living and working in London, England, selling financial data. My career and personal travel have taken me all over the world. To date, I’ve been to 78 countries. Now I bring the joy of travel to others. Let me make your next vacation seamless for you.