With 98 per cent of Australians saying they aim to go on holiday in 2023, clever spenders are using creative ways to save and budget for travel from loyalty programs to extra perks, according to the latest Amex Trendex trend index that tracks consumer sentiment.
To stretch holiday budgets, 92 per cent of Aussies have resorted to using smart spending hacks to maximise their travel experiences.
These include credit cards redeemable for travel rewards with a whopping 89 per cent of Aussies tracking their accumulated points.
Two-thirds of Australians (66%) report having credit cards to earn loyalty points that can be cashed in for travel rewards such as flights, hotels, car hire, upgrades and more.
More than one-third (35%) of travellers are booking trips on off-peak days or times, while 39 per cent opt for hotels with complimentary breakfast to save money.
When it comes to travel inspo, almost half of Aussies (48%) turn to TV and movies to inform their next trip, followed by social media (44%).
American Express Australia VP of Travel and Lifestyle Services Daniel Thomas said Australians are finding innovative ways to travel despite cost-of-living pressures.
“It’s no secret that quality of life is a huge consideration for Australians. We know that the way consumers define value has changed significantly over the years. It is no longer necessarily about how many or how often, it is about the quality of the experience or item,” he said.
It follows a similar study that showed 91 per cent of Australian small businesses intend to continue travelling for work in 2023 and use budget hacks to save costs that also apply to leisure travel.
