Arizona Tribune - How To Choose the Best Personal Loan for Your Next Vacation

1. Know your vacation budget

Knowing your budget is crucial when borrowing to fund a vacation since it helps you avoid unnecessary debt. Break your budget into categories, including (but not limited to):

• Transport to and from your destination (plane tickets or vehicle fuel)

• Accommodations

• Meals

• Activities (for example, theme parks or city tours)

• Shopping

• Car rentals or ridesharing (rental fees and gas)

• Travel insurance

Add a cushion to unexpected expenses, such as additional hotel stays for flight delays or medical emergencies. Once you have your budget, consider how much you have saved for your travels, if any. For example, if you have been saving money for your upcoming vacation, you can subtract your savings amount from your budget to estimate the loan amount you need. That will allow you to get a smaller loan, meaning easier qualification, better potential terms, and less debt to repay.

2. Check your credit score

Your credit score plays a major role in your approval and what rates and terms you could qualify for. By knowing your credit score before applying for loans, you can minimize the risk of an application-related hard inquiry for a loan you don't qualify for. Check your score before shopping for loans using an online credit monitoring service or, ideally, through a free credit report from the credit bureaus. You can get a better idea of your potential loan options and look for and dispute any errors dragging down your score. You can also take steps to improve it, such as paying off an outstanding balance.

3. Shop for the best rates and terms

Once you've budgeted for the trip and gotten clear on your credit, it's time to look for a loan. However, don't move forward with the first potential offer you find. Shop with multiple lenders to find the best rates and terms.

Prequalification can help a lot here. This is where a lender runs a soft inquiry - which doesn't damage your credit - to provide approximate rates and terms you have a high chance of receiving. It's not a guarantee of approval or rates and terms, but it helps you decide where the best deals could be to save on your vacation loan.

4. Determine the term length you want

Your loan's term length impacts how long you'll have to repay the loan, but also the monthly payment. A shorter term will require you to pay more monthly, making personal financial management harder in the short term. However, you'll pay less interest and repay the loan sooner.

A longer term helps you spread the amount over a longer timeframe to get a lower monthly payment. However, you'll have that debt for longer and likely pay more in interest. If the loan doesn't have pre-payment penalties, a longer term would give you the benefit of lower installments, but the option to pay it off early to save in interest if you come into extra cash. Consider your budget and vacation desires to find a loan that meets your needs while balancing costs.

5. Review the lender's reputation

Even if you find some good loan options, you're not ready yet to apply. Research each lender's reputation first by looking at customer reviews and checking out rating sites like the Better Business Bureau or Trust Pilot.

A good lender will be clear about loan terms and fees, and offer excellent customer service. Slightly less favorable loan terms may be well worth it from a lender who is friendly and easy to work with - meaning you can stress less while on vacation.

One way to shortcut this is to work with a lender with whom you have a good relationship, like your bank. They may offer more favorable rates to keep you as a loyal customer and, since you have that relationship, you have a better idea of how they are to work with.

Find the best loan for your travels

The right vacation loan allows you to expand your budget without feeling financial strain, helping you plan a fun and relaxing getaway. Define your budget and check your credit score first. Then, shop for the best rates and terms, keeping term length and lender reputation in mind. The extra effort and planning will allow you to relax, recharge, and enjoy your vacation stress-free.

CONTACT:

Sonakshi Murze
Manager
[email protected]

SOURCE: Oportun

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

W.Moreno--AT