Travel Tips for NPC Competitors
By Alex Carneiro, IFBB Men’s Physique Pro, ON (Optimum Nutrition) Athlete, follow Alex on Facebook, Instagram
As NPC and IFBB athletes, we all know competing can take a toll on our finances and if you don’t have a sponsor helping with some of it, it can definitely add up and become a stress. From supplements, food, tanning and make up or suits for the women, it all adds up and then there’s that final big cost we all think about usually last; airfare and hotel. When traveling and competing at national shows these expenses become even higher and if you don’t plan ahead it’s a nightmare on your wallet.
So how do we make life easier and save some money on this process? Plan ahead!
Most of us don’t want to buy airfare and hotel because the money leaves our bank account immediately and we might not be able to currently afford it, but realistically if you plan ahead you will be doing yourself a favor and saving more on the long run, even if it looks like right now you are spending more.
So let’s talk about airfare. There are a ton of theories out there about the best day to buy airline tickets. Some people say Tuesday at 3 p.m., some say 1 a.m. Wednesday, and some people say the weekend. So, which is it? That’s because airlines often announce deals on Monday evenings. By Tuesday at noon, other airlines are scrambling to match those deals. So Tuesday afternoons are the best time to hunt for reduced airfare. Now…don’t leave that browser window open for too long and refresh it in hopes of buying it in the next 30 minutes because the price could have actually increased in just that small time period. It’s crazy!
The other smart thing to do as a consumer is buy these tickets months ahead of your contest date. Fear can cross your head when you do this ,as theoretically so many things could go wrong between now and the flight date and the competition but if you are going to commit and compete at a national show then commit to your airfare now and save money. Secondly is your hotel, another price that changes due to several variables, but your best bet is still to book it early. Not only because as the closer you get to the date of the show the less chance of getting a room can occur, but because the hotel knows it’s going to be a busy weekend and increases their prices.
Last but not least: renting a car. It can sometimes be the best investment you can do for that national show. So many people get extremely stressed with spending money on cabs to get to a gym or go to the grocery store to pick up food. Do yourself a favor and rent a car ahead of time as well so that you have transportation to anywhere you need to go. Cab drives can add up and be a hassle, rent a cheap car that you know will benefit you and your journey of achieving the win at your show.
So plan ahead and save money.