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After months of social distancing and sheltering in place, it's only natural to be in need of a vacation. Maybe you're dreaming of a beach on a tropical island or a penguin-watching expedition in Antarctica. Perhaps you would be just as happy to climb into the car with the people you enjoy most and drive cross-country to view the world's largest ball of yarn. Wherever your getaway may take you, it might surprise you to learn that you can pay for your trip with a vacation loan.
Here, we'll discuss what a vacation loan is, whether it's a good idea to get one, and how to acquire one.
Vacation loans are typically unsecured personal loans (no collateral needed). They're meant to cover your travel expenses. Vacation loans are available from most personal loan lenders, even if they're not labeled as a vacation loan.
The reality is, the best personal loans can be used in any way you wish, including for travel.
Before shopping for a vacation loan to pay for your dream vacation, make sure it's right for you. Here are some pros and cons of a travel loan.
One of the most important things to look for in a loan is a monthly payment that fits your budget. You can use the calculator below to play around with different loan terms and amounts, and find one that works for you.
Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.
Lender | APR Range | Loan Amount | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
7.99% - 24.99%
|
$2,500 - $40,000
|
660
|
Apply Now for Discover Personal Loan
Powered by Credible |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
7.80% - 35.99%
|
$1,000 - $50,000
|
None
|
|
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
8.99% - 35.99%
|
$2,000 - $50,000
|
550
|
Apply Now for Best Egg
Powered by Credible |
If you decide that a vacation loan is the perfect way to pay for travel, the entire process -- from loan application to loan offer to funding -- is relatively easy with these six steps.
How much personal loan can you get? Minimum and maximum loan amounts vary by lender. For example, some offer small loans (from $1,000 to $10,000). Others offer larger loans (from $5,000 to $100,000).
Decide how much you want to borrow. This achieves two things: It helps you narrow down which lenders best fit your needs and gives you a budget to work within.
The right lender offers more than just the cheapest interest rate (although the interest rate you pay is important). It's the annual percentage rate (APR) that really matters. APR reflects the interest rate, points, and fees charged by the lender.
Because APR provides a true picture of how much you'll pay for a loan, that's the percentage to keep your eye on.
A great loan offer comes with the lowest competitive rate and a repayment term that works for you. Ideally, a lender charges low (or no) fees, including no origination fee, prepayment penalty, or late fee. If you have an excellent credit score, there's a chance you can negotiate your loan fees down (or away completely). Don't simply accept that you must pay all fees charged by the lender.
Applying for a personal loan is fairly simple. A personal loan application asks for basic information, including your name, social security number, place of employment, and how much you earn.
Once you submit the application, most lenders run a soft credit check that does not impact your credit score.
Once it checks your credit history to determine your creditworthiness, the lender will approve or deny your application. It's at that time that they'll let you know how much your personal APR will be, including the interest rate and all fees.
When you've picked a lender, let the lender know you're ready to go ahead with the loan.
At this point, the lender will run a hard credit check. This credit check will ding your credit score, but not by much. And making your regular monthly payment on the holiday loan should lead to a relatively quick rebound in your score.
As a lender conducts a final credit check to verify your financial information, it may ask for additional documentation. For example, if you're self-employed, the lender may want two or three years worth of tax returns.
The faster you get documentation to the lender, the faster it can fund your personal loan. The time to get a personal loan depends partly on the lender and partly on how quickly you submit documentation when it's requested.
From the time of loan approval, it typically takes a lender one to 14 days to deposit the funds into your bank account.
A vacation loan is not the only way to fund travel. Here are a few alternative ideas worth consideration.
Sometimes, the planning is as much fun as the actual trip (or nearly as much fun). Consider how much you can afford to put away each month, and plan a trip around that amount. For example, if you can manage an extra $300 per month, you'll have $1,800 for a nice road trip in six months or $3,600 in one year.
If you have good credit, consider applying for a credit card with a 0% introductory rate. These credit cards typically give you 12 to 18 months interest free. Let's say your credit card offers a 0% intro APR for 18 months and you spend $5,000 on vacation. By making 18 equal payments of $278, you'll have the trip paid in full before the promotional period expires.
If you're still social distancing, now is a great time to go through your home -- including the garage, basement, and attic -- to find anything you no longer need or use. Take a photo and sell those items online through Facebook or your neighborhood website.
Sometimes, waiting to pay cash for a vacation is the best thing to do. And sometimes, financing makes sense. Here are a few examples of when to finance instead of paying cash.
There's nothing quite like a vacation, and the next one is likely to be extra special. When it comes to paying for that trip, though, run through your options and choose the one that works best for you, even if it means waiting a few extra months.
Looking for a personal loan but don’t know where to start? Our favorites offer quick approval and rock-bottom interest rates. Check out our list to find the best loan for you.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Please note that this calculator is not personalized financial advice and should not be considered or used as such. Nor are we promising that by use of this calculator, will you be able to save more money, preserve wealth, or otherwise.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Please note that this calculator is not personalized financial advice and should not be considered or used as such. Nor are we promising that by use of this calculator, will you be able to save more money, preserve wealth, or otherwise.
*Upstart Loan Disclaimer
The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.