Looking for travel tips to save money so that you can travel more? This is the post for you.
Whether you are saving for a bucket list destination or taking your family on vacation these travel tips will help you save money. The majority of people think that they can’t travel anywhere because it is too expensive. That is simply not the case if you know how to travel on a budget.
Of course, you can stay in 4-5 star hotels and have a nice getaway. Just because you are aiming to save money while you are traveling does not mean you have scratch-off anything on your itinerary. You can even save money on tours using third-party websites like Groupon.
As someone who prioritizes travel, all of these bucket-list destinations can add up and it is important to know how to afford it. Now, there are more resources than ever that all travel lovers should be using. It’s a lot easier than you may think!
Let’s dig deep into travel tips to save money and still enjoy your journey.
9 Travel Tips To Save Money
1. Know When To Fly
Believe it or not, there are certain days during the week that are cheaper. For example, you may want to consider traveling on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday. These days are significantly less expensive if you are looking to buy airfare. Some of the worst and most expensive days to travel are Fridays and Sundays. This is mainly because there are a lot of people who are wanting to travel on the weekends after a long work week. Along with that, some people don’t have enough vacation days for more than one vacation a year and tend to navigate toward weekend trips.
Traveling in the offseason is one of the very important travel tips to save money as well. You will find that airfare is cheaper around February or September. Consider when family vacations are done for the summer and when kids are back in school. Try to stick to traveling after the holiday season too.
The busiest travel days out of the year are the day before and after Thanksgiving, the week of Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Fridays during summer. Steer clear of holiday weekends, like Labor Day, as airlines tend to spike up the prices because they know people are off work and kids are out of school for a couple of days.
2. Save Money Using Hotel Points Or Airfare Miles
If you are a known traveler then you might as well get rewarded for it. The nice thing about accumulating miles is that if you fly on a certain airline more often than another one you can apply for their credit card. They typically do bonuses when you sign up which gets you a free roundtrip getaway. Side note: It all reflects on your credit score.
Another thing you can do is stay at the same hotel in different places. Marriott, for example, is a great hotel that has a wonderful point system and you can find them all over the world.
>> Want to hear the best tips for solo budget travel? Listen to episode 39 of my podcast: Building Confidence while Traveling Alone & Tips for Solo Budget Travel w/ Marisa Vogiatzi
3. Hotel Apps For Last-Minute Deals
Hotel Tonight is a great app that allows hotels around a certain destination to discount their rate if they have open rooms. The theory behind this is that if a room is going to go empty at night then they will lower the price to get someone to stay there.
All you can do is try. Every city is going to be different. Keep in mind that nothing is guaranteed and sometimes it is luck. If you can be flexible with your plans then this is a great option.
4. Bring Snacks to Save Money While Traveling
Everything is always overpriced at airports. There is no need to pay $7 for a bag of Chex Mix when it is usually $2. Go ahead and bring snacks from home so you aren’t spending a fortune at the airport.
I also love taking instant oatmeal packets so I can just quickly heat it up in my hotel room in the morning and breakfast is already done. This allows you to eliminate the cost of that meal so you can either save money or spend more on lunch or dinner.
Read next
16 Tips to Prepare for Travel Like a Pro // Things to Get Done Before Your Trip
5 Tips to Stay Safe as a Solo Female Traveler + Mistakes I Made Traveling Alone
5. Always Look At Two One-Way Tickets First
Something a lot of new travelers don’t know is to always look at two one-way tickets when you are planning your flights. Sometimes they are cheaper separately than buying a roundtrip ticket.
Utilize websites like Skyscanner and Expedia.
SAVE FOR LATER 🙂
6. Save Money Using Public Transportation
If you aren’t from a city that uses public transportation as the main way to get to point A to point B, you may be surprised when you go to different cities. A lot of times this can be the main source of transportation.
Even though it may not to your preferred method of transportation, it may be someone else’s only way to get somewhere if you are visiting their city. Research, research, research.
Read next:
Tips to Take Care of Your Mental Health While Traveling
10 Tried and Tested Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Flying
7. Consider Using Apps to Text Instead of Your Phone’s Plan
A smartphone comes in handy when it comes to traveling! If you don’t pay extra to get an international data plan before you leave the country then you may not want to spend hundreds of dollars just to text or call. Nowadays, there are so many different apps you can download and use on Wifi to communicate. Check out WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook.
If you still aren’t sure then see what deals your carrier has on international data plans. Be aware that international data is VERY expensive so it’s important to think ahead and not get caught in that trap.
8. Always Remember Cash
It’s easy to spend mindless money on withdrawal ATM fees. A great option before you go on a trip with a different currency is to withdraw cash to convert at a bank or at the airport. Every country seems to get more money out of tourists by just charging $5 per swipe to withdraw cash.
Don’t fall into this and make sure to carry at least a couple hundred dollars in cash. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Another thing to remember is to check if your credit card charges you when you go out of the country. If they do then try to find a credit card that you can use that doesn’t. Always use your credit card instead of your debit card.
>> Want to learn how traveling can transform your life? And get some amazing tips to manifest your dream trip? Then listen to episode 38 of my podcast: Transformative Travel & Manifesting Travel Using Visualization w/ Maritza Chavez.
9. Don’t Buy the Expensive Souvenirs or the First Ones You See
You might see fun souvenirs that they are selling at the airport, but don’t buy them there! Typically, airport gift shops are way more expensive than a gift shop you would see on the street.
Don’t buy the first souvenir you see because you never know, you might run into something better or cheaper. For example, when I visited Hollywood, California, I was able to buy a T-shirt for $4 instead of $20 that I saw elsewhere.
I hope these travel tips to save money will help you with your future travel plans. Always remember to trust your gut and to have fun!
Q: What are your favorite travel tips to save money? Let us know in the comments below!
SAVE FOR LATER 🙂
About the Guest Contributor:
Kali is the author of the Midwest-based blog, Dose of Simplicity. She focuses on helping other aspiring entrepreneurs find and live a life they are passionate about. As a pilot, she found her passion for traveling and spends a lot of time exploring different cultures and cities. One of her favorite quotes is, “Travel because money returns, time doesn’t.” Along with that she enjoys sharing her fitness and health journey through her YouTube channel.
Connect with Kali:
Our family loves to travel. We have been using travel rewards for years and it has made such a difference in being able to afford travel.
These are great ways to save money. I come from a town that doesn’t have reliable public transportation but my husband is comfortable on public transportation so we use that when we can. It’s a great experience.
These are all great tips that I usually practice when travelling! Another money-saving tip that I often do (especially on longer holidays and more expensive destinations) is choosing an aparthotel/apartment with a kitchen instead of a hotel room. Many times the prices are quite similar but you can save money by preparing some of your own food instead of eating out every day.
omg i strongly agree with taking snack along your journey cause these airport snacks be expensive as hell