Budget Travel Tips and Tricks: How to Save Money on Travel and Still Have Fun
After two years of COVID-19, it feels like much of life is returning to normal, including our desires to start traveling again. But with higher gas and food prices, you might find yourself wondering: “how do I save money on travel?”
Even if you have a larger travel budget, figuring out how to save money on travel can help stretch your money so you can do more things. If you can still have a good experience and pay less, why would you pay more?
These easy travel tips will help you travel on a budget and free up more money to do the things you really want.
Budget Travel Tips and Tricks
Planning Your Trip
1. Choose a cheaper destination
Not all travel destinations cost the same. With a little research, you can find less expensive destinations that still give you the experience you want. For example, if you’re looking for a European vacation, you’ll get more bang for your buck by traveling to Prague than you would in Norway. Vietnam is cheaper than Japan. Even within the U.S. some areas are less expensive than others.
2. Be flexible on travel dates
Many of us plan our trips around when and where we want to go, but that’s usually when we end up with the highest prices. If at all possible, be flexible on the time of year or even the day of the week when you fly. This way you can search based on when you can get the best deals.
3. Follow travel sites on social media and/or sign up for email newsletters to find out about deals
Emails and social media are a great way to take advantage of sales. You can also have Google track flight prices to specific destinations that you are considering. Following airlines and travel sites for deals are one of the best ways to plan a more affordable trip.
4. Use a website that searches multiple sites for the best prices and deals
Sites like Skyscanner search other travel sites and bring back the best deals to be found online. It’s always worth checking when you are booking travel to make sure there isn’t a cheaper price for the same thing on another site.
5. Fly on a weekday and/or in the off season
Flights are usually cheaper on weekdays, especially in the middle of the week.
6. Skip the baggage fees
If your trip is shorter, try to pack with only a carryon or even an under-the-seat backpack on airlines that charge extra for bags in the overhead compartments.
If you have a family and are flying on an airline that charges extra for luggage, consider sharing one large suitcase and only paying for one piece of luggage rather than per person.
7. When searching for flights, hotels, etc., clear your browser cache or search in incognito mode
If you’ve noticed that prices have gone up as you’ve been browsing, it might be because sites lower prices the first time you visit and raise them when you return because they figure you’re willing to pay more.
Eating and Drinking
8. When comparing similarly priced hotels, get one that includes breakfast if possible
Booking a hotel with breakfast included can save both time and money as long as you’re not paying significantly more for the hotel. For example, if there are two hotels that cost $150 and one has breakfast and one doesn’t, choose the one with the free breakfast.
9. Bring your own food
Whether it is on a car trip or to the airport, bringing your own food can help reduce food costs immensely. This means fewer stops at convenience stores on the road and avoiding expensive and overpriced meals in the airport or on the plane.
10. Get food at grocery stores at least some of the time and/or make your own meals
Making meals in your AirBnB or even getting prepared foods at a grocery store is much less expensive than eating all of your meals in restaurants.
11. Bring a reusable water bottle
Most airports have places to fill water bottles once you’ve gone through security. Filling up your water bottle is a great way to stay hydrated and avoid purchasing overpriced beverages at your destination or on the road.
Getting Around
12. Don’t forget transportation from lodging to where you want to go
It might be cheaper to pay a little more for a hotel in a better location to avoid extra transportation costs. A cheaper hotel or vacation rental might be tempting, but if you have no way to get there, you’ll end up paying a lot more.
13. Use public transportation
Public transportation is a great way to get around cities. You can relax and look at things, or just enjoy the experience (my kids are so excited to take trains everywhere). Plus, it’s much less expensive than a taxi or other ride service. Research the options before you go, so you know how it works and how to get around.
14. Save money on gas
Check out these 10 tips for saving money on gas.
Money and Credit Cards
15. Use a credit and/or ATM card with no fees
These fees can really add up and aren’t even necessary. Get a credit card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. In addition, you’ll want a debit card without out-of-network ATM fees. I have this one from Schwab, though I am not endorsing any particular company or card.
16. Get a credit card with cash back or travel rewards
A card that gives you cash back on all purchases is generally the best because it is easiest to redeem. If you are absolutely certain that you will actually use your travel rewards, that might also be a great way to save money.
17. Exchange money the smart way:
Always withdraw money in the local currency rather than U.S. Dollars.
ATMs usually give you the best exchange rate (rather than exchanging before you go).
When making a purchase in a foreign country, always make sure the transaction is done in the local currency because you’ll get a better exchange rate.
Having Fun
18. Find out if there are multi-attraction passes for the attractions you want to visit
When we went to Chicago a few years ago, I not only saved money with the multi-attraction passes, but I saved even more by buying them on Groupon.
19. Look for free admission days at museums
Find out if there are free days at local museums before you go and plan your itinerary around that.
20. Fill up your time with free activities
Every place you go, with perhaps the exception of Disney World, will have at least a few free or inexpensive activities that are just as amazing as the things that cost money. Look for free museums, churches, parks, hiking opportunities, etc.
In London, the National Gallery, British Museum and many other museums are free. In New York you can take the Staten Island Ferry, walk the Brooklyn Bridge and visit Central Park, Grand Central Station, and Times Square.
Find at least a few of these experiences to fill your time.
21. Do fewer things
Sometimes spending more time at fewer places can actually make your trip more enjoyable. Instead of trying to fit in three museums per day, choose one and spend more time exploring that and the surrounding area. Some of my best travel experiences are the times when I just explore without hitting all the bucket list items.
22. Prioritize
If there are expensive things that you want to do or pricier places you want to go or stay, go ahead and spend on those, but find some other ways to cut back on things you don’t care about as much.
23. Don’t buy souvenirs
Think about what you’ve done with souvenirs from previous trips. Are they buried in a box in your basement? Do you even know where they are? Do you want to buy more stuff that just ends up in the same place? Thinking about it this way will help you narrow down your purchases to what you really want.
Don’t go crazy trying to save money. It’s important to balance spending money on things that are worth it (for you) with saving money on things that aren’t as important. You shouldn’t go crazy on vacation and spend money like it’s going out of style, but you also don’t want to be so cheap you sacrifice the whole experience.
In the end, traveling on a budget is a balancing act between spending the money to have the experience you want and saving money on the things that aren’t as important. The key is to prioritize the things that are most important to you, whether that is a specific attraction, eating local food, staying in a great location, or something else. Choose where to spend more money and then be more frugal on the rest.
