How to Save Money When You Travel
Traveling for me is therapeutic and is in part how I live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle! So whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, your next trip doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. Regardless of your current financial situation, it’s wise to plan ahead so your travel adventures don’t derail your budget. According to Bankrate.com, one of the most common areas that folks exceed their budgets is excessive spending on vacations and other forms of travel! The good news is that there are several ways you can reduce your travel costs, whether you’re trotting the globe or just taking a brief excursion to a nearby city! Let’s dive deep into How to Save Money When you Travel!
Follow these simple steps to reduce your travel expenses!
- Book early. You can save a lot on the cost of your tickets and reservations by booking well in advance. Early planners also grab the best hotel and transportation deals by booking way ahead of time. It’s not uncommon to save 50% or more on the cost of your airline ticket if you can make your reservations 6 months in advance of your trip. You can save even more on your airline costs by using nearby regional airports rather than flying directly into a large city. Or buy using points! I have a Southwest credit card and I am a frequent flyer! So my last two sets of airline tickets have been paid for with points! Definitely a win-win!
- Book a hotel not in the “center” of the city or tourist hot spots. However, keep in mind if you will be spending money on Uber, taxis and transportation, it might just be easier to stay closer to the activities you want to do!
- If you’re required to travel on short notice, seek out the services of a travel club or online travel site that offers price comparisons, discounts for bundles, and special rates for members. If you’re traveling internationally, use the train or bus to save big. Go directly to the provider’s website at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance to save up to 50% on train and bus tickets.
- If you’re planning to make stops in several international cities, consider buying a rail pass for your entire route for additional savings. If you plan to attend a concert or theater event, get your tickets online rather than waiting. Online coupons and discounts can help you save up to 45% off the price you would pay at the box office.
- Travel during the off season. Hotels, hostels, and resorts offer steep discounts to travelers who visit during a specific location’s “off season.” Most hotels and resorts offer lower rates for rooms booked for Sunday through Wednesday nights, rather than the weekend. I had our travel agent do this for our trip to Paris and it worked out great! We had beautiful weather too!
Activities
Be selective when deciding which activities you want to do on your trip. It’s easy to fall for local “tourist traps” when you’re on a vacation in an unfamiliar location. Entrance fees and other charges quickly add up. If there are attractions that you’d really like to visit on your trip, look for free ways to enjoy the site. A great way to enjoy a site for free is to picnic and play on the grounds outside rather than paying entrance fees to take an inside tour. Reducing the number of locations that you explore on your trip will help you preserve your energy levels as well as your wallet!
Check out my review of Epcot during Covid!
Food
Buy groceries rather than dine out. Shop at a local grocery store to provide some of your meals and snacks each day. Many hotels offer their guests complimentary breakfasts during their
stay. Be sure to take advantage of this deal if it’s offered! When dining out, do so during lunch hours to receive special offers and discounts. We do a late breakfast then a late lunch when we travel. That way, we are not overeating or spending lots of cash on food!
Conclusion
It’s unnecessary to go into debt or exhaust your life’s savings just to have a good time when you travel. These simple, money-saving tricks will help you stick to your budget, even when you’re on vacation! I hope these suggestions on How to Save Money When You Travel assist you in making your travel dreams come true!
Please take a look ar my newest review of Cape May! A beautiful Victorian resort town in southern New Jersey!
Gratitude
Above all, thank you for spending your time here at Colorado Kelly! I love having you here and appreciate everyone that comes to visit and look forward to having you come back soon!
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Heather LeGuilloux
Such great tips! I always try to look for a hotel that has a small kitchen if possible so it’s easy to have breakfast or warm up leftovers which can save so much money along the way.
Kelly
That is a great idea!
simplyjolayne
My husband and I have loved our off-season travel. We are hoping things open up this Fall so we can go again.
Kelly
I hope you can go too!
Brooke
Love this! A great way to still travel without feeling guilty about it.
Kelly
Yes it is!!!
Becky
These are all really great tips. As a travel agent I see SO many people who don’t realize the value of booking early – they are still following “rules” and recommendations from 5+ years ago about waiting to book your flights 2 months before. Don’t do that lol! Booking early and traveling during the off season if you can are my #1 ways to save.
Kelly
Yeah! I am glad you agree!
Kate
Ah these are such great tips! Like many people, I have a bunch of weddings in the second half of the year. Will definitely be using these tips!
Kelly
I glad you will be able to use these tips!
Kelsey Albert
Yes, traveling out of season makes such a huge difference!
Kelly
Yes it does!!!
Genesis
These are awesome suggestions! Another good tip is to follow locals to find the best places to eat. I’ve found that even some restaurants try to appeal to tourists and will be overpriced. Finding the local favourites usually gives you better food for half the price!
Kelly
That is great advice!!!!
lisa
Thanks for these awesome tips Kelly! It’s so easy to just waste money when you travel and forget that there are so many ways to save money! I love the idea of buying groceries and being selective about activities. Not every activity is a must-do!
Kelly
That is true! We have spent money on activities that were just not worth it!
Linda
I love to book places with a small kitchen for our travels. Part of the allure of travel for me is shopping local markets and cooking with regional ingredients. We’ll typically do breakfast and dinner at home. Saves tons and lets us splurge on everything else!
Kelly
That is fabulous!!!
Kait
These are great tips! I always like to stay in a hotel or B&B that offers free breakfast. I always love it when I am walking distance to places I want to visit on my trip. Local transportation really adds up!
Kelly
I am always amazed at what I spend with Uber while away!