Want budget travel tips for free? Wouldn’t you want to travel more often without breaking the bank? What if I told you that instead of planning one family trip a year, you can go twice with the same budget? If you are at all interested, read on to find out how you can do simple things to save money next time you go on vacation!
* Airfares *
- Airline Tickets – Plan in advance and visit discount websites to see if there are better deals. While these sites might charge you a service fee ($5 or so), they can easily combine flight segments from different airlines easily to give you a great deal. (bonus – get even more savings by finding a Travelocity promo code before you book a trip)
- Connecting Flights – You might think connecting sucks but it sure saves you a good chunk of money doing it. Consider the pros and cons and don’t write it off right away.
- Travel Light – Airlines are starting to charge for everything now and if you have 2 bags or more, expect to be charged for it. Remember to not use over sized bags whenever possible and try to keep it all within one bag per person.
- Substitute – Consider packing really old clothes (if you plan to buy new ones on the trip). This way, you can keep one luggage and still have room for purchases.
- Always Look into Round Trip Tickets – Sometimes, one way tickets are so expensive that the round trip ticket is cheaper. Just don’t use the return trip. (I know it’s weird but I’ve seen it myself)
- Try to Get Back to the Same Airport – Flying in and out of the same airport is almost always cheaper. It’s not only the flight tickets but the car rentals as well.
- Traveling to Two Countries – If you are planning to stay in two countries and an airline makes you change planes on those countries anyway, you might be in luck. Check pricing on the flights to see if you can stay a few days at the country of the flight change instead of changing planes right away since airlines often let you do that for the same price.
* Eating *
- Plan Your Meals – Figure out where you will be and eat before you actually go out. This is not just good for your wallet, but your stomach too since you will probably find economical restaurants that tastes great.
- Cook for Yourself – Not many people do this but cooking while on vacation can sometimes be quite fun. Since the experience is new (cookware, dining area, supermarkets etc), it’s actually quite fun.
- Meals Carryover – Want a breakfast that cost nothing? Ask for some bread to-go at the restaurant the night before.
- Avoid Breakfast from the Hotels – Chances are good that the breakfast from the hotel is expensive and isn’t great. It probably pays to walk out the front door in the morning and find a local cafe. You might just stumble onto the local favorite.
- Eat More at Lunch Than Dinners – Fancy lunches are often much less expensive than dinners. If you eat a big breakfast, lunch and a light dinner, it’s also healthier.
* Car Rentals *
- Be Specific with Car Rentals – One way car rentals (when the pickup and drop off locations are different) are sometimes more than twice the price of standard rentals, especially if the two locations are in different states (or country). If you need the car for 7 days and will be in the same city for 5 and another city for 2 for example, break the rental period in two and have a 5-day same location rental and another 2-day one day rental. You might need to go back to the rental facility but it really doesn’t take that long and it might save you a few hundred dollars.
- Car Rental Coverage – Some insurance and many credit cards have car rental coverage so take advantage of those when you rent a car. All you have to do is pay with the credit card that will cover you. (Just make sure you decline the coverage from the rental company when they ask)
- Size of the Car – I used to always get the smallest car possible because not only do I not need the extra room, I also didn’t want to pay for the extra gas that bigger cars need.
- Children Car Seats – If you are traveling with kids, you might think that bringing the car seat is cheaper. Call the car rental company and ask about rental prices. With airlines charging for extra luggage, it might save to just rent it.
- Fill up that Rental Car – If you are renting a car and need fuel, just fill her up with regular gas since that’s what the car rental company uses anyway. Also, decline those services that fills the gas tank up for you. Even though it seems like the advertised price is cheap, they charge you for a full tank of gas regardless of how much is left in there when you bring the car back.
- Coupon Codes – Sometimes car rental companies have coupon codes that can be used. Search the Internet.
* Transportation *
- Rail, Metros and Subway – If you are traveling to Europe, research on multi-trip discounts. Many metros and rails have passes such as a 3-day unlimited travel passes which might be worth the cost.
- Night Train and Flights – If the transportation is going to be long, consider traveling at night to save money on accommodation and many hours of time. Many people have a tough time sleeping on these, but it’s all mental. Once you get used to it, you will be able to have a good night’s rest.
- Take the Slower Transportation – If flying is too short for you to take advantage of sleeping while traveling, take a bus ride! When you are sleeping, you won’t mind that the bus ride is 7 hours.
- Avoid Taxis and Welcome Public Transportation – Tourist usually take taxis since it’s the laziest way to get from point A to B. Consider the subway or buses because it’s sometimes easier and it is much cheaper.
- Driving is Not Bad – Want to take that 1 hour flight? With airport security and all the hassle of airport inefficiencies, you might as well drive there (it takes just as long and it’s less expensive)! Once you get there, having a car is also much easier than needing to take your bags everywhere.
* Currency *
- Watch That Currency – If you never really had a preference in travel destinations, consider the exchange rate when you travel. This sometimes makes the biggest difference.
- Getting Cash – Many exchange centers have very bad exchange rates so don’t go there. Search the internet to find out good places to get cash in the local currency. For example, a quick search tells you that the best exchange rate is found at the airport and using ATMs in Taiwan and France respectively.
- Try Using the Local Version of the Same Website – Due to the rapid change in currency rates, it could be much cheaper to book using the local currency. How do you do that? Go to the local version of the same website.
* Accommodations *
- Staying in a Town Next Door – Sometimes the smaller towns close to where you are going have hotels that are much less expensive. If you don’t mind the 15 minute ride, you might just save that bundle.
- Home Exchanges – These are pretty cool and popular especially in Europe. Your trip might not be as romantic as The Holiday (movie with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law) but if you are of the adventure type, this could be exciting and refreshing).
- Ask – Sometimes smaller hotel chains are willing to give you free upgrades (or even free nights). If you already have a reservation booked elsewhere, call them up and tell them that you would consider changing if you can get an additional night free.
- Vacation Home – If you are staying at a destination for at least a few days, consider a vacation home instead of hotels. They are often are more comfortable and your cost will probably be cheaper.
- Suites – Instead of having two rooms, consider the two-bedroom suites that some hotels provide. They will end up being cheaper and you get just as much privacy with your own room.
* Shopping *
- Duty Free – Many airports have duty free shops that you can take advantage of. They might not be the best deal around if you don’t consider taxes but tax-free might make it the least expensive option.
- Don’t Forget About Possible Tax Refunds – Some countries let you get all or part of the retail sales tax back. You might have to fill out forms and show proof but if large purchases are made aboard, it can save you a bundle.
* Alternatives *
- Tourist Spots May Not be That Hot – Many countries have tourist spots that aren’t really the most interesting places to go to, not to mention that everything is more expensive around that area. If you’ve been to that place already, there’s no point seeing it again and again. Instead, go to local areas and observe life. It might just spice up your vacation.
- Walk Around – If your destination isn’t that far away, consider asking the locals directions and walking there. It’s a great chance for you to see the city and take pictures.
- Enjoy the Local Version – Many consumables are less expensive when it’s made in the country you are visiting. Consider trying their local beer, coffee or food. You might be surprised at how great and cheap it really is.
- Be a Little Flexible with Travel Days – Many prices are based on supply and demand, so sometimes it’s much cheaper to leave the day before (or after) instead. Look around the dates of your travel plans and see if spending an extra day is worth it. This makes a difference especially around major holidays.
- Book a Bundle – There are many package deals that saves you money if you book hotels and flights together. Basically, the more business you can give them, the better discount they can give you.
- Go Off Season – Everyone wants to ski or go to Hawaii in the winter. Consider this type of vacations in off-peak times (going skiing in the spring time for example). It’s cheaper and less crowded.
- Travel Around Home – Overseas travel might be your dream vacation but there are actually many places close by that is very interesting as well. Check out those lesser known places and the local experience might very well be great.
- Try Booking at Different Times – Online sites sometimes have rates based on the time and day of the week you book! Try different combinations and see if you can get a better deal.
* General *
- Bid Your Own Price – Priceline.com has a great system where you can name your own price on flights, hotels and car rentals. If the same offer is available, I’ve always saved money bidding for it.
- Discount Everything – Some countries have discount stores (I’ve seen one in Japan for example) where they sell all kinds of tickets at a discount. In that store, I’ve even seen gift cards for department stores so if you are buying something anyway, those stores will give you an instant deal.
- Don’t Give Up Looking for Deals – Even if you have your plans set, keep trying to look for deals. Reservations can often be canceled with a full refund so if you find a last minute deal that fits into your plans, take advantage of it. (I went to Las Vegas recently and saved half my hotel cost since a last minute deal happened to fit my itinerary so it really works)
- Reward Points – Even if you aren’t a frequent traveler, sign up for those reward programs since you might qualify eventually. It’s all free anyway and if you finally get enough points, you can get always get something free.
- Go to the Grocery Store – Even if you are away from home, chances are high that there are grocery stores where you are traveling to. It’s worth it to take a trip there and get snacks, water, and everything you need for your trip since hotels overcharge.
- Age, Student and Membership Discounts – Many attractions like theme parks, museums and others have discounts for senior, children or students. If you are traveling, remember to take your ID and membership cards (e.g. AAA card) with you that might qualify you for these.
- Group Discounts – We all know there are group discounts everywhere. To take advantage, team up with a few friends and go to the same destinations together. You can even set it up so there is no obligations to be everywhere together.
- Talk to the Locals – Be friendly and chat with them! Sometimes, they will tell you where to eat and some may even offer you to stay over (works best in small towns).
- Mini Tours – I’m not talking about bus tours that takes days but one day tours that take you to many different places within the city. Not only will they take you to places you probably want to visit anyway, the bus driver is usually quite entertaining and informative as well.
* Bonus Tip #51 *
- Travel Zoo does a great job at finding travel deals and they have a weekly newsletter where they list 20 of the top travel deals found online! Sign up for it here and you don’t even have to search for deals anymore!
More Money Saving Tips
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the great tips! I especially like the one about planning your meals. It may seem as though it can’t be done when you are traveling, but it can be. If take a side trip somewhere (an amusement park or a national park), we go to the local market and buy sandwich stuff and fruit and brown bag it so that we don’t have to buy the more expensive food at our destination.
Some great tips in the article. OT: Please cut down on the use of the exclamation point. Putting it in nearly every sentence in each point is irritating.
Miranda: Great example! It shows that with a bit of planning, some seemingly expensive trips can be much more affordable!
Victor: Good point! I edited the page and did find many, many exclamation points
Another way to save on food is to sacrifice a meal. Maybe eat a really big lunch and just have an appetizer for dinner, or other way around. You can get more for your money at lunch time.
This is specifically tips for abroad, but especially in Europe, there are some cheap airlines like http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/ that can help save money.
Also always take money out from an ATM, you will get the best exchange rates there, especially if your bank is international like Citibank.
When my sister and I travel we usually have ice cream for lunch.
Many people have tons of airline miles racked up on their credit card. If you do you may be able to fly for free or at least get an extra ticket or upgrade. How much nicer is it to go on your trip and not have to pay for airline tickets. Those same credit cards can give you discounts on your hotel stays also. Many people have access to these rewards from their credit cards but never take advantage of them. I think this is what the credit card companies plan on when you use them. So check your cards and see if you have points!
One way I try to save money is by winning my vacation! Sounds crazy but I just enter contests and try to get lucky.
Great tips! I always hit the grocery store for snacks, too. National parks provide wonderful inexpensive vacations — for example, Acadia in Maine. I just blogged about an affordable family trip to Mount Desert at http://ouracadia.wordpress.com.
I liked the suggestion of vacationing in the town next door. There are new things and sights to be enjoyed very close to home. This is very cost effective and fun at the same time.
Good Post!
Using local transport can by made much easier by doing a bit or research on the internet before you go. In Britain it is possible to buy cheap train tickets in advance – but there is an excellent long distance bus network that is cheap.
For local buses, especially in London, it is more fun than the underground as you get to see stuff. Buying tickets for the day is a good idea, the last one I bought was about $5. It is also easy to see online which buses can take you between the major sights and where the stops are. Remember, the stops are on the other side of the road to you!
Bed and breakfast can be a good deal as the breakfast is usually massive.
Imagine, booking a five star hotel for up to seven nights at $1.00 a night! One single George Washington could be your key to a hotel room just about anywhere in the world…..http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/money/who-said-1-00-doesnt-get-you-far-358320/
Great tips. I’m a little confused about #4 though. Why would old clothes take up less room than new ones? Are you suggesting that people throw away the old clothes and pack the new ones to bring back? Hmm….I think if I were planning to buy clothes, I would just take fewer clothes with me in the first place. Going off season is a great money saver!
Home exchanging is a great way to save thousands on accommodation and to enjoy a holiday living like a local. For additional savings, many home exchanges also include a car swap. And because you have access to a full kitchen, you don’t need to eat out 3 times a day – saving on meals.
For visitors interested in learning more about home exchanging, take a look at our Website, 1st Home Exchange. 1stHomeExchange.com has numerous articles, tips, and videos to learn about this travel alternative.
When we traveled with our family, we usually tried to hit the all you can eat places for lunch, as late as possible. Then, we at big. Then, we didn’t eat again. If we want something later in the day, we got an ice cream cone at McD’s, or occasionally a blizzard. That way, we were eating out only once a day (we always tried to get a hotel/inn that had complimentary all you could eat breakfast.
I forgot to add. If the ice cream was too expensive at a restaurant, we evaluated how hungry we were (there were 7 in the family) and got a 12 pack box of ice cream sandwiches or bars (store brand of course) at the grocery store and then ate them right away. The teenagers were glad to eat more than one!
Great budget travel tips! Easy to follow and understand.
When searching for internet car rental specials, you can also try to check car rental rates using a discount code. There are hundreds of membership programs and professional associations that offer car rental discount codes to their members. You can find a list of car rental discount codes for 8 major car rental companies everywhere.
Great Article really. This really helpful. Thanks
This is a brilliant post with a lot of good tips on how to save money on vacations. Another idea is to purchase those all-inclusive holiday packages. They include airfare, food, drinks and hotel which can substantially decrease the amount of money a person ends on spending on a holiday.
Great post. Lots of useful tips that you can easily apply to save money. Sometimes it’s good to do what the locals do.
I must say that I am impressed by that list. Prolly took some time to put together! None the less doubtfull that one can remember all of them when you actually are on a trip and are dazzeled by the sites
.
This is such a great list David. My favorite, is to do what the locals do!
What about buying a vacation property at your favorite vacation spot? I have to admit, and did so up in Lake Tahoe. Not the best timing, but it has provided fantastic memories.
When I traveled with kids, the airline did NOT charge to take car seats – they were gate checked with strollers, wheel chairs, etc. The car rental agency wanted $50 per seat to rent. Don’t rent them, take them! Downside is – more to carry through the airport. Also, for example, it is currently cheaper to fly Ryan Air from France to England rather than take the Euro-star train through the Chunnel. Do your research first…
Good tips! I also suggest to use a personal finance software with a cellphone or PDA phone. This makes recording and tracking expenses much easier. An Excel sheet on a PDA would do very well as a personal finance planner and it can be easily transferred to a PC for expenses tracking and archiving.
this is dfinitely going to help me leave the cubicle
When it comes to travel, there are two things you can count on: (1) you’ll always find a cheaper exchange rate after you’ve traded your money, and (2) you’ll always go over budget. I don’t mean to be negative, but these are the Murphy’s Laws of travel.
These are really great tips. I was looking for a deal on a hotel for New Years on the Florida’s west coast. The prices were ridiculous, and I ended up doing something new. I found the best possible deal, then I emailed the 3 star hotel I wanted, and asked, if I could get a room for that price at their hotel. I received an email back an hour later that they would accept that price. It was 50 percent off the regular price, an it actually ended up costing us only 2 dollars more than camping would have.
I have learned the lesson that it never hurts to ask.
Many thanks for this extremely useful article. I often travel on budget, so I bookmarked your tips!
This is an excellent resource. Stumbled it! Thanks.
I definitely like the tip about packing old clothes. I’m going out of town soon and i know i’ll definitely be doing some shopping while there.
Great Ideas but a few things: your travel codes don’t work even though it says it was updated 2 days ago. also for number 16 airlines don’t count car seats as luggage and fly for free. The ones you rent at car rental places are old, dirty, and alot of the time expired.
The offers are officially from the discount travel sites themselves, and each have their own expiration date and pertain to its own category (for example, some are for Marriott hotels only, and would not work with other hotel chains) Which code specifically are you talking about?
Let me know and I can investigate further.
I am a car rental agent and I’d like to add some comments to the rental car section. Hope it helps everybody out!
Car Rental Coverage – Yes, sometimes your credit card will cover rental cars, but I’ve encountered situations where credit cards have a rather large deductible and don’t cover SUVs or Minivans. One customer was stuck with their claim for a year while he saw his interest rates go up because of his accident. Do your research before hand! If you’re only renting for a couple of days and your deductible is $500, you might want to consider purchasing the coverage from the rental car company. It’s $40 vs $500 in case, God forbid, you have an accident. Our companie’s coverage will cover you 100% with no deductible, so sometimes it’s smarter to take the coverage on shorter term rentals.
Size of the Car – Yes, it might be cheaper to get that little economy class for that crazy low daily rate, but will your family really be comfortable? If you’re taking a trip and squeezing all your kids and luggage into a small car, your experience will not be a good one. I can’t tell you how many unhappy customers I’ve had the return from a family vacation because they’re were cramped in like sardines. Sometimes the price difference between a compact and full size is only a couple of dollars. Again, do your research and think about the car you’ll actually be getting vs. the small difference in price.
Fill up that Rental Car – Yes, we do charge for the full tank, and yes, it’s cheaper per gallon than the outside prices. However, if you think you are going to use more than a full tank, PURCHASE THE GAS THROUGH THE COMPANY. In the end run you save yourself about $6-7. I know it feels weird returning with a half tank, but you already paid for your first tank at the discounted rate. Yes, the company makes out by getting a half tank of gas back, but it’s a win-win situation. Either way you’re going to pay for gas, whether it be with us at the front end or at the end of the rental outside. Would you rather pay for one tank at 2.49 and another at 2.79? Or pay for two tanks at 2.79. Do the math and figure out which is best for you before you make a decision. If you aren’t going to use that much gas, of course, fill up yourself. If you’re going to use a tank or more, it’s cost effective to purchase with the rental company if the price is cheaper per gallon.
Hope this helps!
Also, if you have the opportunity to rent from an off airport location, do it! Most cities and airports place an “airport fee” that raises the rental by 10-20%. You will save that by renting at an off site location vs the counter at the airport.
Yes, the rental agent will try to sell everything to you. It is our job, and that’s how we make our commission. We bonus from upgrades, coverage, and gas sales. A good agent will explain your options and help you make an informed decision. A bad one will sound like a car salesman and push everything on you. Do not let this deter you. Make sure you decide what is best for you and not be pushed to purchase something you don’t want. Likewise, do not let a slimy agent turn you off from taking something that will save you money in the long run.
Domestic US airlines WILL NOT charge you for baby items. Strollers, Car Seats, pack and plays…etc..THESE are ESSENTIAL items for children and airlines ARE NOT charging you to check a car seat.
“Children’s strollers and seat restraints are not counted as part of the standard baggage and therefore can easily be checked for free. For your convenience these items may be checked at curbside, the ticket counter, or at the gate.” (www.delta.com/baggage) {just one example…no other US Carrier charges for children’s items}…no other US carrier…even Spirit Airlines who charges you to carry on baggage is not charging for strollers or car seats. Renting a car seat with a car rental agency runs you about $10/day or more….so….if you are doing a 5 day rental or more, even if you HAD to pay to check your car seat, which is cheaper? The only thing you are paying for…is the convenience of not having to lug it to/from the airport or risking it being lost, delayed or damaged in transit.
As a former airline agent, I HIGHLY stress caution when using discount websites, #1, most of them are scams READ THE FINE PRINT! If you see something to the effect that your reservation will be confirmed after midnight, steer clear and avoid those sites, those are SCAMS. They have your credit card info and can charge you whatever the fare is at the time the finally get around to ticketing your reservation, OR, if your reservation is in queue and isn’t ticketed by midnight, it gets dropped, and a lot of times, I’ve had passengers come to the ticket counter with only a reservation and NOT a confirmation. ALWAYS go directly to the airlines website after searching for the lowest fares on other travel sites. IF you do mix airlines, DO NOT check your bag, 80% of those..if not more, end up lost, or delayed because inter-airline transfers are low priority. One way you can make sure your bags travel with you on a connection that involves more than one airline…short check it to your connection point if you have 3 or more hours between flights, depending on how large the airport is. That can be risky too if there are inbound delays that don’t jive with your outbound flight, so ask questions first and always use that as an option. But….avoid connections that involve other airlines at all costs if you can.
Flying from a hub more than likely is going to yield a cheaper fare for non-stop flights a majority of the time. Southwest is one exception because they are not hub and spoke but a point to point style airline. ALWAYS check your connection options first when considering your flights. IF you are flying to an airport that you are unfamiliar with, and you have 30-45 minutes to connect and you have to change terminals, consider a longer lay over. If you have never been to Atlanta, or JFK…30-45 minutes can barely have you at the connecting gate on time if you have to go from T-Gates to D-Gates if you don’t know where you are going and have to run from the end of the concourse to get to and from the train. So…do your research. Most flights arrive and depart from the same gates every day, so go to the airline or airports website and see where that flight came in that day, and where the connection departed…see how far they are apart. That will give you an idea of how to gauge your time. Secondly…keep in mind that they can and do change.
When using websites like Hotwire, or Priceline or any other that hides the hotel, airline or rental car agency from you, make sure you understand that these are binding agreements that can not be changed. For airlines, you can not change your flight…if you miss it, you are at the mercy of that website, airlines can not and will not touch those tickets to change them. The only change they can make is if there is a delay due to a weather delay or mechanical delay, but if you show up late, or want to get on an earlier flight…too bad. I had one lady show up 15 minutes late for check-in for her flight…had a Hotwire ticket and she was going to Africa, she missed her flight, and I couldn’t change her ticket…cost her $4000 US to have Hotwire rebook her flights. I’ve used Hotwire for Hotels, and that is it…NEVER for flights. Rental cars I can say use caution using Priceline or Hotwire if you have a debit card or a low limit credit card. Some agencies, such as Avis and Hertz can charge you as much as $500 for the deposit as well as the full charge of the rental, so make sure you have ample room on your card to cover the cost of the rental and any other expenses you will have. My suggestion is carry more than one card, and put your travel on one card (hotel, rental car deposits…etc) and your food and other items on another. Many people don’t pay attention to the fine print there either and end up stuck paying for a rental car that they can’t use. Again..Hotwire, Priceline=non-refundable/changeable.
ALSO make sure you check with the airline often. The website will give you the confirmation number from the airline itself..so go to the airlines website and keep track of your flight information. If you book it far in advance, flight times and numbers can change, as they do every season…as well as flights being completely eliminated. Also, make sure you take notice if it says in small print “Operated by….such and such airline.” Airlines sell seats on each others flights with their flight number, it’s called a Code Share…so make sure you go to check in with the right airline.
(I know this is more than just commenting on the article, but as a former Airline Agent…it’s important to educate the flying public as well. Many of these blogs are articles are written by people who have never worked in the industry, and just write from experience or what they have been told or read. So..here’s my on going effort to fill in some blanks …sorry for the length)
Real nice tips! I especially liked the ‘eating’ part. These are good for first time travelers to avoid the mishaps my cousin and her family encountered. When Disneyland Hong Kong was opened, her kids were too excited to go there. She saved for it and finally talked to a travel agent. Although it was their first time, they got good ticket rates and landed on a good travel package. They were so excited about Disneyland they forgot one major necessity- the food. It was not included in her travel package and she was confident because she had money. When they got there they didn’t know where to dine. She went into hotels and like you said the food was expensive. She went to small restaurants but didn’t like the food. They enjoyed the Disneyland experience alright but when they finally got home for the day McDonalds was the only option, not very healthy right?! Luckily when they went to Singapore a year later for a holiday they had relatives there who guided them to good food.