5 Tips for Affordable Travel

by Miranda Marquit · 12 comments

affordable travel
I’m in the midst of an eight-week travel extravaganza. While it hasn’t exactly been easy on my wallet, it also hasn’t been devastating for my finances. Here are some of the things I’ve done in the last year (and will probably do moving forward) to ensure that affordable travel remains a staple in my life:

affordable travel tips1. Create a Travel Fund

I began setting aside money automatically each month in a travel fund a little more than a year ago. This fund is designed to help me save up money for travel. You can set up your own fund as well. I use a taxable investment account, but I know people who are more comfortable with a traditional savings account. When you are in a constant state of saving up for travel, it becomes more affordable for you.

2. Look for Deals

Naturally, one of the best ways to enjoy affordable travel is to look for deals. I’ve found two-for-one deals and other discounts. Whether you use daily deal sites, look for promo codes, or book vacation packages, there are plenty of ways for you to save money on your travels when you look for good deals. This also includes being alert for airfare deals and other deals. This works especially well with a travel fund. If you have a pool of money to draw on, you are more likely to be able to take advantage when there’s an amazing airfare deal to another country.

Some attractions have different costs for different days. Additionally, there are programs like Bank of America’s museum deal where you can go to select museums for free once a month. Check to see if you can get a family package or some other deal, based on the day you go.

3. Split the Cost

You can split the cost of your travel in some cases. As part of my recent trip to New York, I split the cost with my ex. We had a nice mini-trip in the middle of our overall travels. It takes some of the pressure off if you can share the cost of your travels. Find someone to share the cost of lodging and activities and you’ll save.

Another way to “split” the cost is to incorporate work into your trip. In some of the places I visited, I did work-related activities and met with clients, so I can deduct some of those costs on my taxes. It’s not a straight split, but it’s one way to save money.

4. Use Loyalty Points and Credit Card Rewards

Don’t forget about using your loyalty points and credit card rewards. I redeemed points for a couple nights in New York this trip. Most of my airfare for this trip was also covered because I used airline miles. Plan your trips so that you are either earning loyalty points or redeeming them. I also like stacking. I usually book my travel through a portal like Swagbucks that offers rebates so that I get a little extra back in the end.

5. Take Advantage of the Sharing Economy

I used Airbnb for the first time this trip. I was able to get three or four nights for the same cost as staying one night in a hotel. The savings were amazing — and splitting the cost would make the savings even more amazing. I compared the cost of a taxi versus a ride share in Philadelphia, and found that the rideshare was half as much. Look for ways to take advantage of the sharing economy when you travel, and you might be surprised at how affordable things can be.

How do you engage in affordable travel?

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{ read the comments below or add one }

  • Tom Moddy says:

    Naturally, one of the best ways to enjoy affordable travel is to look for deals. I’ve found two-for-one deals and other discounts.

  • Danny D says:

    These are really useful tips. You don’t have to be rich or drop everything else in your life to be able to travel and this is definitely the proof of that.

  • Thomas says:

    These are really useful tips. i also apply this tips in my traveling tour 🙂

  • Ryan says:

    I traveled through Europe for 2 months last year with our toddler. It was awesome because she was still able to fly free and I am sad those days are now behind us. We’ve had great success using airline miles earned through credit cards.

  • jack says:

    Just wanted to say thank you for your presentation at the Heart of Hospitality Brunch. Our table was filled with grandmas, young mothers and singles, and all of them said how much they enjoyed your talk. You managed to be entertaining while also giving us a new way of thinking about hospitality. I am happy the bad weather was unable to keep you from us.Manila

  • deals says:

    My husband and I traveled through Europe for 6 months last year with our toddler. It was awesome because she was still able to fly free and I am sad those days are now behind us. We’ve had great success using airline miles earned through credit cards.

  • travel says:

    These are really useful tips. You don’t have to be rich or drop everything else in your life to be able to travel and this is definitely the proof of that.

  • luxury hotels says:

    My husband and I traveled through Europe for 6 months last year with our toddler. It was awesome because she was still able to fly free and I am sad those days are now behind us. We’ve had great success using airline miles earned through credit cards.

  • Harry says:

    I used airline miles. Plan your trips so that you are either earning loyalty points or redeeming them. I also like stacking. I usually book my travel through a portal like Swagbucks that offers rebates

  • Danielle Ogilvie says:

    This actually started to get me thinking. Since I enjoy traveling a lot, I should actually start a travel fund.

  • Alley Keosheyan says:

    Another possibility? Find a side hustle you can use to finance your travels. My husband and I are musicians (classic rock/country) who play at small- to mid-size venues throughout Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. This has enabled us to visit a lot of places we might not have been able to under normal circumstances, plus makes routine travel expenses such as mileage, lodging, and meals tax-deductible!

  • Bert says:

    Traveling with any type of RV is still the cheapest way to travel overall.

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