I don’t have an endless amount of money for travel so I try to save as much money as possible when I get out on the road. Because the more I can save money while traveling, the more I can be on the road.
I’m long past the days of staying in youth hostels or crashing on friends’ couches, but there are a lot of ways to save money traveling without having to go to the extremes. The following tips to save money on traveling are easy to implement and can be done on any budget.
Number 1: Be Intentional
Be intentional about where, when, and how you travel. The first obvious part of this is whether you actually want to go on the trip. Too many times people go on trips that they’re not that excited about. Maybe a friend talked them into it or it sounded good five months ago when you booked it.
Whatever the reasons, these are the trips you’ll want to skip.
Only going on the trips that you really are excited about put you in front of the curve because you’re only spending on what you’re truly excited about. Nobody can guarantee that you’ll have a good trip, but your chances are better if you’re really wanting to go.
Also be intentional about who you travel with, how long you stay, and what the experience will consist of. Some of it will be worth it, other things won’t be.
Related: Value-Based Spending: How to Create a Budget Around What You Value
Number 2: Accommodations Pattern
I do this now and then, and used to do it all the time with camping. Start the trip with inexpensive accommodations and work your way up to nicer places. How nice you want to go is up to you.
My wife and I (and now the kids) used to start our trips by camping for a few days. Then we’d get a hotel (which seemed like the nicest hotel in the world because we’d just been sleeping outdoors). We don’t camp as much as we used to but it’s still an option when the weather is nice, or when everyone is in the mood.
Point is we would start with the most inexpensive option first and work our way up to the nicer places. Pick whatever pattern works for you and give it a try. Whether it’s starting at a two star hotel and working your way up to five stars, or starting by camping and working your way up to a two star hotel, the pattern is consistent.
Number 3: Optimize Driving vs Flying
Time is often a factor so this strategy won’t always work. But it will work a lot of the time. Before you book a trip, pencil out driving vs flying. Oftentimes, driving will save you a lot of money, especially if you have a family of three or more.
A couple traveling to New York City from the west coast for a long weekend is obviously going to want to fly. Driving makes no logistical or financial sense.
But a family of four traveling from Southern California to the Bay Area for a week would save a lot of money by driving. Same for a group of friends going from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas for the weekend, or a few days.
Choosing to fly or drive shouldn’t be a deep analysis that takes hours upon hours to study. Simple back of the napkin math will work here.
Number 4: Utilize Grocery Stores
This tip will not only help you save money while traveling, but also eat better. How many times have you been on vacation and don’t feel like going out to another restaurant? You’ve been on vacation four or five days, and just don’t feel like going out again.
Plus you just spent a lot of money the past few days and would prefer to go smaller tonight. Short-term rentals are great because they usually have kitchens or kitchenettes to make an easy meal. Many hotels also have a small kitchen area where you can cook an easy meal or microwave something.
Go to the grocery store before your trip and grab some items so you’re not always having to eat out. Get breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and store it where you’re staying. That way you have a home base you can go to for quick and easy food that’s not going to cost a lot or make you sit in a restaurant for longer than you want.
My family has been doing this for years and it honestly makes us appreciate not only the food we get from the store more, but also the restaurants when we choose to go out. Our sweet spot is usually a pattern like a couple days of cooking followed by dinner out at a nice place we really want to go.
Number 5: Travel Off Peak
There are a lot of good deals to be had off peak. A Tuesday in the middle of January is going to be a lot less expensive than a weekend trip in the summer. If you have the flexibility, try traveling when others are not.
Usually October, November (other than Thanksgiving), early December, and January through March are the best deals because kids are in school and parents are working.
Even in peak travel seasons, look at different options for departure and arrival. Taking a trip during the week is usually a lot more cost efficient than a weekend trip. Most airlines have an option to try different days, so take advantage of this feature.
Number 6: Be Creative
Look for patterns and trends. Think back to how you’ve saved money in the past. Try combining strategies.
Basically, be as creative as you can. There are so many ways to save money on travel, you don’t have to just pick one. Some things may work during certain seasons while other strategies might work during other parts of the year.
Some airlines are better to certain cities while you’ll want to go with another one for other parts of the country or world. Be creative and find the best deals.
Bonus: Remember to Enjoy Yourself
It’s good to save money while traveling, but it’s more important to remember why you’re traveling in the first place–to enjoy yourself. If saving money is coming at the expense of your enjoyment, it’s not worth it. But if you can save money and enjoy yourself equally, then it is worth it.
Conclusion
It’s possible to save good money while traveling without having to go to extreme lengths. Implementing just a few of these strategies can save you hundreds, if not thousands, every year.
Pick what works for you and add a couple more that fit your given situation. Then put it into action and start saving money.
How do you save money while traveling?
