Summer is just around the corner. It’s time to start preparing with some money-saving tips!
Have you noticed how expensive summer travel has become in recent years? With fuel prices hiking up the cost of airfare, gas prices hitting digits we haven’t seen before, and the overall surge in domestic and international travel, travel this summer will probably be rather pricey.
So what are you supposed to do? Just stay home?… Not with Frugal Americans by your side, folks! Now is a great time to talk about saving money on your travel plans, like tracking flight prices and tapping into all those points and miles stash you’ve hoarded over the last few years.
Yeah, I’ve been saving them too! So here are 7 of my favorite money-saving tips for accumulating savings during your adventures!
Money-saving tip: Look for hidden fees
Hidden fees can sneak up on you anywhere you go, resulting in unexpectedly high bills. So whenever you’re booking and traveling, ask about any additional fees. Here are a few money-saving tips on which hidden fees you should look for:
-Airport improvement fees: You won’t believe this, but I once had to pay additional fees to fly in for “airport improvement.” I’d never heard of this and didn’t find out about it until I got to the airport and was passing through customs. It was either paying the fee or staying at the airport.
-Hotel resort fees: Anyone who’s ever been to one can tell you that resort fees add up. You can be charged $20 daily, whether you use the amenities or not.
-Parking fees: Some hotels might charge you to park your car on their property. This may be unavoidable, though, if you’re driving to the hotel.
-Cleaning fees: Airbnb listings come with additional fees, including cleaning fees, which vary depending on where you stay. Other apartments or even hotels might end up being cheaper.
-Additional city and state taxes: These aren’t often included when you’re quoted the base rate of a hotel room. You pay them when you checkout.
-Wi-Fi: Some of the nicest hotels charge you an additional amount fee for Wi-Fi access.
Money-saving tip: Bring your food wherever you can
Many people find that trying out new cuisine is the best part about traveling. But if you don’t really care about this aspect of your trip, you can save a lot of cash by curbing your food spending while you’re away. Once you arrive at your destination, make a stop at a supermarket to buy snacks and breakfast items.
Cook lunch or dinner for yourself if a kitchen is available where you’re staying. Or buying ready-made food from a supermarket if you’re staying at a place that doesn’t have a kitchen. You don’t have to eat sitting on the bed in a cramped hotel room.
Another money-saving tip I can give you is to sit in lounge spaces for a more sociable atmosphere. If you want to try the local food scene, visit restaurants for only one meal of the day or find restaurants that have coupon specials or happy hour deals.
Money-saving tip: Travel with others
Traveling with other people allows you to split the costs of your trip. That’s why cruises are always priced for two, with a tax to take a cruise on your own.
When you travel with other people, not only is it more fun, but you can save on gas if you’re driving, shared accommodation costs, and meals. You can split duties like cooking and driving as well. Look at VRBO and Airbnb for rental homes that accommodate bigger groups of people.
Money-saving tip: Do your research before you leave
If there are any museums and other attractions you wish to visit on your trip, I recommend researching their details and prices online before you leave for your trip. Many places offer discounts depending on age or free days once a month.
Some attractions will even offer you discounts when you buy tickets in advance online rather than in person. You can also find coupons for places online on websites such as Goldstar. If you’re open to which destinations you visit, choose a place with many free attractions.
A city like Chicago, for instance, offers lots to see and do outdoors, including a visit to Millennium Park and architecture walking tours. And a vacation package or cruise might include entertainment as part of the cost.
Money-saving tip: Be flexible on your travel dates
You can always find more affordable flights and accommodations if you’re open-minded about your travel dates. Try to fly on weekdays rather than weekends and taking early or late-night flights for better deals. Many people would agree that Tuesday is usually the most inexpensive day of the week to fly.
One thing to keep in mind, though, when it comes to early-morning and late-night flights is the price of getting to and from the airport. Cheap public transportation or a hotel shuttle might be available during the day, but you have to pay for an Uber or taxi during non-peak hours.
That can cut into the savings from your flight. Another fantastic money-saving tip is to sign up for travel alerts from sites like Expedia and TripAdvisor to be notified when flight prices drop and more deals become available.
Money-saving tip: Choose more affordable destinations
You probably already know by now that your money will go much further in some destinations than others. With a little research, you can find some relatively reasonable places to travel. For example, if you live on the West Coast and would love to visit New Orleans or Charleston, you might find that airfare is rather costly to those cities.
So here’s a fantastic money-saving tip: Why not make a weekend trip to nearby cities like Seattle or Portland using a budget airline like Southwest? Alternative options might be visiting national parks, going camping, and visiting less popular places that are all-around cheaper. You might be surprised by all the hidden gems our beautiful nation has to offer.
And even though gas tends to be more expensive during the summertime, you don’t have to pay to fly and rent a car when you visit destinations within driving distance.
Money-saving tip: Check on your hotel’s cancellation policies
Don’t forget to look at the cancelation policy of your potential hotel before booking your stay. Some places are very flexible, allowing you to cancel anywhere from 24 to 72 hours before your arrival. These offers are fantastic because you can book a spot early and keep digging for a better deal somewhere else.
Occasionally, the most inexpensive accommodation is a non-refundable one or one that allows you to cancel only up to 24 hours after you book a stay. If you know the exact dates of when you’ll be traveling, lock in your accommodation to get the lower rate.
But most listings I’ve seen on Airbnb have had moderately rigid cancellation policies like this. Once you book, you’re on the hook for at least some portion of the cost, even if you decide to cancel later.
I hope you found these money-saving tips useful. Now, all that’s left to do is pack your sunscreen and some comfy shoes for exploring! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know if you think I missed any!
And if you liked this article, Frugal Americans has much more to offer. For example, you might also like: 6 Brilliant Little-Known Credit Card Perks You’re Missing Out On
