How can you save money while traveling? I’ve done that, so I’m here to help you!
Traveling is expensive, especially during these days when inflation seems to be our worst enemy. But there are ways to beat it and stll have fun while exploring new places.
When traveling, you may want to go for frugal alternatives so your trip doesn’t break the bank. The less money you spend, the more you have for activities, food, and savings! It’s easy to not think twice about eating at restaurants for every meal and expensive upgrades. At home, you know your budget, and you’re in control.
However, when visiting another country, you may have a different currency and don’t want to skimp. The question is, can you still have fun on vacation while optimizing for a budget?
YES!
I’ve done it on my last trip, and I’ve saved $1,000! Here’s how you can save money while traveling!
1. Be flexible
When deciding where and when you travel, being flexible and keeping an open mind with your journey plans can help you save money while traveling.
Choose a travel destination during its “off-peak season” to save on airfare, hotels, entertainment, and dining, says Andrea Woroch, a consumer finance expert. A shoulder season could offer real savings, while off-peak seasons offer fewer crowds, better values, and likely a more relaxing vacation vibe.
For instance, if you’re interested in visiting Cape Cod, Massachusetts, or Newport, Rhode Island, during the peak summer season, choose to book a trip after Labor Day. Hotel and other lodging options drop prices, attractions and restaurants are less crowded, and the weather is still delightful.
So, if you’re taking a long New England weekend, you’ll save money while traveling so you can take excursions like boat tours, which are likely less pricey. Over the course of three nights, this can add up to a significant $1,000 in savings.
While being flexible with your timing and destination, stretch your travel budget more by considering picking a place to explore where there are many things to do that won’t require spending money.
For example, the mountains offer fishing, campfires, hiking, stargazing, and so on, while the beach offers endless hours of both relaxing and entertainment.
2. Consider cash back programs—and stack deals
To save money while traveling, you can use cash back programs like Rakuten on your travel-related purchases to earn you up to 10% cash back or more on experiences, bookings, and more. The program also allows you to earn 5% cash back on dining at many restaurants across the country.
According to Kristen Gall, Rakuten’s shopping and retail expert, you can also save money while traveling by earning cash back on top of sales. What’s great about cashback services is that they give you the chance to earn cash back on top of travel promotions, from deals running on flights to hotels and rental cars to other travel-related purchases.
For instance, when booking a travel deal, use a cash back program like Rakuten on top of digital coupons or promo codes, and use a rewards credit card (we’ll talk about this one in a bit) to earn extra rewards and points for the purchase. This is a great and effective way to save money while traveling!
Many travel retailers and sites work with cash-back programs, including Expedia, Marriott, VRBO, AVIS Car Rentals, Orbitz, Hotels.com, Hilton, and more.
3. Get a new rewards credit card
Here’s a trick I’ve also tried, and I recommend you do the same if you want to save money while traveling. Search for a new credit card with a lucrative sign-up bonus that will give you rewards like travel points, airline miles, or free cash back. All you have to do is spend a certain amount of money on your credit card within the first couple of months of opening your new account.
According to personal finance experts, if you use the cards to pay your monthly bills you have to spring for anyway and to pay some of your travel-related reservations, you could easily meet the minimum spend required to be eligible for the bonus.
You could earn some cash to pay for your hotel or flights, or enough miles to cover one leg of your flight or even the roundtrip airfare, which is a great way to save money while traveling.
4. Realize there’s even more value in credit cards
According to Sara Rathner, a travel expert, depending on the credit card you choose, you can enjoy extra perks that allow you to save on other travel costs, like airport lounge access, fees for checked bags, or TSA PreCheck.
If you haven’t traveled much in the past two years, chances are you may already have miles and points stashed away. A recent survey showed that Americans with travel rewards credit cards have on average 64,800 rewards points and miles saved up.
At a value of one cent each, that’s almost $650 worth of points, which is quite a lot, and you can do many things with them!
Keep reading to discover other ways to save money while traveling!
5. Choose a basecamp city
According to personal finance experts, one of the best ways to save money while traveling is to choose a “basecamp city” to start your vacation. I’ve tried it, and it worked out pretty well, I’d say!
But let’s see what a basecamp city is. Basically, it’s a major city that has hub airlines or great flight deals and that is also easily accessible by car or train to other desirable destinations.
An example of this is New York City, which gives easy access to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, or Las Vegas, which gives easy access to Utah National Parks, Los Angeles, and Arizona’s major cities. Not only do these cities offer cheaper airfare to and from and amazing stand-alone attractions worth exploring, but they also give you easy access to travel outside of that via trains, tour buses, cars, and more.
This is a great way to save money while traveling; personally, I’ve saved $700 on my last trip by flying to and from a basecamp city.
6. Dive deep into cruise specials
This is another great way to save money while traveling, and if you’re a cruise lover, it’s a win-win situation. In fact, now is a great time to snag a deal, as the winter months are when the cruise industry holds its annual “Wave Season”.
According to travel experts, it’s the cruise industry’s equivalent to Black Friday, as cruise lines offer significant savings on future voyages en masse. In addition to discounted fares, cruise lines often offer extra bonuses like specialty dining packages, beverage packages, and WiFi packages. Without the discount, you’d pay extra for each of those things on a cruise. This means that, for a family of four, you could score $1,000 or even more in savings.
But check this out! Some Wave Season deals extend into April, which means there are many options to choose from. Just make sure you understand the cancellation policies of your cruise line as well as the health requirements. Here are some extra money-saving tips for those interested in a cruise vacation!
If you liked this article on ways to save money while traveling, you may also want to read Cashback Apps Are Amazing! See Here a Top With the Best and Worst Ones.
