Traveling can be expensive, whether it’s rising gas prices during a road trip or increased hotel and airline costs due to increased travel demand.
But with these travel cost saving tips, it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.
How to save money while traveling
1. Lighten your load
Packing light is definitely beneficial to avoid checked bag fees, but there are some other incentives to do so. First, if you pack light, it will be much easier to travel. Having a light suitcase or backpack will make you more agile and allow you to take public transportation without feeling like you need to pay for a taxi.
So what can you do to lighten your load? Bring clothes that can be easily washed in the sink. Look for clothes that dry quickly and choose clothes that can be mixed and matched. There’s no need to pack four pairs of shoes in your bag when you default to basic pieces that go with every outfit.
Plus, by packing light, you’ll be less tempted to pay for souvenirs if your suitcase or backpack has limited space.
2. Shop at your local grocery store
Visiting a local market is an adventure in itself; you’ll find a variety of foods that you wouldn’t necessarily find at home. Plus, having food on hand will save you money by reducing the temptation to buy a stale, overpriced muffin from the hotel cafe when you feel hungry.
3. Pack snacks
If you can’t get to your local market, packing snacks from home is the next best thing. Look for protein-rich items like jerky and protein bars that will fill you up and won’t take up too much space in your luggage.
Bottled water can also be a significant expense when you’re out and about. Assuming you have access to a clean water source, pack a water bottle and consider a portable water bottle that folds up and fits in your pocket.
4. Enter the airport lounge
The Centurion Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport offers a hearty buffet, available only to certain American Express cardholders. (Photo provided by American Express)
One of the best ways to buy food while traveling is at airport lounges. Many premium travel credit cards offer lounge access as a perk, usually through the Priority Pass lounge membership program. The quality of the food varies by lounge, but you can usually expect light snacks such as fruit, crisps, cookies, and coffee. Upscale lounges may also offer buffet-style meals.
Aside from food, lounges often offer faster Wi-Fi speeds than you’d find at the airport, and some even offer showers, exercise rooms, massages, and more. Arrive at the airport early to make the most of these amenities.
5. Arrive early
Please arrive at the airport early with plenty of time to spare. If you’re running late, you might panic and take an expensive taxi instead of using public transportation, which usually costs a fraction of the price. Rideshare prices may also be higher for routes to the airport at certain times of the day. If you have the time, you can avoid steep pricing.
Don’t risk having to rebook your flight at the last minute because you arrived late.
6. Get a refund for your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership fee
You can speed through airport congestion by signing up for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, both of which are Trusted Traveler programs offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
If approved, they’ll be able to use priority lanes, which typically result in shorter, faster lines because travelers don’t have to remove their shoes, laptops, belts or jackets. According to TSA data, 94% of TSA PreCheck passengers had wait times of less than five minutes in December 2021.
TSA PreCheck Fee Refund Card
Global Entry Fee Refund Card
7. Take advantage of credit card free night vouchers
Some hotel credit cards (including those with annual fees of less than $100) offer free hotel night certificates. If the cost of a hotel room exceeds your credit card’s annual fee (which it very well can), it may be a smart move to get one of these cards to save money on free nights.
Plus, these cards usually offer extra perks like elite status that can make your stay more enjoyable, or bonus points that can make future stays free or at least cheaper.
8. Book a hotel room with points
Speaking of bonus points, spending hotel points is almost always a better idea than collecting them. Booking a room with points is a smart way to avoid dipping into the cash you’ve saved for your vacation, but it also has some other benefits.
You might be able to avoid resort fees: Resort fees (the extra fees hotels charge to cover use of extra amenities like pools or Wi-Fi) can be annoying and cost more than $50 per night. Thankfully, some hotel loyalty programs, like Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt, don’t charge resort fees on rooms booked with points.
Additional discounts may be available. For stays booked with points, you may receive additional discounts on longer stays. For example, every five consecutive nights you stay at a Marriott property using Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll get a free night on your lowest point stay. Hilton has a similar policy, with Silver Elite members and above receiving their fifth night free when booking with points.
9. Travel during the off-season
Average cash airfare for economy class
During the holiday season (December 22nd to 29th)
Airfares for airline routes during the holiday season are on average 41% higher than other non-holiday flights booked about six months in advance.
10. Explore inexpensive tourist attractions
Admission to the Jamon Observatory at the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is free.
Traveling to expensive, well-known spots like San Francisco, New York City, and Walt Disney World doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
For example, there are many free activities at Disney World. Take a loop on the monorail or watch fireworks from the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Additionally, you can find free walking tours in most major cities (although tour guides usually rely on tips, so tip them accordingly).
Prioritize free attractions over paid attractions: for example, the entrance fee to the de Young Museum in San Francisco is about $15, but you can go to one of the coolest rooms, the Jamon Observatory, for free and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
St. Louis has many great cultural institutions, but start with the ones that offer free admission, like the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, and St. Louis Zoo. If you have time, try going to a paid facility.
11. Understand your typical cost baseline
Knowing the approximate cost of things can help you avoid being charged what is called an unofficial “tourist tax”.
For example, research average taxi fares before your trip to get an idea of the range you can expect. Consider researching the common prices for your item on the market so you can haggle with confidence. Knowing how to buy official tickets in advance can help you avoid overpaying for your bus fare.
12. Consider travel insurance
If you’re worried about losing value on your prepaid travel expenses, consider purchasing travel insurance. This optional, stand-alone insurance can be purchased separately from your airfare.
However, many credit cards offer travel insurance as a built-in benefit to customers who pay for travel expenses like airfare and hotels with their card, so you may not have to pay out of pocket for travel insurance.
However, travel insurance may not guarantee a refund – unless you’ve purchased the more expensive “cancel for any reason” insurance, you’ll only get a refund if you cancel for a covered reason.
Final thoughts on all the ways to save money on travel
Travel can be expensive. When you factor in other costs, a great airfare deal may not make your vacation as cheap as you thought it would be. Once you’re on the road, your vacation expenses often end up being much more than you initially budgeted for.
By using these tips to save money on your travels, you’ll have more freedom to spend your money where you need it, whether it’s this trip or your next.
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