This is basically where it all begins and for many can be very overwhelming. So how do you travel more often for far less money? It’s best to just keep it simple and break it down. What do you like to do? What activities do you enjoy? What type of weather do you like? Are you going to be traveling alone, as a couple or with a group? Anything in particular you want to experience? Do you want to do something that you have never done before? What type of accommodations are you looking to have? These are the simple questions to ask yourself so you are able to narrow down between a few options on the adventure you would like to have.
After you filter through those questions, then you will be able to select the geographical location and specific destination that will be next on your list to travel to. Keep in mind, that once you get in a regular routine of doing this and the ideas mentioned in this article, you will be going more places more often, so wherever you select to travel to, it doesn’t have to be the end all be all selection. There’s always next time to select the next destination that maybe came in a close second when you were deciding on where to travel to next.
This is the biggest money saver when it comes to travel. As you might already know, most travel destinations have “peak seasons” so to speak and will cost quite a substantial amount more if you choose to travel during these times frames. So the best thing to do is to try and stay as far away from these time frames as much as possible. Select a time that is slightly before or after the peak times, or even better, during off season time frames. You will be amazed at the difference in cost. Besides saving a massive amount of money, you are going to enjoy the destination even more because you are not dealing with crowds and hordes of people everywhere you go and everything that you try to do. Once you experience a destination when it is not as crowded, you’ll try and achieve that everywhere you go.
Staying organized when you are traveling is going to save you quite a bit of money actually. One travel organization tip is to have a small travel backpack so you are able to carry your personal belongings with you easily. Money, phone, camera and any documents or tickets you may need may be obvious items, but having snacks with you at all times, is not only a good way to save a massive amount of money on the daily, but also is healthy for your blood sugar level especially if you are touring an area for extended periods of time during the day. Staying hydrated and refueling with snack bars not only tastes great, but more importantly is going to keep you feeling great, energized, focused and allow you to enjoy the activities you are doing or are headed to.
One of the biggest reasons people do not travel and when they do end up paying a lot more then they need to is procrastination. Decide where you want to go and book it. That simple. Most destinations now allow you to book and then pay upon arrival. This helps eliminate the affordability excuses and now that the trip is booked, you make it happen. It’s amazing how your mindset instantly changes when you stop putting off your travel desires and start putting action plans together. Hotels especially allow you to book your stay and then pay on arrival or when checking out. This frees up funds so you are able to book flights, train tickets, or things that you need to pay for right away for your travels. It’s all about juggling funds and not paying for as many things as possible until your arrival, during your stay, or upon leaving.
It may sound silly but putting $5 away here, $10 away there, and $20 away on occasion whenever possible adds up very quickly. When you think about all the things you buy during the week and what that adds up to, you certainly can make the conscious decision to start a travel fund. A coffee a few times a week is nearing almost $300 in only 6 months and that’s just from one expense example in your week. This is not to say to give up everything that you enjoy, it’s just to give an example of the mindset to adapt so you can see that coming up with spending money for travel is a lot easier than you may think. Don’t think of needing it all at once as it seems unreachable. Instead watch it add up over time and then it becomes a habit that you do not even think of and you have a travel fund building regularly. Using a handy travel piggy bank also makes the process easy and gets you in a saving routine quickly.
Depending on where you are traveling to, flights are going to be one of the top two expenses for your travel plans. There are some basic things to keep in mind when looking for flights to your destination. If you are able to not travel on Fridays & Saturdays and instead pick Tuesday & Wednesday’s, your flight many times can be half the cost. Also, if you do one or two stops or fly into an alternate nearby airport, these things often times can lower expenses as well. These concepts should not be inconveniences, but rather turn you into a savvy traveler that knows how to look at all options available to them to make the best money saving decisions for the destination they are traveling to. After a few times of doing this, it actually becomes a fun game of securing the best deal you are able to come up with for each trip. There’s some additional tips and tricks for flight travel you can learn here as well.
Traveling by train is not only relaxing & convenient, but will take you through some of the most stunning scenery on the way to your destination that you are not able to see by plane or car. In fact, many people use train travel as a trip itself. From the sleeping quarters, dining car, and large scenic windows to view the majestic landscape, you have everything you need all in one location and you never need to leave the train. In terms of cost, always check Amtrak or other local lines that may have a route or schedule to your destination that could be significantly less than a flight or renting a car. It may be a time issue as obviously traveling by train or car is going to take you longer than a flight, but if you have the extra time or are not in a hurry, then traveling by train may put more money back in your pocket as well.
There used to be a time when getting in the car was the cheaper way to travel, but as most are witness to that is not always the case these days. If you prefer or enjoy driving, that is a different story, but if you’re choosing to drive in an attempt to save money, you should take a moment to compare options. If you’re traveling quite a distance, gas vehicle costs add up very quickly, as well as food and drink. Often, when you see the cost of a flight for example, the initial cost looks more than what you may think gas will add up to. However, when you add the cost of stopping to eat at restaurants as well as snacks & goodies for the drive, that can easily add up to a couple hundred more depending on how many travel days, and that will put you right back at the same price point of the flight when all is said and done.
One of the best things that you can do is to learn and use the local transit systems of the city you are in. Obviously this only applies if you are staying in a substantial major city that this will this work for you, but not only is it going to save you quite a bit of money, you are also going to get to see the culture of an area in a completely different perspective. When you are riding the buses, subways, trolleys, etc. you are immersing yourself in the destination and you will get to experience a lot more and get a real vibe of the city more than just having a rental car and being more worries about finding a parking spot rather than the local artwork on the building you are passing, or eyeing a festival that is going on or the location of a restaurant that you may want to come back to.
As you probably are well aware of, when you are traveling, the conveniences that you might have forgotten at home, while are going to be available; they are going to cost you up to three times as much. These are just unnecessary costs that you do not every have to worry about if you just take a few moments to get what you need beforehand. The most prepared travelers also are those that spend the least and are prepared for the day or the adventures they are heading off to. Luckily, we also live in an era where modern conveniences and cool travel accessories make things even easier for us, save us quite a bit of money and keep us safer all at the same time. These are just some of the things that are such simple concepts but provide a world of a difference for any traveler:
Water Bottle Holder
We have all been there. You are out at the park, walking the city, or about to head on a little hike only to realize that it would be a good idea to have some water. You head into the local convenience store right there and its 2.99 for a small bottle of water.
While this is expected, it doesn’t make sense to spend this when you could have gotten it beforehand for probably 50 cents. With a handy water bottle holder, you can do just that. Take a bottle of water with you easily and hands free wherever you go.
Travel Sunblock
If you enjoy taking in the outdoor adventures on you travels, sunblock should be a regular part of your day. Too much exposure and not only is your health and skin compromised, but now your entire trip that you have been planning is now ruined because of the sunburn you just acquired.
The inflated price of sunblock at resorts makes you question even buying it. Take the decision making out of the equation, stay healthy and save money by keeping a small amount of sunblock with you.
Travel Pill Holder
A headache can kill a vacation before it even begins and if you are like many, if you are not able to treat the headache immediately then it can linger for hours on end of not days unfortunately. At the hotel, a small bottle of ibuprofen can be upwards of $9 for just a few pills.
Take the headache, literally, out of the equation and keep a few pills with you. With a travel pill holder you can clip the device on almost anything and be on you way ready to take action and defeat the pain if needed.
Travel Snacks
You never want to get “hangry” as they call it when you are traveling. No matter if you are in the car, at the airport, at the park or on the train, there will be times when you’re hungry creeps up on you out of nowhere.
Having a quick snack is not only going to keep your blood sugar in balance, but it provides you the health benefits and energy to keep your body fueled with nutrients . Snack holders are easy to throw in your suitcase or travel pouch and will provide you the extra boost whenever you need it.
Slim-line Waist Pouch
If you want to keep a few things with you but do not want to be bogged down with a big back pack, small slime waist pouches are the perfect solution. They can perform a lot of different duties as well.
If you are in the airport, you can keep any travel papers, passports or id that you may need to pull out multiple times, and if you are heading out for the day, throwing in a snack bar, some cash and ID can all be easily tucked away so you can focus on enjoying the day.
Thermos
Staying hydrated is not only one of the most important aspects every day and when traveling, but it can also help curb costs. Keeping your body hydrated helps to keep the body balanced and fuller longer with the nutrition from meals you have throughout the day.
This will help steer you away from getting multiple quick high sugar snacks throughout the day, one is fine, lol, and in turn will also help you save money. This way you can plan on out trying out the local sushi restaurant for dinner instead.
Credit Cards can actually be one of the best ways to travel, if you are smart with them. They offer travel rewards in a variety of different ways and can give you perks that otherwise you cannot receive. For example, with most travel credit cards, if you use the card for everyday purchases, you earn points for every dollar that you spend that in turn will then become travel points that you can redeem towards flights, upgrades, car rentals and even hotel stays. There is a slight learning curve to know how to maximize the most benefits, but once you get the hang of how to best utilize points to get the most value for the points you are trading in, you will be amazed at the things you will be able to get for free just by buying the things that you need and use in your everyday life and mastering credit card travel hacks.
To save quite a bit of money with car rentals, make sure you are booking times that match up at the beginning and end of rental time. For example, if you need your rental to begin on Tuesday at 11am, make sure the end time is 11am on Wednesday or whichever day you are returning the vehicle. Rental rates are given per 24 hour period, so, if you return the car at 2pm on Wednesday instead, you’ll be charged another complete day even though it’s just a few hours longer. This should be avoided whenever possible as you are going to be paying a lot more money for really no reason. Even if you’re returning the car to the airport and you want to match the return time with your flight, it would be better to return the car earlier and have dinner at the airport rather than paying for an additional day.
Consumers really have the upper hand when it comes to booking hotel rooms in today’s technology driven world. There are so many websites and travel apps that allow you to put in a destination you want to travel to and look at most if not all options that are available to you as well as the price, features and amenities that will come with that lodging option. One of the best websites to use is hotelscombined.com. This website allows you to put in your desired destination and the website will search through a multitude of different booking websites and give you the different prices that are listed for each website. It’s really pretty fascinating to watch the search take place through so many different websites and then give you such instant results.
One of the best ways that you can get many freebies, upgrades and perks when you are traveling is simply by asking. When you check into your hotel, simply ask if there are any upgrades that are available or any upgraded suites that are not booked that you could have at the same rate. Often times, upgrades are able to be given to guests that simply ask. Especially if you are Traveling during non-peak time frames, there will be many more options to take advantage of for free. The same goes for ticketed activities. For example, there are many boat trips, catamarans, etc. that are available if you’re at a water destination. If you are enjoying these activities during off-season, there are lounges, VIP seating, etc. that are usually are extra costs that sometimes can be given out for free If they are not busy.
There are a multitude of travel apps that have benefited the travel world as well. From all the main players like Expedia, Hotels Combined, Booking.com, Hotwire and Hotels.com, to the endless array of specialty apps such as Travlezoo, Hotels Tonight, Hopper, Roadtrippers, and Fareness, all of these apps make our life so much easier and save us all so much money. Take the time to find a few additional favorites as well, besides the ones mentioned, and familiarize yourself with how to use them to assist you in finding the best travel deals with hotels, flights, tickets, meals and so much more. There is quite a selection of apps to choose from so do not get overwhelmed, and this is one example where selecting some of the most popular options that everyone else is using is a good thing.
Meals and snacks can start to add up very quickly and can be one of the major expenses when you are traveling, but there are some simple ways that you can make this less expensive. While it is always recommended to experience a certain restaurant or type of food that you want when you are traveling, for the everyday meals and “in between” meals, there are ways to cut some corners. Many restaurants and counter service places provide very large portions of food so if you are traveling as a couple consider splitting meal or if you are traveling by yourself ask if they have a lunch portion. Lunch portions are not only usually a little smaller; they can be up to half the price as well. For the morning, if you’re at a hotel, most now offer coffee in the room so use that and get a bit to eat prior to go along with the Joe.
If you are traveling in a group, with friends or family, then Airbnb is not only amazing, but you will save a substantial amount of money rather than staying at many of the resorts in the area that you are traveling to. Airbnb has just about any type of accommodations that you need from a couch, to a single room to an entire 5+ bedroom house or villa. The entire group staying there can pool together and split the cost evenly and easily. Not only does this save money for everyone, it allows you all to stay together for the duration of the trip and be able to have a lot more quality time together rather than parties of the group needing to go back to the hotel room for the evenings, etc. Always check with the local resorts for deals however, but for groups especially Airbnb is such an amazing option.
To save money on ticketed events such as shows, museums, showcases etc. you have to be on top of your game a little. Tickets many times for concerts, music events, museums, galleries, tours, etc. most of the times are going to be cheaper online, and so you are going to want to get those ahead of time. However, you can get deals of up to sixty and seventy percent of show tickets in New York and Las Vegas if you wait and get tickets at the discounted establishments once you arrive. While you may not be able to get a specific show, there will be plenty of options to choose from. If you have to see a certain show then you are not going to want to wait to get tickets as there’s a possibility it will not be available. But if you have no particular preference, you can save massive money getting tickets this way once you arrive.
Pretty much every destination you are looking to travel is going to have some sort of festival season, and many areas have them throughout the year. This is one of the best ways to really experience the vibe and the best part is they are most of the time free! You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to take part in the local sights and activities and can quite often enjoy a multitude of offerings at no cost at all. Instead of investing a hefty sum into a guided tour, attend the local pumpkin festival, apple orchard, art fair, holiday festivities, etc. These types of events will offer you a vibrant experience that you can enjoy for the duration of the day or evening. Always do a quick search of where you are traveling to and see if there is a calendar of events so you can get an idea of the local festivities taking place.
This is a big one. As with most aspects in life, the things that are going to provide the most memorable situations, or have the biggest impact on your experience most of the time are free and have absolutely nothing to do with money. They are the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the things that make you smile. A walk through Central Park, a hike in Denali National Forest, a bike ride in Golden Gate Park, a view from Griffith Observatory or stroll through Pikes Place Market are all things that will provide you some of the most amazing experiences and they will cost you absolutely nothing. Mother Nature provides you an abundant endless assortment of breathtaking experiences at no cost at all, so wherever you go and whatever you do, take the time to soak in experiences and not material things. Whenever you can, travel more often and open yourself up to this amazing world.