Travel can be pretty costly when in reality, it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of things that you can do to save money while away, and we’re here to share some of our favorite tips and tricks to ensure that you don’t waste your money while traveling. We hope these tips will help put some extra cash in your pocket so that you can make your money go as far as possible (even if that means putting that money towards future vacations).
From eating like a local to opting for a vacation rental and more – here are some ways that you can save money during your next trip:
Eat Like a Local
Instead of eating at the fanciest restaurants in town, ask the locals for food recommendations. They’ll often have excellent advice on where to eat and can introduce you to places you may have never heard of. The best part is that these restaurants are typically cheaper than brand-name ones and offer some really tasty dishes.
Book a Vacation Rental Instead of Staying at a Resort
Another thing you can do to save money while away is to book a vacation rental instead of staying at a resort. Though resorts are fun to stay at, they can be incredibly costly. This is especially true if you are traveling with a group. Most of the time, vacation rentals are cheaper and give you more space. Another plus is that if your vacation rental has a kitchen, you can save money by cooking your own meals some nights.
Partake in Free or Inexpensive Activities
Instead of spending money on expensive tourist attractions, opt for free or inexpensive activities. Some things you can do that are fun and that will save you some money include going on a hike, visiting a local museum, spending the day at the beach, having a picnic, etc. Over the years, we’ve come to find that some of our favorite activities have been the ones that are the least expensive!
Use Public Transportation
Depending on your destination, you could save some money by choosing to use public transportation instead of renting a car. Public transportation is typically straightforward to navigate and much more inexpensive than renting a vehicle. We highly recommend using public transportation if you’ll be staying in a big city as this can also help you save on parking costs.
Consider if You Need Travel Insurance
Many people think that they should get travel insurance no matter the circumstance. But you don’t necessarily need to purchase travel insurance for every trip. While planning out your travels, sit down and consider your plans.
For example, if you’re going to an international destination, the risk may be a little higher, and travel insurance may come in handy. But if you’re staying close to home, purchasing travel insurance may not be your best option. Travel insurance can be expensive, and if you find that you don’t need it, you could save yourself a lot of money.
Travel During the Off Season
Traveling during peak times throughout the year can be extremely costly and, most of the time, very crowded. Instead, we highly recommend traveling during the offseason. Doing so is going to be a lot cheaper, and we think you’ll be happy that there won’t be as many other tourists around. If you aren’t sure when the peak season at your destination is, you can easily look up this information online.
Use Your Credit Card Points
Many credit card companies allow you to earn points when doing things such as shopping or going out to eat. A lot of times, you can then use these points to book flights, hotels, or car rentals. Depending on the number of points you’ve accumulated, you could potentially get your entire hotel stay for free, a free roundtrip flight, or a free car rental.
Book Ahead of Time
One final thing you can do to stop wasting money while traveling is to book ahead of time. Once you know that you’ll be traveling to a destination, be sure to book your flight, hotel/vacation rental, car rental, tickets to attractions, etc. Typically, the farther in advance you book, the cheaper things will be. As time passes, your destination may become more in demand, leading to price increases.
If you have upcoming travel plans and need a passport or visa, we can help! You can get the application process started on our website. If you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team. We’d be happy to assist you! No matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
