Use Websites To Find Deals on Flights
Before you book an airline flight, check out Google Flights and Skyscanner. Set up alerts, so you can be notified when the price of your desired flight decreases.
“My besties are Google Flights alerts and Skyscanner multicity search. Google flags price drops the moment they happen, Skyscanner pulls up budget carriers and odd one-way hops,” said Georgia Fowkes, a travel advisor at Altezza Travel.
Booking your flight at least a month in advance and flying on certain days of the week could help reduce prices even more. According to Expedia, booking domestic flights one month (or up to three months) before departure can save travelers up to 25%.
“Additionally, flying on a Thursday instead of a Sunday can save travelers around 17%,” said Melanie Fish, a travel expert with Expedia.
Consider Traveling In The Offseason
Avoid the in-season crowds and high prices by traveling during the off-peak season. “If you’re flexible with your dates, always travel during shoulder season. Not only will this help you save money while accommodations are cheaper, but you’ll also face fewer crowds, which can make your vacation significantly more enjoyable,” said Jennifer Yellin, a travel expert with Points Path.
Book Direct To Save on Affordable Accommodations
Booking directly can save you money on your travel accommodations. So cut out the middleman and save.
“If you find the hotel you want to stay at on an online booking site aggregator, usually, if you approach the hotel directly via their direct booking website, the price will be less, as they’re not paying any commission when you book directly with them,” said Daniel Green, co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance.
And if you’re considering staying in a vacation rental, like an Airbnb, booking directly is still an option.
“The same goes for vacation rentals. Many don’t know this, but on Airbnb, lots of rentals are managed by larger property management companies that also have their own direct booking websites. Again—book direct and you’ll likely knock 10% off your lodging costs,” Green said.
Pay For Hotels and Flights With Credit Card Rewards
Redeem credit card rewards. if you have a travel credit card reward, now is the time to use all the points you’ve acquired.
“My number one trick when it comes to traveling for less is to use points earned from your credit card rewards. This can allow you to redeem points for free flights, hotel stays, or even car rentals,” Yellin said.
Study the different rewards programs carefully. For example, credit card companies typically have different travel partners, like hotel and airline loyalty programs, that you can transfer your rewards to. You should check out what the redemption values are with the various travel partners.
“I recommend putting in a little bit of effort to get to know your specific rewards program, because there might be ways to use even less points for the same exact travel booking—such as transferring your points to a partner loyalty program versus booking directly through the program’s own hotel chain,” Yellin said.
Utilize These Simple Hacks For Extra Savings On Travel Costs
Beyond taking advantage of credit cards and being strategic about when and where you travel, there are some easy ways to make your vacation more affordable once you’re at your destination.
“Some overall ways to cut costs include using public transportation over a taxi, finding a free walking tour, and looking into free days at a museum. And when it comes to meals, find out where the locals eat and avoid tourist-heavy areas,” Yellin said.
And while renting a car can be costly, you may be able to use it to save money on other key expenses.
“When traveling as a family, we find hiring a car is often a massive money saver,” said Jason Mills, a travel writer at Big Little Travels. “We recently visited Morocco and hired a car for the week. This meant we didn’t need to use local taxis that could be expensive, we could visit attractions directly rather than booking expensive tours, and we could visit the supermarket the locals use to stock up on food and drink, allowing us to save money on eating out three times each day.
The Bottom Line
Affordable travel is within reach. You can save money on flights by using your credit card rewards and transferring them to an airline loyalty program. Also, consider using sites like Google Flights and Skyscanner to get notifications about price drops and find cheap flights.
And once you’re at your destination, save on food costs by making lunch the main meal of the day and making use of apps like Too Good To Go. When it comes to saving on attractions and activities, sites like Groupon can be useful for coupons.