8 Smart Ways to Save Money On Travel

Looking for ways to save money on travel? Check out these must-read tips!

Traveling can be super expensive. The cost of flights, food, accommodations, rental cars, activities, etc. really adds up. When you’re on vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you’re going over budget!

But, the good news is there’s some easy ways to save money on travel! With a bit of planning and creativity, you can significantly reduce your travel costs. In this post I’ll share some tips and tricks I’ve picked up to help you travel on a budget.

This post is all about ways to save money on travel.

8 Ways to Save Money on Travel

1. Pack Efficiently

Firstly, it’s super important to take the time to pack everything you’ll need for your trip. When you pack efficiently, you’ll avoid having to make any trips to the store at your destination for things you already have at home.

For example, if you’re going on a beach vacation and forget flip flops, you’ll have to go buy a pair that you don’t need (and could’ve packed yourself). This has definitely happened to me before – I’ve forgotten toiletry items and had to buy new ones. I could’ve saved money if I packed smarter.

Also, packing carefully means you’ll avoid going over the weight limit for your baggage and save you from overweight baggage fees!

2. Bring Food for the Airport

Speaking of packing efficiently, definitely make sure to pack food for the airport to avoid the huge mark-ups. I can almost guarantee that a granola bar bought at the airport will cost significantly more than a granola bar bought at the grocery store and packed in your bag.

3. Always Price Compare

To find the best deals, you should always look at more than 1 option. Whether it’s hotels, rental cars, flights, or other services, there’s always competitors out there that want your business!

I was recently traveling and needed a ride share from the airport to my Airbnb. When I searched on Uber, a ride was going to cost $80, which sounded like a lot. Instead, I checked Lyft and the exact same ride was $40- half the price! It’s definitely worth it to shop around and make sure you’re getting the best rates available.

4. Be Flexible on Your Dates

Flight prices and accommodation prices tend to be the most expensive on weekends because that’s when most people are off work (and therefore traveling). Keep this in mind when deciding on your travel schedule. It may be worth taking an extra vacation day or two to save a few hundred dollars! Plus, things like restaurants and tourist attractions are typically quieter on weekdays.

5. Find Accommodations with Kitchens/Kitchenettes

One of the biggest expenses while traveling can be food. Eating out 3x per day, every day of vacation really adds up! Cutting down on food costs will save you a huge amount of money on your trip.

When I am booking accommodations, I always try to find a place that has at least a kitchenette (coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator) that allows me to store snacks and make simple meals like breakfast. I still love to enjoy some meals out of course, but the ability to make simple food at home is totally worth it.

6. Take Advantage of Credit Card Perks

These days, many credit cards offer travel-related perks and advantages. For example, my credit card offers a buddy pass (companion travels for free), free checked bags, a rebate on NEXUS, and ability to redeem points for flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. Or, my boyfriend’s credit card has no foreign transaction fee which helps save unexpected costs while spending money abroad.

Why not take advantage of these perks? It can help significantly reduce your travel costs.

7. Research to Find Low-Cost Activities

Even expensive cities have free and low-cost activities! Do some research to see if there’s any free festivals or events, local parks or museums, beaches, botanical gardens, walking tours, or other activities that are usually relatively inexpensive.

I live in Vancouver, which can definitely be a very expensive city, but there’s tons of free activities to do as well. Walks are one of my favourite activities- it’s free and has the best scenery!

8. Look for Bundles and Packages

Packaged deals are a great way to save money on purchases you’re planning to make anyways. If you know you’re going to need a hotel and rental car, check to see if there’s any packaged deals that offer good rates!

This post was all about how to save money on travel.

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