21 Travel Tips That Will Save You Money

Travel can be expensive, whether it’s high gas prices during your road trip or increasing travel demand causing hotel and airline costs to rise.

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But it doesn’t have to be as costly as you might think with these tips for saving money on travel. Traveling long-term is not at all like traveling for a short trip or a weekend break.

For a short trip, you pack in the sights, save sleeping for later, try all the foods and drinks and maybe even stay in a special-occasion type of accommodation.

When you travel for longer, the novelty of excess wears off as you try to stick to a manageable budget.

Our favorite ways to save money while still traveling for a long time involve a few different themes: do your research, make smart investments that pay off long-term and skip the excessive parts of travel, in order to still have fun and make memories.

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1. Arrive Early

Leave plenty of time to get to the airport early. If you’re running late, you might hail an overpriced cab in a panic instead of taking public transportation at typically a fraction of the cost.

You may also find that rideshare prices could be higher for routes to the airport at certain times. Having more time allows you to avoid the surge pricing.

Don’t risk having to rebook a flight last minute because you arrived late.

2. Research Hotel Booking: Travel Tips That Will Save You Money

Check BOOKING.COM to book your accommodation and also Check Cheaper Flights to book your flights.

Do your research and stay in hostels that are offering the highest number of free add-ons.

It’s effortless these days to find a hostel that is going to offer free Wi-Fi, free buffet breakfast, and free showers.

You can even use this $1000 travel fund to plan your dream vacation!

4. Travel During The Offseason

If you can travel during the offseason, that’s not only a way to avoid crowds and the headaches that come with them. But you’ll usually be able to get a better deal.

A analysis conducted in spring 2021 of over 1,110 airfares found that airfares averaged more expensive for holiday travel than any other booking window.

“You want one that’ll give you unlimited ATM withdrawals abroad and won’t charge you any transaction fees.” – Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift, full-time travelers behind Goats on the Road.

6. Pack Light: Major Travel Tips That Will Save You Money

Packing light is undoubtedly beneficial for avoiding checked bag fees, but there are a few other incentives to do so.

For starters, packing light means you can get around a lot easier. With a light suitcase or backpack, you’re more agile, enabling you to navigate public transit rather than feel like you need to pay for a taxi.

So how do you pack light?

Bring clothes that you can wash easily in a sink. Look for items that dry quickly, and pick clothes that you can mix and match.

Default to basic items that go with pretty much any outfit, so you don’t need to cram four pairs of shoes into your bag.

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Plus, packing light means you won’t be tempted to pay for souvenirs because limited capacity in your suitcase or backpack will deter your urges.

7. Cook More and Eat Out Less: Travel Tips To Save Money

There, I said it: stop eating in restaurants (all the time!).

If you travel for longer than a three or four-day getaway, you notice how eating in restaurants adds up very quickly.

There’s tax, tip (most places), the drink from the ‘Drinks’ section that looks good, the add-in of an appetizer or a side (or three) and a little bit of dessert.

Unless you’re in Sri Lanka, where eating out for two runs you 6 USD (all following prices are listed in USD) or so (with tea and smoothies). Chances are that eating out in most of the world is more expensive than cooking your own food.

Even trips to notoriously expensive spots like San Francisco, New York City or Walt Disney World don’t have to break the bank.

For example, there are tons of no-cost things to do at Disney World. Ride around the monorail, or watch fireworks from the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

In addition, you can find free walking tours in most major cities (though tour guides typically rely on gratuity, so tip accordingly).

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Prioritize the free tourist attractions over the ones that have a fee.

For example, tickets to San Francisco’s de Young Museum cost about $15, but you can go to one of its coolest rooms, the Hamon Observation Tower, for free panoramic views of the city.

And while there are dozens of excellent cultural institutions in St. Louis. Start at the ones that have free admission, including the Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and Saint Louis Zoo.

If time permits, then turn to the attractions with a fee.

9. Join a Traveling Group on Facebook

or login into Couchsurfing and find members that live in the specific city you are traveling to.

Ask the individual to give you the inside scoop on the non-touristy destinations.

These restaurants and shops will most likely be a lot cheaper, and you will also get a real, genuine experience of the city or country you are staying in.

11. Take Advantage Of Credit Card Free Night Certificates

Some Hotel Credit Cards even those with sub-$100 annual fees offer Free Hotel Night Certificates.

Assuming the value of your hotel room is more than the credit card’s annual fee (which it very easily can be), it could be a smart move to get one of these cards to save some money with a free night stay.

Plus, these cards typically offer extra benefits like Elite Status, making your stay more enjoyable, and bonus points, which can make future stays free — or at least cheaper.

One of the best ways to get food while traveling is at an airport lounge.

Many premium travel credit cards offer lounge access as perks, generally through the Priority Pass lounge membership program.

Food quality ranges by lounge, but you can usually expect light snacks like fruit, chips, cookies and coffee. The fancier lounges sometimes provide entire buffet meals.

Beyond food, lounges can provide Wi-Fi speeds typically faster than what’s offered in the airport.

In addition, some lounges offer showers, exercise rooms or massages. Get to the airport early to maximize the amenities.

14. Get Cash Back With Ibotta

Ibotta is a free app that gives you cash back for making purchases on things like:

• Groceries,
• Clothes,
• Toiletries, and much more while traveling.

Before I visit a grocery store or make any purchase in-person, I check the Ibotta app to see what kind of cash back I can get.

Currently, there are deals like getting up to $2 off toothpaste, up to 20% cash back from Groupon, $1.50 off pasta, and so much more.

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It’s silly not to use Ibotta if you’re a regular grocery shopper and also have to buy things like clothes, toiletries, and pretty much anything else you’d find at a store like Walmart or Amazon.

If you sign up now, you can get $10 in your account by using my link here.

If you’re downloading Ibotta on your phone, the app will ask if you have a referral code. Use referral code to get $10 for signing up.

15. Pack Snacks: Travel Tips That Will Save You Money

If you can’t visit a local market, packing snacks from home is the next best thing.

Look for protein-heavy items like jerky and protein bars, which can make you feel full and not take up too much space in your luggage.

Bottled water can also shape up to be a considerable expense when you’re on the go.

Assuming you have access to a clean water source, pack your canteen, and consider a portable water bottle that can collapse to fit in your pocket.

16. Buy a Water Bottle: Travel Tips To Save Money

and use the bathroom whenever you have free access to one.

Bathrooms cost money in most foreign countries, and water is not cheap, and in some cases, not clean enough to drink.

Here is a fruit-infused bottle that works great for adding a little flavor to your water.

Check on Amazon

Traveling does not have to be expensive or stressful when planning out. There are so many different ways to save money while traveling, and some of my favorite memories while traveling has been free.

17. Digit: Travel Tips To Save Money

Digit is a fun money-saving app that helps you save money for a particular goal.

Say you want to save up for a vacation. Digit will analyze your spending and automatically move money from your checking account to Digit when you can afford it.

Digit knows exactly how much to save, and allows unlimited withdrawals so you can access savings at any time, and even has a 1% savings bonus.

You can even create a custom travel savings fund in Digit! Check How DIGIT works here

18. Shop At Local Grocery Stores

Visiting local markets can be an adventure on its own. You’ll find different types of foods that you wouldn’t necessarily come across at home.

Plus, having food on hand means you’ll likely save money. As you’ll be less tempted to buy the stale, overpriced muffin from the hotel cafe just because you were hungry.

The Bottom Line: 20 Travel Tips That Will Save You Money

Travel costs can add up.

Your vacation might not be as cheap as that slick airfare deal may have led you to believe when you factor in other expenses. 

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Often, vacation spending can rocket past your initial budget once you’re out on the road.

Saving money on travel with these tricks can give you more freedom to spend where you need, whether that’s on this trip or your next one.