6 Realistic Ways to Slash Your Travel Expenses
Save Money, Travel More!
EST. READING TIME: 10 MIN
So you want to travel as much as possible, but don't have the funds to jet set every weekend?
The age-old question plaguing those of us forsaken with unquenchable wanderlust — how can you travel as much as possible while living within your means? I’ve set a personal goal to take one international trip every quarter, but on top of my everyday expenses this ideal becomes difficult to execute.
Fortunately, with some strategic planning and creativity, you can slash your travel expenses without totally compromising on comfort and luxury. So, how can you make your trips more cost-effective, allowing you to travel more and get the most bang for your buck? Here’s six practical ways to cut costs that go beyond true budget travel. Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or preparing for your first big trip, these strategies will help you save money along the way in preparation for your next big adventure.
#1. Let Your Flight Guide Your Destination
To kick things off, I have some bad news to break to you. You’re probably planning your trips all wrong! Most people have a free period of time, think of a destination they’d like to visit, and then begin searching for flights. Unfortunately, this common process is totally backwards and costs you hundreds of dollars per trip!
Next time you have an opportunity to take a vacation, let your flight dictate where you’re going to go. What does that mean in practice? Let me show you!
First, open up Google Flights and enter the airport you’ll be departing from and the departure and return dates you’re thinking of. Ideally these dates are flexible, since you’ll be even more likely to save some money! The key here is that you’re not going to put in any destination in the “Where to?” entry field. Once you hit the search button, you’ll be taken to a whole world map showing you the cost of flights around the world for your selected date range. This is how you can find extremely cheap flights to global destinations, which will then narrow down your eventual vacation choices depending on your budget, personal preference, and the time of year, with off-peak season destinations offering the lowest fares. Since international flights are usually one of the most expensive, if not the biggest cost you’ll incur when traveling abroad, this planning method allows you to get the best deals possible by basing your trip around current flight rates. Of course, the earlier you book your flight the better, with 2023 studies reporting that booking trips between 164 to 46 days in advance from the date of departure is the prime window to score cheap flights. On average, the best day to snag the cheapest rate is 70 days before your travel date.
If your travel dates are flexible, this opens up even more potential savings. Typically, the cheapest days of the week to fly are mid-week, with Wednesday being the cheapest and Tuesday being the second cheapest day to fly. Flying on Wednesday will save you almost $100 or on Tuesday will save you an average of $94 versus flying on Sunday – the statistically most expensive day to fly.
Pro Tip:
If your dates are flexible, once you search on Google Flights select your tentative dates again and switch from “Specific dates” to “Flexible dates” in the upper left corner. Then select a weekend, one, or two weeks in a particular month or range in the next six months–opening up even more cost savings as the cheapest flights worldwide are surfaced for the period selected.
It goes without saying, but any time you’re searching for flights you should be using incognito mode or a private browser. This can help prevent potential price increases based on your search history, since some travel websites use cookies and browsing history to track user behavior. When these websites notice repeated searches for a particular route or destination, they increase the prices, assuming you’re considering the purchase and might be willing to pay more. By using incognito mode, your browsing history and cookies are not saved, making it more challenging for these websites to track your searches and potentially inflate prices. This method might not always guarantee lower prices, but it can prevent dynamic pricing based on your search history, allowing for a more neutral browsing experience.
#2. Only Pack a Carry-On
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, with a little creativity and the restraint to only bring clothes you’ll actually wear, you really can fit everything you need in a carry-on and backpack. Aside from the peace of mind this will bring you, since you don’t have to worry about your luggage getting lost, you’ll save money along the way by avoiding extra baggage fees! On average, for domestic flights within the United States, the cost to check a bag typically ranges from $30 to $40 for the first checked bag. For international flights, the cost can be higher, ranging from $60 to $100 or more for the first checked bag, again depending on the airline and the specific route.
That means for a roundtrip flight, you could save anywhere from $60 to $200 just by not checking a bag! Make sure to check the luggage restrictions for your particular airline, since some budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair will charge you for any type of luggage, whether that’s bags carried-on or checked. In that case, it’s helpful to compare the cost of the budget airline fare plus carrying-on luggage both ways, versus the rate offered by a more expensive provider allowing free carry-ons. This will ensure you’re getting the best deal possible, and saving you money to spend on excursions and meals during your trip!
Make sure you adhere to the specific airline’s baggage size guidelines as well – these can include both weight and dimension restrictions. If you’ve gone through the effort of strategically packing, the worst thing you can do is show up to the gate with a bag that’ll cost you anyways since it’s too big or heavy! If you’re a frequent flier, you’ll notice that some airlines are more rigid with their guidelines in practice than others, so you may be able to get away with bending a few rules depending on who you’re flying with.
#3. Alternate Between Hostels and Hotels
I wouldn’t consider myself a “budget traveler,” and I most definitely prefer the privacy and luxury that hotel stays afford. However, when I’ve traveled to particularly expensive destinations in the past, I’ve found it to be much more affordable to alternate between hotel and hostel stays.
Personally, I would get burnt out spending a week or more in a shared room with strangers, let alone having to share a bathroom and kitchen space the whole time too. Instead, I prefer to start my trip by staying in hostels, guesthouses, or budget hotels instead of upscale accommodations when I’m more enthusiastically energetic; and I’m bound to be jet lagged anyways so my sleep schedule will be a little out of whack. Then, three or four days later when I’m starting to crash and just want a warm shower with a good night’s sleep in my own bed, then I move to staying in a hotel. This accommodation alternative reaps the cost savings of staying in hostels, while still getting a taste of privacy and the comfort of a hotel room when I need it most.
When planning out which days you should spend in a hostel and which days you should spend in a hotel, it helps to consider if any external factors may be raising your lodging costs on particular days.
For example, when I traveled to London I spent 4 days in a hotel before flying to Ireland and staying in hostels the whole time I was there. I visited Ireland during St. Patrick's Day, meaning the relatively affordable country had skyrocketing accommodation expenses coinciding with the mass of tourists flocking there to celebrate the holiday. Although I typically prefer to start my vacations in hostels, the timing of this trip made more sense to book a hostel in the second half of my adventure.
If you’re traveling between countries, it can also pay to compare the relative expenses between your destinations. Switzerland, for example, is a notoriously expensive country to visit, meaning it made more sense for me to book hostels during my time there versus the Spain leg of my trip.
Pro Tip:
If you’re really looking for the best of both worlds, consider booking a private room in a hostel. While bunks in shared dorms typically offer you the cheapest rates, single rooms afford you quiet and privacy while still typically being cheaper than a comparable hotel room.
Although I’ve harped on about the benefits of hostels here, you should absolutely check out platforms like Airbnb and Couchsurfing as well for other affordable lodging options. I’ve been able to snag some absolutely insane deals staying in private rooms listed on Airbnb, so if you’re not loving the idea of sleeping in a shared dorm with strangers this can be another happy medium that will save you some money along the way.
#4. Switch Up Groceries & Restaurants
Along the same lines as above, you may be tempted to book dining reservations for the duration of your trip, or go looking for a restaurant every time you want to eat something. Even though you’re staying in a foreign country, remember that just like in the States it’s much more cost-effective to grab some meals from a grocery store instead. If you don’t have access to a kitchen, no problem! You can easily buy ingredients to craft a simple sandwich, charcuterie board, or snack on some fresh fruits and veggies. Aside from supermarkets, you can also explore local markets and street food stalls offering delicious and budget-friendly options.
This savings method isn’t something I would recommend doing the whole trip, since you’ll want to try local dishes prepared authentically by chefs in your destination, but it is a practical way to cut costs on some meals (like towards the end of your trip when you’ve splurged a bit too much in the beginning!). I also prefer to go lighter on my breakfast and lunch meals, saving up funds and my appetite to enjoy a big satisfying meal for dinner.
Similar to the hostel versus hotel dilemma, this may be another cost-saving method you leverage strategically depending on where you’re visiting at a particular moment along your journey. If you’re traveling between different countries, or even between the city and the country, it’s likely more cost-effective to eat groceries in the more expensive destination, saving up for nice hearty meals in the cheaper destination.
#5. Enjoy Free Activities & Attractions
It goes without saying, but free activities are, well, free! If you’re looking to save money on a particular day of your trip or need to make the entire outing budget-friendly, take advantage of free walking tours, museums with no admission fees on certain days, public parks, and beaches for entertainment without extra costs. If you’re trying to brainstorm costless activities to plan for your trip, consider the ways you garner free enjoyment back at home! This could be by engaging with public infrastructure like libraries, spending time outdoors on hikes, or by browsing your local farmer’s or flea market on the weekends.
Whatever you enjoy doing, odds are you can find a similar activity to do for free abroad! I personally love laying on the beach and swimming in the ocean–yet another free, mood-boosting activity– so you’ll catch me on a beach anytime there’s one in the area!
It can also help to join Facebook groups or other local event platforms in the destination you’ll be traveling to, since these forums can provide you with even more awareness of community events happening while you’re in town.
#6. Join Every Travel Rewards Program
This final piece of advice pains me, since I didn’t follow it myself for YEARS and cringe thinking about all the flight miles I’ve lost along the way. Even though it's annoying, and even though it's a hassle, you should seriously sign up for every airline's frequent flier program. Yes, every one. The majority of airline loyalty programs today offer flight miles that NEVER expire. Meaning if you happen to fly that airline anytime again in the future of your entire life, you may have earned enough miles to save some money on your flight. Since these miles don’t expire, and all of these programs are free to sign up, there’s really no reason not to join the rewards system of every airline you’ve flown on. You never know what the future will hold, and you never know when those ancient miles could come in handy again for discounts on future travels.
earn Delta miles in the Milan Starbucks Reserve!
Outside of needing to book actual flights, many airlines offer deals now that allow you to earn miles from daily purchases! The two most exciting deals to me are Delta’s partnership with Starbucks, allowing you to start earning 1 mile per $1 spent at Starbucks once you link your Delta SkyMiles® and Starbucks® Rewards accounts, and Alaska Airlines’ partnership with Lyft, allowing you to earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all Lyft rides once you link your Alaska Mileage Plan and Lyft accounts. As an avid coffee drinker and rideshare user without a car, I’m now earning miles on the same everyday purchases I would’ve been making anyways! Who doesn’t love earning more for the same amount of money they’re already spending.
If you want to go really deep down the airline loyalty rabbit hole, most providers have additional reward systems tied to other standard purchase categories like shopping and dining – American Airlines’ Dining AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines’ Shopping Mileage Plan portal are two common examples. The AAdvantage program allows you to earn AAdvantage® miles for every dollar you spend on a credit or debit card linked to your loyalty account at select restaurants. This is another loyalty variation that you might as well sign up for, because even just going about your daily life, who knows when you’ll happen to dine at a supported restaurant! It’s like a little surprise receiving the email that you just earned miles when you didn’t even realize that would be the case. Alaska’s shopping portal requires you to be more intentional, since you need to enter select brand websites through the portal to be eligible for earning related miles. That being said, if you have a big shopping season coming up like Black Friday or a lot of birthdays, it doesn’t hurt to keep this link in your back pocket since you never know what brands might earn you some extra rewards! This portal is especially useful for big technology purchases – if you’re planning to upgrade your phone anytime soon you can earn up to 350 extra miles just by entering your mobile provider’s website through the portal to make the same upgrade you would’ve anyways!
Most airlines offer some kind of additional perks beyond their respective credit cards, so if you fly frequently with a few preferred airlines I would definitely recommend digging into their website to see how you can earn even more rewards!
Remember, Traveling Doesn't Have To Break the Bank
These practical methods to trim travel costs are more than just money-saving tactics; they’re gateways to unlocking meaningful adventures without breaking the bank. From opting for occasional budget accommodations to seeking free activities, leveraging rewards programs to planning ahead for systematic flight searches, these realistic strategies empower you to explore the world sustainably. Embrace these practical tips not only to cut expenses but also to amplify the richness of your travel experiences, proving that memorable vacations need not come with a hefty price tag.
