Who doesn’t like to save money when possible? Traveling can be expensive, but with the right planning you can bring down the cost. Check out the following five ways you can save money while traveling, and your wallet will thank you. After all, trips are supposed to be enjoyed, but not so much that your bank account is in pieces afterward.
- Take advantage of Google Flights
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Google Flights is a great tool for finding cheap flights, especially if you have some flexibility. To use it, type in any location you are interested in visiting, and it will populate a date grid and price graph for you so that you can find out when the flights that best fit your budget are offered. If you already have dates set for when you will be traveling, just enter the location and date of your outbound flight and return flight, and it will show you the cheapest flights offered on those specific dates.
- Stay in vacation rentals
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If you don’t have a place to stay at your destination, vacation rental websites tend to offer lower prices than most hotels as well as offer a convenient location and household amenities. While Airbnb seems to be the most popular, there are many other sites that offer vacation rentals as well like vrbo.com, hometogo.com and homestay.com. By looking through these sites and sorting the selections according to location, type of place and price, you can be sure to find a place you love without breaking the bank.
- Join travel loyalty rewards programs
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Even if you don’t have a corresponding credit card, it never hurts to join travel loyalty rewards programs. Most are free and offer persuasive payoffs like free or reduced rates on airfare, car rentals, nightly stays, and other exclusive perks and upgrades.
- Skip eating and shopping in areas that are close to tourist destinations
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Walking just a few blocks can cut prices at restaurants and stores in some places, because they tend to raise the price for the close audience. Because you often have to pay more for everyday items at these locations, it’s almost always less expensive to skip eating and shopping there. You can always visit the attraction and then head elsewhere to eat and shop.
- Look for city tourism cards, Groupon Getaways, and free attractions
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Depending on your itinerary, purchasing a city tourism card or Groupon Getaway may be well worth your money. Most city tourism cards grant you free entry to several attractions, discounts at restaurants and shops, fast pass options at the most popular attractions, and free public transportation. In addition, Groupon Getaways offers huge savings on a variety of single attractions if you aren’t looking to do several.
With these tips, you’ll be amazed at what you can save on your next trip. By using them, you will get the most for your dollar, have an enjoyable trip, and still have plenty of money left in your bank account.