From flights and accommodations to sightseeing tickets and transportation, we all know how fast travel costs add up and that’s before you’ve even paid for a meal!
I use points and miles for a lot of my travels but I’m always looking for money-saving hacks for travel to stretch my travel budget and get more for less. From scoring cheaper flights to avoiding sneaky foreign transaction fees, I’ve tested a lot of travel hacks to save money and I’ve put the best ones in this list.
So, whether you’re a budget traveler or just looking for ways to pay less and squeeze value from every dollar you spend, these 15 travel hacks will save you a TON of money on your next trip!
Take a look! What do you have to lose…except maybe some of your hard-earned money! 😉
1. Be Flexible with Dates, Airports, and Destinations.
Flight prices are wildly unpredictable and always changing. The first time you check, the flight to your dream destination is affordable. The next day, it’s three times the price. To get the best deal, be flexible with your departure and return dates or even fly mid-week instead of weekends.
Flight search websites like Google Flights let you set alerts so you can see when a flight price has dropped. Take advantage of this feature and be ready to act should you get an alert.
Also, check flights from and to alternative airports. Sometimes a short drive from your home base or using another airport at your destination can equal big savings.
If you can’t be flexible with your dates, consider a different destination. Look for flights that are the cheapest and head there! If you’re like me, your travel bucket list is long so finding a more affordable place that you’d also like to visit when you have the time off is a great way to save money.
I used this strategy repeatedly when I was teaching full-time and stuck with the set school calendar. I’d set my dates in the flight search tool and look for the best-priced flights on those dates to see where my next trip would take me!
Click here for my list of the Best Ways to Save Money on Booking Flights!
2. Travel in Shoulder Season.
Peak season means peak prices. Save money and avoid overwhelming crowds by traveling between peak and off-peak seasons. For most places, this means visiting in the spring or fall.
Flights and hotels will be cheaper because the demand is lower. The weather is generally more comfortable, especially if your trip includes city sightseeing. And, there will be fewer people visiting top sights and attractions.
I always try to travel in spring, fall, or even winter. I save a ton of money and travel rewards this way. Plus, the entire travel experience is so much less stressful than traveling during the peak visitor/summer season.
3. Use a Travel Rewards Credit Card.
Good travel rewards credit cards often come with lucrative welcome bonuses and help you earn points and miles on everyday purchases. Sometimes, these bonuses are already enough to book a flight or hotel! Plus, over time, the money you spend on the card will earn more free flights and hotel nights.
Make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees, or you’ll end up paying extra every time you swipe abroad. And always pay off the balance each month to avoid interest charges that’ll negate the value of the travel rewards you earned.
In addition to earning miles and points, travel rewards credit cards come with perks that can save you money and enhance your travel experience.
I love my travel rewards credit cards with lounge access. I don’t have to spend any money on food and drinks before my flight. If you travel often, this adds up quickly!
Some of my other cards offer hotel status, free breakfast, and credits to pay for TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry. Altogether, I spend less and get more amenities that make traveling easier.
Check out this guide all about one of my top travel rewards cards!
4. Get an eSIM for to Stay Connected.
If you’ve ever used your local cell provider’s “travel plan,” you know how ridiculously expensive they are when you want to use your phone internationally.
Many U.S. providers charge $10 a day and give you only 500MB of data before they slow down the speed and charge you more for additional data. And even if you’re a light internet user or you plan to stay off your phone on vacation, you don’t need to pay $10 a day for a connection.
Instead, get an eSIM. It’s best to get this set up before your trip but you can also buy eSIMs in your destination, too.
With an eSIM, there’s no need to switch out a physical card in your phone. It’s all set up by following a few steps in your phone’s cellular settings.
I use Holafly to buy eSIMs for countries all over the world from Morocco to Ireland to Malaysia.
Each country or region’s eSIM offers slightly different plans. For example, you might be able to buy an eSIM that’ll work for a set number of days like 7 or 14, and come with unlimited data. Or, the eSIM might offer a set amount of data that you can use in any time period.
The best part is the connection and data you get are far cheaper than using your home provider. When I was in Malaysia, I spent less than $50 for more than 2 weeks of unlimited data. I would have paid 3x that with my U.S. provider and only had 500MB of data.
5. Use ATMs to Get Local Currency.
This has to be one of the most frequently asked questions I get from family, friends, and readers who are traveling abroad. What’s the best way to get cash in the local currency?
First, don’t ask your home bank to convert money for you. This comes with all kinds of convenience fees and exchange rates that are more favorable to the bank than you.
Second, airport currency exchange counters are a hard pass for me and they should be for you, as well. Currency exchange counters in airports and near touristy areas offer terrible rates and high fees. In fact, unless the country I’m going to uses American Dollars, I never travel with more than $20 in my wallet because I never want to convert U.S. cash.
Instead, withdraw cash from a bank ATM once you’re settled at your hotel. Try not to withdraw cash at an airport ATM because fees tend to be higher. Sometimes ATMs are sneaky and try to ask if you want the machine/bank to convert your money for you during the transaction. Always decline the conversion to avoid a hidden fee.
You can continue to withdraw cash and you’ll likely get a better conversion rate in the end.
If you’re worried about not having any cash in the local currency when you arrive, pre-book your transfer from the airport or purchase the train or bus tickets ahead of time.
If you want to be a real travel pro, use a debit card like the one offered by Charles Schwab that reimburses you for all ATM fees.
Check out this guide with all the top travel mistakes to avoid!
6. Always Pay in the Local Currency.
When paying by credit card abroad, you’ll often be asked whether you want to pay in your home currency or the local currency. Always pay in the local currency to save money.
Paying in your home currency means hidden fees and (most of the time) bad conversion rates. Your bank will handle the exchange at a much better rate.
7. Check Hotel Rates With and Without Breakfast.
We all love to get a free hotel breakfast on vacation. But, that “free” hotel breakfast might actually be adding $20 to your nightly rate.
Before booking, compare the cost of a room with breakfast and without. Also, read reviews about how the hotel breakfast is. Do you get a full breakfast? Is it just a simple continental breakfast buffet?
Determine if the breakfast is worth it based on the added cost per night (if any) and what others are saying. If breakfast isn’t a great deal, head to a local cafe or grocery store for a cheaper (and probably better) meal.
8. Join Hotel Loyalty Programs.
Even if you don’t stay in hotels often, signing up for their loyalty programs is a free, effortless way of getting discounts and saving money.
Hotel loyalty programs typically offer member perks like free WiFi, complimentary bottles of water, snacks, or even discounted rates when booking directly. You might even get a preferred room or a special welcome gift.
9. Research City Sightseeing Passes.
If your trip includes a lot of city sightseeing, it’s usually better to buy a sightseeing pass that bundles entrance fees and comes with discounts on public transportation and other experiences. These passes can save you a lot compared to buying individual tickets. Plus, they often come with fast-track or skip-the-line privileges to help you save time, too.
It’s always important, though, to do your math homework and compare the numbers. Make sure you’re actually planning to visit the included attractions before buying the pass.
If you’re headed to NYC, Stockholm, London, or Paris, I’ve already done the math for you!
10. Live Like a Local in your Destination.
Skip overpriced taxis and rideshares and use public transportation instead. Depending on how long you stay in a specific place, you might even be able to take advantage of weekly metro passes for buses and trains. To save more money, walk when you can.
Also, check out local event listings for free concerts, markets, festivals, art exhibitions, or museum free-entry days. Most places have an official tourist website and/or a municipal website with an events calendar to let locals and visitors know what’s going on and when.
Check out sites like Groupon to look for discounts on activities and dining. I do this often in New York City and have come up with some great deals on popular sights and experiences.
11. Use Autoslash for Rental Cars.
If you need a rental car, book a reservation with free cancellation and track it with AutoSlash. This one website has saved me thousands of dollars on car rentals over the years. It’s my go-to tool for saving money on rental cars.
Once you track the free cancellation rental car booking you made, AutoSlash will notify you if the price drops. If they find something, then you can cancel your original booking and rebook at the lower rate. Just remember to re-track the new reservation because AutoSlash will track reservations right up until the start of your trip.
Click here to discover all my top ways to save money on your next car rental!
12. Take a Free Walking Tour.
Most major cities offer free walking tours led by locals who work for tips. They’re a fantastic way to get your bearings and learn about the city’s history without paying a fortune for a guided tour.
Always tip what you can! But even still, you’ll save money and get to experience the city with someone who lives there. Plus, I’ve gotten great tips from local guides on free tours. They can recommend restaurants and hidden gem spots you might not have known were there!
13. Buy Local Food.
I love unforgettable foodie experiences when I travel. But these can come at a cost. So, I always mix in some local food shopping so that I can avoid eating at a restaurant for all my meals.
Look for grocery stores, bakeries, fresh markets, and street food vendors to buy snacks, sandwiches, and local bites. Not only will you save a ton of money compared to the places to eat near popular tourist attractions, but you’ll likely find better food overall because it’s for the people who live and work there.
14. Pack Light to Avoid Baggage Fees.
Paying baggage fees is the worst. (The runner-up might be carrying a big, heavy bag around for an entire trip.)
Instead, travel with a carry-on suitcase to avoid the extra cost, skip waiting at baggage claim, and never worry about lost baggage again. Also, packing light forces you to be strategic about what you actually need because carrying around 4 extra pairs of shoes just in case gets old quick!
Invest in some compression packing cubes to help fit more in a small space. These are my favorites. Not only can I pack everything I need in them, but they’re also so durable!
I also travel with a practical personal item like a roomy backpack that can hold essentials like a change of clothes, snacks, and what I need to be comfortable on the plane.
If you’re traveling to Europe, for example, check out these packing tips & essentials!
15. Book Hotels with Free Cancellation.
Generally speaking, your hotel will be cheaper the further out you can make your reservation. But, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Prices fluctuate all the time based on demand and the time of year.
So, I always book hotel reservations with free cancellation. It gives me peace of mind because I know I’ve got a place to stay but I can cancel if I find a better deal.
If this happens, simply, book the lower-priced hotel deal first and then cancel the original.
How much money will you save with these travel hacks?!
Some of these travel hacks may seem simple and others may be ones you’ve never heard of. But I can promise you that ALL of them have saved me tons of money on my travels.
When you learn the right tips and strategies to book your travel and combine them with everything you can do while traveling to save money, you’ll come away with more money in your pocket. The only thing left to decide is if you want to use it for an experience that might have seemed out of your travel budget or save it for your next trip!
What travel hacks to save money have you used? Let me know!
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