If you are looking for ways how to save money on your next trip, I have some ideas for you. A lot of people ask how I afford to travel so frequently. Well, today I am going to explain exactly how I manage to do so. I am fortunate to have traveled to some beautiful places and I hope with these tips, you will be able to do the same.
Before we begin, I want to also mention that Courtney and I both work full-time jobs in addition to running AstonishedAbroad.com. We fully understand that having income and earned time off is essential for us to travel how we do. However, by using the tips mentioned in this post, we can travel more fully and frequently.
Start with a Budget
First off, I am very adamant about keeping a budget. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip such as a honeymoon, you may have a larger budget than a long weekend. I think that is normal and acceptable! Whether you plan to stay at hostels or with friends or luxury hotels, the budget should be the first thing you decide on.
Remember, this is a vacation! You want to enjoy yourself but by keeping a budget and building in shopping or miscellaneous purchases, you can still stay on track.
You can start with a specific, detailed list of expenses broken down into categories. Some people simply budget by stating they will spend less than a certain amount of money on their entire trip. Either way, starting here will ensure you don’t go into debt trying to enjoy your hard-earned vacation. Be sure to read until the end of this post where you’ll find our free travel budget template.
Off-Season Travel
Another way to save a few bucks is by traveling off-season. For instance, most of Europe sees a peak in travel during the summer months. If you plan your travel in late fall or winter you may see lower prices and find fewer crowds. You’ll also want to consider the weather at your destination during the off-season.
Winter travel is amazing if you are looking for cooler weather, snow, and the like. If that isn’t in your plan, consider traveling during the warmer months, just know you may pay the prices that come along with peak season.
Using Travel Rewards to Save Money
Next, we are going to discuss the use of travel rewards to save money. There are several good reward credit cards out there that cost you zero dollars in annual fees and will help you get to your next destination faster purchasing only items that you already otherwise would be.
I have recently booked airfare to Paris, London, and Spain from the United States using airline miles. When choosing a card, you have plenty of choices. You can determine whether or not you should choose one affiliated with the airline in specific or a more general card. Some credit cards allow you to receive cash back on travel purchases in general rather than redeeming airline miles.
Traveling frequently on the same airline? It may make sense to use the credit card associated with that airline. Otherwise, a general travel rewards card may be a better fit.
Frequent Flyer
I also cannot stress enough how important it is to have a frequent flyer number with any airline that you may be traveling on. I hate to see people losing out on free miles by not taking the time to set this up. It takes just a minute to join these free programs and they are free money if you travel frequently enough.
If you recently traveled and forgot to enter your frequent flyer number, it may not be too late! Go back to the airline’s website and see if you can recoup miles from your recent trip. Since I travel quite a bit for work, I am sure to set up frequent flyer status with all of the major US airlines.
Many airlines are a part of a larger alliance of multiple airlines. This means while each airline is run separately, it has partner airlines. An example of this is the Oneworld alliance which houses Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and British Air to name a few. Due to these alliances, you may find that you reach a free flight sooner, always a good thing!
Other Airfare Tips
Another way to find affordable airfare is by using budget airlines. While it’s true that these airlines will not have all the amenities you’ll have on British Air first class, you can hop from the United States across the pond for only a few hundred dollars.
I recently booked a trip from Baltimore to Iceland on Play. This is just one example and there are several other great options out there, you just have to look. Know that many budget airlines are often al la carte. This means you’ll be charged a low base price for the flight itself. Add-ons such as choosing your seat, checking or carry-on baggage, and meals may cost you more. Our flight from Baltimore to Iceland was $517 including first-row seats with extra legroom and baggage fees.
I’ll admit that the first trip I took to Europe was a splurge. Instead of spending cash, we used airline miles to upgrade to business class. That was a treat that I don’t do often however, it’s great to be able to spend your hard-earned money (or miles) however, you see fit.
The other way to save a few bucks on your airfare is by packing carry-on only. We have an entire post about it so be sure to check that out as you plan. Frequently, airlines charge for checked bags and you may also spend considerable time waiting for baggage.
Save Money on Accommodations
Next, I want to talk about accommodations. I know a lot of people feel that they can only stay in name-brand hotels. If you are going to do this, you must join the hotel rewards programs. Just as with airline rewards, be sure if you are staying in hotels that you sign up for their free rewards program.
For instance, my company uses Marriott as its preferred hotel. Since I am a Marriott Bonvoy member, I earn tons of points on work travel. As a result, I have booked free rooms and extra nights at Marriott locations.
I love the ambiance of boutique hotels, Airbnb, and VRBO. They typically offer a unique feel however, using rewards programs for hotel stays can be very beneficial as well. If you only travel once in a while, this may not be as helpful to you.
I recently stayed in Paris for a week in an Airbnb around the corner from Cafe de Flore for $230 a night. The closest Marriott to this location would have been $700 a night. So if you have free nights, use them! If not, do your homework, it may pay off.
For our upcoming trip to Iceland, I booked an Airbnb for one week just outside the city. It cost just over $1200 split between three couples. Since we are renting a car, it doesn’t matter if we were in the heart of the city, or a five-minute drive away. Choosing our location wisely will save us money for sure. The money saved on accommodations can be spent on things such as food and drink which tend to be more expensive in Iceland.
Save Money on Food and Drink
When it comes to food and wine, there are plenty of ways to save a bit of money. Depending on the city that you will be in, you may find the prices to dine out to be a little higher than at home. One benefit of booking an Airbnb that I hadn’t mentioned is the fact that they typically have full kitchens. This is great for multiple reasons. First of all, you can prepare meals at your place, which can be much healthier than eating out for every meal. You also may be able to save a few bucks if you meal plan appropriately.
Something I’ve seen in my years as a dietitian is many times dehydration can be mistaken for hunger. Stay hydrated by packing along a refillable water bottle. Research your destination to see if the tap water is drinkable and if not, purchase a large container of water at the store which can last you several days.
Another way to save money while eating out includes, taking a peek at Prix Fixe menus. This is a good way to get the flavors of your destination at a set price. Additionally, if you choose only one meal to eat out, consider making that meal breakfast or lunch. Typically, this will be cheaper than dinner prices and the same quality.
Happy hour is another great option for saving a few bucks but know your selection may be limited. After exploring a new city all day, a beverage and snack are more than welcome!
Travel Budget
You’ve read this far and now it is time to get started. I am sharing my free downloadable travel budget template with you today. I’ve been using a variation of this tool for several years to estimate my travel costs and stay on track, enjoy! Safe and healthy travels!