When people think of vacation, their minds automatically think of the expense it entails. Vacations can be costly. After all, you got to get to your destination, secure a hotel room, potentially rent a car, go out to eat, and enjoy the different sites. For a family of four, the cost can easily exceed $1,000 without a proper plan. So, it begs the question, how can you save money when you travel?

Photo, S’well.

7 Tips To Have A Great Trip Without The Added Expense

 

Know Your Budget

The most crucial aspect of a successful trip that doesn’t break the bank is to have a budget of how much you’re willing to spend. Once you know how much you can reasonably afford, you can better understand where you can head for vacation. 

You might think you can’t take a trip halfway around the world for cheap, but you could actually spend the same amount of money to visit Washington, D.C., as you would to visit London. It’s all about how money-savvy you are. What kinds of discounts and how deep are those discounts going to be? 

The key to saving money during a trip to a place you really want to visit is to be flexible in your timeframe. If you don’t care when you want to visit someplace, you could pay much cheaper airfare in downtime than in peak seasons. Be sure to set up an alert that notifies you when prices drop. Various apps have been designed to make this easier to do. 

When booking tickets, ensure that airlines offer a reasonable baggage policy and discounts. You want to find airlines without stringent carry-on requirements, too, if you can. 
 
If the vacation can be driven to, consider using your car. Of course, you want to determine if you’ll pay less for the trip by driving than flying. If you plan to rent a vehicle, this is something to also consider in your overall vacation budget. 

Pack Lightly

 

When traveling by plane, avoiding those expensive checked bag fees is a fundamental way to save money. How can you pack lightly, though, when you have clothes and other things to pack up? Bring light-fabric clothing that can easily be washed in a sink and dried quickly. 

Choose clothes that can be easily mixed and matched. Depending on the length of time of your vacation, consider bringing two or three pairs of pants that can be used with different light-textured shirts. 

Bear in mind that packing lightly not only saves you money but also helps you to get around much easier. This is especially helpful if you use the public transit system of the town you visit. 

Photo, Jojo Yuen.

Pack Snacks

 

Another great option to avoid spending much money on the road is to pack snacks.

You may wonder what kinds of snacks are best when going on vacation. The idea is to find high-filling snacks that don’t take up a lot of space in your vehicle or baggage. For example, protein bars, jerky, and even raisins can help satiate the appetite without breaking your wallet or taking up much room in precious space. 

If you’re traveling by vehicle, be mindful of bottled water. While it’s rather convenient, it can also quickly get costly. So long as you have access to clean water, use a canteen to keep your water in and use a water bottle that you can keep in your pocket. 

Use Free-Night Certificates and Points

Another lesser-known option for saving money on vacation is to take advantage of any credit card free-night hotel offers. There are a handful of hotel credit cards available that you could qualify for and that provide certificates for a free hotel night. This can be a practical value if the hotel room is more expensive than the card’s yearly fee (which many of these have).  

Also, these cards tend to come with additional benefits such as bonus points (that can be used for future free nights) and elite status (ensuring a more pleasant experience). 

If you have a card that earns your points when you purchase things, consider saving up the bonus points and pay for the room with it. You can also pay for your hotel room with a credit card and then use the points to pay it off while earning more points on the cost. 

Saving money on vacation may seem impossible, but with some careful planning, it’s not. You can find coupons online for good deals from an array of sites like Coupon Blender. These sites can help you find deals that other places have yet to provide or even better deals than those you have come across.

Photo, Mara Conan Design.

Look At The Various Places To Stay

 

Tedious is the best word to describe finding a hotel room that won’t cause a heart attack, especially if you’re staying multiple days in the same place. Check out the different vacation planning websites, such as Kayak, Priceline, and Expedia. 

Once you know where you’re going, look at the various hotel rooms offered in the area. Look for hotels that offer online promotion codes.

You can also call the hotel directly and ask them if they offer any discounts or can offer a lower rate than what the site has to offer. If you don’t mind staying on the city’s outskirts, look beyond its center to find the best hotel deals.  

You can also take advantage of hostels or Airbnbs, but be mindful that you stay with a local resident (who could be beneficial in lowering your vacationing costs with an Airbnb and you may share a room with bare necessities at a hostel. Both tend to have age restrictions, which can be detrimental to families with young kids. 

Look For Low Cost or Free Attractions

 

Despite the notoriously expensive places like Disney World or cities like New York City, there is always something you can do for cheap or free. The idea of getting these good deals is to keep an open mind and do some research. Several cities have free walking tours, with tour guides that are paid via tips. 

Go with free tourist attractions over the paid ones. For instance, in San Francisco, you can get a panoramic view of the city by visiting the free-to-see Hamon Observation Tower. For St. Louis visitors, there is the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, and St. Louis Science Center, which can be enjoyed for free or a small fee. 

When it comes to finding these places, you want to have your research before going on vacation. Sites like BestProsInTown offer you a plethora of information on places to visit based on what you’re looking for. Use these sites to save yourself money on attractions and food.

For those planning a dream vacation to Disney resorts but are intimidated by the prices, DVC (Disney Vacation Club) resale marketplaces can be a game-changer, offering affordable options. Websites specialising in DVC buyer financing can provide financial strategies and loan opportunities to make vacation dreams a reality without breaking the bank. This approach not only offers a way to save on accommodation but also extends the possibility of enjoying premium Disney experiences at a fraction of the cost.

Don’t Overspend On Souvenirs

Souvenirs can be a rather costly trip expense, so it’s prudent to research where the best souvenir shops are and what their costs are like. If you are about to make an impulse buy, take a step back and wait 24 hours to see if you really want. If you return the next day, you may discover the item you wanted wasn’t want you wanted. And save yourself money. 

Remember…

A vacation – be it one day or multiple days – can get expensive quickly, especially if you don’t plan and budget accordingly. There is no reason to think that going cheap means getting an affordable vacation. It just means you can plan the kind of vacation you can afford and still go where you want. Be money-smart, and you can go anywhere you want in the world without breaking the bank or taking out a loan to afford it.