20 Money Saving Tips for a Vacation
If you’re looking for ways to cut back on your expenses without sacrificing any of the fun of your trip, we got you covered!
Are you looking for the best way to save for a vacation? Welcome to our article that covers how to save money before and while planning your vacation.
We wrote this guide with you in mind to give access to tools and the best money saving tips! Or perhaps you’re ready to plan a vacation, and maybe you’re not sure where to start, this article will help.
Money Saving Tips Before You Start Vacation
When it comes to money saving tips that you can use while planning a vacation, it’s all about finding the right balance between spending money and having fun.
But if you’re like most people and your budget is tight, it can be difficult to find ways to cut expenses without cutting corners on the fun. Having a plan will help you reach a goal and have the vacation of your dreams!
Set a Goal
It’s important to know how much money you need to save and when you need to have it by.
This will help you stay on track with your goal and not give up if the going gets tough.
Set aside money in your budget for your goal every month and stick with it. Commit to a specific amount.
It could be $50 or $500—whatever feels right for your situation.
Just make sure it’s enough so that when the time comes, you’ll have enough saved up and ready to go!
Limit Spending Where Possible
If you’re planning a vacation, the last thing you want to do is spend all your money before you even get there.
Cut back on your spending so that the extra money can go toward your vacation.
Here are some ways to limit spending so that you can have an amazing time!
- Eat out less often. Or, learn how to cook more meals at home (and take leftovers with you).
- Cut back on entertainment expenses like movies, concerts, and eating out until after your vacation. You’ll be able to enjoy those luxuries once you’ve saved up enough money.
- Shop at thrift stores instead of department stores.
- Pack a lunch instead of buying out every day.
- Skip the $4 cup of coffee and take advantage of the free coffee at work. A few small tweaks in your daily habits can make a big difference.
Sign up For Loyalty Rewards
As a frequent traveler or loyal rewards member, you can get so many perks like upgrades and free stays. Joining loyalty reward programs is one of the best money saving tips to use for flights, hotels, and restaurants.
Companies like American Airlines and United have these programs because they want to reward you for your repeat business. The relationship is a win-win because if you like their service and will buy from them anyway, why not reap the benefits as a rewards member?
Rack up the points with American Express so that you can earn those freebies! There is no annual fee, and you will not incur interest if you pay the balance monthly.
Involve Your Friends and Family in Your Savings Plan
Having people around you who can help you reach your goal will keep your spirits up and keep you motivated to continue working towards saving!
Money Saving Tips While Planning a Vacation
When you’re planning a vacation, it’s all about finding the right balance between spending money and having fun.
Consider a Vacation Package
Southwest Airlines already offers some of the lowest flight fares in America. You can save even more with a vacation package that includes accommodations.
They offer a nice range of affordable hotels, and you can choose your departure time for the flights. We enjoyed a fantastic trip to Orleans through their vacation package and stayed at the famous Monteleone Hotel. It’s a great way to bundle and save.
Book Early
You’ll get better deals if you book accommodations and flights about 60-90 days in advance, but even waiting a few days before booking can save money because prices tend to increase closer to the departure date and may go up again after that.
Purchase Coach Instead of Business or First Class
This is probably the most obvious of all money saving tips. When you fly economy, you can save hundreds of dollars and it’s completely doable for short flights. Use these tips for long flights and you’ll be just as comfortable!
Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates
The savings can be significant if you can move the departure date. For example, we like to plan a vacation every spring break (and end-of-year holidays) when flight fares are higher than normal.
By working through assignments and exams in advance, we were able to save 40% on every fare to Paris. It may require a bit of creativity, but you can do it!
Use Flight Aggregators and Discount Sites
An aggregator is a program that collects related items of content and displays them — for example, flight or hotel fares. After the results are displayed, you select the company that has the best fare and book directly with them.
WayAway is a flight aggregator that gives travelers the best rates on airline tickets and other travel deals with cashback on bookings of flights, hotels, rentals, and more.
You can also find flight deals on top sites like Hotwire, Hotels.com, Trivago, and HotelsCombined (Kayak).
Trip Advisor is a great resource for finding and booking things to do in a destination.
Viator and Get Your Guide are the best tools for booking tours and local experiences. If you are looking for something unique like cooking in Italy, you can use those sites, or try EatWith. They also have online workshops.
Think About What You Need Before Booking a Hotel
One of the best money-saving tips is to plan out all the activities you want to do, as well as what kind of food and drinks you’ll want or need. This way, you will know what expenses to anticipate and can plan better. You may find that staying in a motel and cooking your meals is cheaper than eating out every night.
Keep in mind that staying at a 2-star hotel can be just as comfortable as a 4-star hotel. Read this guide to hotel star ratings to understand the difference and decide what amenities you want.
Hotels are cheaper than apartments or houses and often come with amenities like pools, gyms, free wi-fi, and free breakfasts that can save money on day trips or other activities during your stay. It’s also nice to have the daily housekeeping services so you don’t need to do any cleaning during vacation.
A good hotel location will be relatively close or within a mile of nearby attractions.
Take Advantage of CityPass
A great money saving tips is to use a pass like GoCity. It allows you all-day access to top attractions, sightseeing, and museums. With this offer, you can save up to 50% on combined prices for admission to must-see attractions with one-day or multi-day access and have the time of your life!
Ask for Help From Your Friends and Family
They may have extra rooms in their home that they can rent out while they’re away, or they might even be able to let you stay with them!
Consider Renting an RV or Driving
Instead of staying in hotels or motels, rent an RV. These money saving tips will allow you more space and have more flexibility during your trip. Or consider driving instead of flying!
Consider Hostels
Hostels are usually much cheaper than hotels, and they’re a great way to meet new people from around the world! Hostels are a great way to save money on accommodations when traveling. You’ll meet other people who are also traveling and can share tips with them.
Plan More activities Ahead of Time
Or at least research them ahead of time. You’ll be able to see which parts of the trip will cost more than others, and plan accordingly by booking cheaper accommodations or eating out less often.
Get the Lay of the Land
Look at the map and figure out what kind of transportation will work best for where you want to go. If you plan on renting a car, check out prices online before you leave so that you can get an idea of what kind of budget you’ll need to stick with.
Money Saving Tips During Vacation
It’s true that the more you save, the less you’ll have to worry about paying the bill later. If you change your mind set a little bit, you can make it happen.
Use Public Transportation
Get a map and walk or use the local public transportation system instead of renting a car or taking taxis everywhere you go.
Public transportation is usually much cheaper than renting a car or taking taxis everywhere you go, and it’s also more environmentally friendly!
Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees
Make sure that your credit card has no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad (many cards charge this fee). You don’t want to be surprised by extra charges when your bill arrives!
Follow Local Customs
In Europe, tipping at restaurants is not a normal routine as it is in America because servers in their country are well compensated. You can save unnecessary expenses by following local practices.
When in Italy, there is no need to purchase bottled water because there are open fountains that flow with good drinking water. Instead, take an empty water bottle and fill it up!
Haggling at flea markets is normal in most countries. If you are good at negotiating, you can save quite a few dollars.
Pick up Local Guidebooks and Flyers
People often overlook deals and discounts that are in local publications. By using these money saving tips, you will be amazed at the deals you can find in local media. Discount brochures can be found in touristy areas, hotels, and information booths.
If you can save $5 per ticket for a family of four, you can treat everyone to ice cream instead. That will bring a smile to every face.
That’s it! Now you have several ways to save money before and during your vacation without sacrificing any of the fun of your trip.
Final thoughts on Money Saving Tips for Vacation
We hope these nuggets of information were insightful and helpful. Drop us a comment below and let us know if you have any other ideas.
With these money saving tips, you can take some of the pressure off of your wallet and still make your trip amazing!
