Are you wanting to travel more but don't think you can afford it? Many people we meet say the same thing. Unless you are from a country that supports vacations or you have a more steady income, traveling can seem like a luxury.
Here are a few tips we have learned along the way to help finance our dreams.
Here are a few tips we have learned along the way to help finance our dreams.
- Use search engines that search multiple websites to look for flights and deals like kayak, skyscanner, or skiplagged. You can find some great deals this way, and even
- Buy at non-peak times. Familiarize yourself with the best times to buy car rentals or airline tickets. Thursdays are often recommended as good buying days. Avoid flights on Mondays or Fridays as those are usually pricier. Also, flights usually start to go up about 3 weeks prior, so plan to buy between 6 mos - 1 month out depending on the country. Car rentals seem to be cheaper as time draws closer.
- Ask about upgrades. Sometimes you can book ahead at the lower price, but don't be afraid to ask about upgrades. Sometimes you can get reduced cost or even free upgrades.
- Reward cards. If you are good with credit cards, then having a rewards credit card is ideal. Search for the card that gives you the best cash back rate, which may be 1-3%, then make all your monthly purchases on the card instead of your debit and then pay it off immediately before any finance fees accrue. In no time you will have an extra couple hundred dollars of rewards to redeem for cash of travel points.
- Register for frequent flier programs. With every airline you fly, be sure to register as a frequent flier before you fly. It may take some time, but eventually this will add up to a nice, free ticket across the globe, especially if you try to be consistent with one airline.
- Look for the deals. Sites like Groupon are great for advertising sales for cheap activities or package deals at discounted rates.
- Beware the hotels with upcharges. Often when you stay at midgrade 3-4 star hotels you may find yourself being charges with surprise fees for everything from parking, to wifi, to concierge fees, to resort fees, to fees for cable and more. By contrast, at 5 star resorts, those are often included in the costs. Interestingly, 1-2 star hotels frequently offer all those same things and may include a free continental breakfast, but your room and the amenities will probably be a lot less spectacular.
- Pack light. Almost all the airlines charge fees for checked bags now. Avoid paying the extra fees by becoming an expert packer. Choose a few thin tops that can be interchangeable with a couple pairs of pants and roll them up tightly into individual rolls and place into one carry-on suitcase. Pack less than what you need so you can buy souvenir clothing along the way. Pack a thin cloth grocery bag in your suitcase too just in case you need an extra carry-on item for the way home if your suitcase gets too full. Remember, a sarong can double as a towel or many hotels/cruises will give you a beach towel to use.
- Explore your food options. Many people go in vacations and end up in expensive tourist traps. Go off the beaten path, find out where the locals go, explore the urban parts of the city and you may find spectacular, cheap eats.
- Avoid the Tourist merchandise. Very few people really want stuff sitting around their house with names of cities they visited years ago...or worse yet, someone else visited and bought you as a kitchy gift. Instead, buy something interesting or meaningful that you will really treasure. Better yet, take a photo tour on your travels and keep the amazing photos as your memento.
- Waterproof camera/phone cases. Save yourself the money in repair costs or the costs of getting new technology and buy a waterproof case. If you are anywhere near water, USE IT. They are awesome and give you spectacular photos. You can get cheap ones for under $25 for many cameras and phones.
- Use free travel planning resources. No need to spend a fortune on guidebooks, rent them from your library instead. TripAdvisor and youtube are also excellent resources for finding out info on where to travel.
- Take the road less traveled. In some cities where there are cruiseliners, there are often people ashore selling sightseeing opportunities for a fraction of the cost of what the boat charges. It may seem risky, but sometimes that is where the adventure is.
- Non-traditional transport options. Look into ride-sharing options like Lyft, Uber, subway, metrolink, bus, or in some places the truly adventurous try hitchhiking to their destination instead of costly rental cars. Make sure you research the city though before you decide these routes, as some cities are not ride-share friendly.