Is it safe for me to assume that you are curious about ways to make travel a part of your life? How about learning some super easy money-saving hacks for travel? You’re here. You’re reading. You want to know how to afford travel!
Many people that I talk to say that one of THE BIGGEST barriers to travel is the COST. Especially if you are interested in traveling overseas. Would you AGREE? This article discussing easy-to-implement ideas to build your vacation savings account and achieve your travel goals.
Money-Saving Hacks for Travel BEFORE You Leave for Vacation
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What you really need are practical tips, suggestions and money-saving hacks—ways to save money ON travel and FOR travel that honestly work.
I know these money-saving hacks work because Chris and I implement these tips in our trips and adventures together.
If you travel regularly, you will find that you build up your travel fund, plan a trip, use up your fund, and then start to build again. And just an FYI, these tips work just as well if you are planning travel overseas or excursions a little closer to home.
For many though, traveling—especially traveling to international destinations—is a once-in-a-lifetime event. If you start your travel savings today, your vacation savings account will begin to grow until you are ready to travel.
These sacrifices all support your dream of traveling and are worth the effort. You do not have to have excessive wealth to afford travel, but you do have to make saving for a trip a PRIORITY. There are many more creative ways that you can trim your budget and find a little extra cash to stash in your fund for travel.
1. Create a Vacation Savings Account
Your travel goals should include starting a fund for travel and establishing HABITS to save money that simply become second nature. The goal when you create a fund for travel is to establish the habit of PURPOSEFULLY setting aside money for travel each month. It means getting your financial house in order.
2. Have Your Kids Earn Their Own Spending Money
One of the best family travel hacks if you plan to travel with children or teens, is to have them earn “FUN” money before the trip for the mementos and souvenirs they wish to buy.
3. Sign Up for Travel Rewards
You might have seen the article I wrote about 10 Super Smart Travel Hacks to Plan the Perfect Trip. It outlines the goal of signing up for hotel rewards programs, enrolling in frequent flyer programs, and choosing which rental car agency to use on a regular basis in your goal to grow your travel savings.
Decide which airline, hotel chain, and rental car company you want to accrue points with and then stick with them as much as you can. Consider which chain will work best for you.
Over the years, our family has gone on many vacations where we have only paid for food and activities because reward points covered the hotel stay, our airfare, and the rental car. It has been a blessing and has allowed us to travel to a lot of amazing destinations.
4. Sign Up for Travel Credit Cards
If you aren’t a frequent traveler accruing reward points, then you might want to consider a travel-related credit card that will begin to accrue points with your purchases that you can then use for booking flights and accommodations.
We have had a great experience with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.
5. Set Up a Realistic Travel Budget
Before you ever leave home, one of your travel goals should be to create a realistic travel budget and then stick to it as much as possible. It is a great idea to add in an emergency fund as sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that pop up as you travel. Be prepared and don’t let them derail a great trip.
6. Take Advantage of Travel Discounts
Not only should you sign up for travel rewards, but you should also set up alerts for promotions or discounts as they are announced. If you can be flexible in your travel, you may be able to jump on a deal on tickets to Tahiti (or elsewhere) and begin to plan an amazing beach adventure.
7. Book Travel in Advance
This not only applies to buying plane tickets and booking hotels but also to securing your in-country travel. For example, train tickets are often discounted if you book them months in advance vs. the day before you travel. You will have to pin down your travel as some train tickets are often non-refundable.
8. Consider the PROS of a Vacation Rental
If you are vacationing for more than a week, you will likely need to do some laundry. Vacation rentals with a washer and dryer are great options. A vacation rental also allows you to buy groceries and cut down on meal costs.
9. Attend Fewer Movies, Plays, or Musical Performances
Where do you find the extra money to add to your vacation savings account? Making travel a goal in your life might mean that you learn money-saving hacks and begin to make sacrifices in other areas such as entertainment.
10. Eat Out Less Often
I’m not saying you have to stop eating out altogether, but cutting back and eating at home more often will help to add to your travel fund.
11. Limit Clothing Splurges and Purchases
The ease of shopping online has made splurging just a little easier. Does your dream of travel outweigh the urge to splurge? Perhaps it means waiting for Amazon’s Prime Days to buy something at a discount instead.
12. Pack a Lunch for Work
I think you would be surprised if you added up your spending on daily lunches. Focus on your travel goals and bring a lunch from home.
13. Cancel Music Subscriptions
Every little bit counts when you want to achieve your travel goals.
14. Cancel Cable TV Subscriptions
Again, you would be surprised at the number of cable subscriptions you have and the overall cost. Is travel more important?
15. Check Out Magazines from the Library
Many libraries have an App where you can read magazine online. Check out your local library for e-reading options.
16. Make Your Coffee at Home
Instead of stopping at the corner coffee shop, try bringing your coffee from home.
17. Buy Store Brands vs Name Brands
Do your own research to see if the quality is the same.
18. Give Up Smoking
I know this is easier said than done, but the rewards to your vacation savings account and overall health are worth it.
19. Take a “Staycation” Now to Save for a Bigger Vacation Later
You may find that exploring close to home or throughout your state takes you to places you never even knew were there. My husband and I did this in 2020 when travel was restricted and found so many cool places in our home state of Colorado:
- Mesa Verde
- Hot Springs in Colorado
- Salida
- Buena Vista
- Charming Mountain Towns
- Colorado Excursions
- Estes Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Glenwood Springs
- Breckenridge
- Durango
20. Use Coupons
If you see a coupon for an item that you use regularly, use it.
21. Have a Garage Sale
Far be it from me to tell you that you are holding onto too much crap… Nevermind, sell it!
22. Institute a “No Spend” Day Once a Month
Just one day. One day each month that you don’t spend any money. Put the proceeds into your vacation savings account. Boom! That was easy.
23. Learn Travel Packing Hacks
Some airlines charge baggage fees—fees you may not have been planning on—which add to the overall cost of your flight. Some carriers have even started to charge for your personal handbags and backpacks!
Check Airfarewatchdog for an overview of major airline carriers’ baggage fees when flying from the United States and Canada. Do your research and pack lightly. If you fly within Europe, you will most certainly encounter baggage fees.
Consider the weight of your suitcase as well. Luggage today is designed to be ultra lightweight making them easy for travel, stowing in overhead bins, and lifting as you travel.
Now, to minimize your packing with travel packing hacks.
For those of you who typically plan an outfit where the pants and top match but don’t really go with anything else that you have packed, you need to adjust your thinking when traveling. Choose neutral pants, skirts, shorts, or capris that will match with more than one shirt and can be worn multiple days before being washed. Wearing the same shirt a couple of times over the course of a vacation is perfectly acceptable.
Consider investing in travel-specific clothing that is lightweight and breathable with zippered pockets for safety.
Oh, and rolling your clothes instead of folding them really does keep them less wrinkled.
NOTE: All liquids, gels, and creams must be within the 3.4 oz (100 ml) Liquids Rule of TSA. That’s a positive since it requires that you pack smaller sized containers.
Money-Saving Hacks for Travel DURING Your Vacation
24. Bring Your Own Snacks
It is totally doable and acceptable to pack your own snacks and consider what food to bring on a road trip to save money while traveling. We also plan for snacks for air travel as well. We typically pack a duffel bag or backpack with snacks and as the snacks are depleted, the bag or pack is refilled with souvenirs and mementos.
We travel with snacks. Snacks that we like to eat. It cuts down on the “Mom, can I buy…” as we travel. It is another one of the EASY TO FOLLOW ways to afford travel!
Our girls like Goldfish Crackers and some type of gummy treats that come in single-serve or small packs. Chris also includes Peanut M&Ms, Built Bars, microwave popcorn, nuts, applesauce pouches (ingenious), and Crystal Lite single-serve drink mix. You can find all of these items listed on my Amazon Storefront.
We also travel with Clif Bloks energy chews and Jelly Belly Sport Beans as well as electrolyte packets, and ZipFizz powder to add to water for a quick burst of energy when we are lagging after a long, hot day of walking and being tourists.
The food on planes is not always great, so be sure to add some snacks to your travel back or backpack as well. Oh sure, we all still get hungry as we travel and sightsee; we often treat ourselves to local snacks and treats. And gelato.
25. Cook Your Own Meals
If you are staying in a vacation rental, you have the luxury of buying groceries at a Farmer’s Market or grocery store. Plan to eat at least your breakfast at the rental.
26. Bring a Camelbak Hydration Pack
Now, I know some of you may prefer other options than this, but this is something that helps our family travel smarter: bring a 3.0L Camelbak Hydration Pack Reservoir with a high flow, self-sealing, bite valve.
Say what? It may sound weird and strange, I know. Chris’ carry-on backpack with the padded laptop section is perfect for transporting his electronics on the plane to our destination, but then transforms to a day pack which we fill with snacks, the Camelbak, and extra water bottles once we begin sightseeing.
The laptop section of Chris’ backpack is padded enough to keep the water in the reservoir cool and minimizes any leaks to other sections of the backpack.
I will say, you REALLY have to like the people you travel with to use this method. We all drink from the same bite valve!
If you are traveling solo, or with people you’d rather not share with, consider investing in a smaller sized Camelbak reservoir.
We fill the Camelbak reservoir each night with water and put it in the fridge in our hotel room if a fridge is available. (If a freezer is available, only fill the reservoir half way and lay it flat.) If no fridge is available, add ice to the reservoir and fill it with water in the morning before you head out for the day. On a hot day, we refill the Camelbak at least once.
Hint * If you stop for lunch at a restaurant, ask for water and refill the reservoir. That is another one of the EASY money saving travel hacks to save $$$ on bottled water.
Chris also notes that the chilled water keeps his back cool throughout the day, and fortunately, it gets lighter as the water is consumed.
Another bonus * Our girls are big enough that they each get a turn to carry the backpack too!
We have not encountered any tap water in Europe that is not safe to drink. If you are concerned, ask.
It is also common for us to bring a couple of empty water bottles from home (and we usually collect more during our travels) and fill those for me to tuck into the external side pockets of my backpack. Having the water bottles makes it easy to add a single-serve Zipfizz (peach mango is my favorite flavor) or Electrolyte pack to a bottle.
When you are in the hot sun and walking all day long, water is essential. CNN Travel offers tips from experts on how to stay hydrated as you travel.
27. Use FREE WiFi for Extra Travel Savings
If you can handle only using your phone when you have free WiFi access, you can save money. Many cafes and public places offer free WiFi; it is definitely becoming more accessible throughout the world.
Just be mindful of the websites you visit and the login information you use on public WiFi. Hackers set up imposter networks surprisingly similar to legitimately offered networks in an attempt to steal your data.
To save on fees when making phone calls, I recommend that you connect with family and friends using Google, Facetime, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger or similar apps as long as you have a reliable internet connection. It is not quite as convenient, but a whole lot cheaper.
To avoid international cell phone bill shock 1) for those of you who are infrequent travelers; 2) for those who just need a reminder; 3) or for those who may be traveling with kids who are normally glued to their devices, it is worth your time to research your provider’s international phone plans. Contact your provider’s customer support if you have questions.
FYI, many international plans are offered at slower speeds.
28. Consider FREE Activities
Activities such as exploring an Old Town, hiking, window shopping, and taking pictures.
29. Try FREE Walking Tours
Chris and I love the Rick Steves Audio Europe free audio tours (though our girls aren’t always so enthusiastic about them). These tours aren’t available for all countries.
Be sure to download the specific tours while you have WiFi access before you leave home or your hotel, and don’t forget headphones.
You may also be interested in walking tours hosted by guides who share information and history as you walk around a city in a tour group. While these tours may be advertised as FREE, it is good etiquette to tip your guides.
The cost for these tours will generally be less than an excursion-type tour, so there’s some travel savings for you.
30. Plan for the FREE Museum Day in Europe
Many cities within Europe offer FREE entrance to museums on the first Sunday of every month. Chris and I have totally planned some of our day trips in Europe around the first Sunday of the month, ie., Pompeii!
31. Skip the Taxi & Travel as the Locals Do
Taxis are typically a last resort for our family. If you do need to take a taxi, note that you can pay the driver with a credit card, but ask first.
If the meter isn’t running, agree upon a price before you get in, otherwise the driver could just come up with a random amount to charge you. Don’t be afraid to get out of the taxi if you aren’t comfortable with the arrangements (before the driver starts driving).
Instead of a taxi, take the train. Train travel is a fabulous way to see Europe. And it is often a great way see travel savings. Other options include taking a bus, the subway, or a tram.
Chris’ favorite site to book European train travel through and to save money on train travel is Trainline.com.
Trains are safe, plentiful, and affordable. Don’t be shy about booking train travel in your itinerary. Trains are an important consideration when establishing the anchor points of your trip.
We took trains on many of our day trips in Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium. Check travel forums in your planning to determine your best transit options. Some hotels include transit passes with your stay.
Many cities also offer an easy-to-use day pass package. You have to weigh the cost with the amount you might use it along with the number of people in your group.
Uber and Lyft are useful for short trips and generally safe; you don’t have to worry about language difficulties or having enough cash as all transactions are conducted via the app. You choose where you want to be taken and select the vehicle according to your group size. No minimum fare is charged.
Note, Uber and Lyft are not available in all European countries. Other companies may also be available.
32. Plan for Picnic Lunches
Normally, when Chris and I travel, we love to eat simply for our afternoon meals. Usually we find bread, cheese, meat, some carrot sticks, drinks, and fruit. Of course, the lunch fare tastes a little better in the Italian countryside, but we enjoy this simple fare while traveling within the United States too.
When I know that we plan to have a rental car, I pack a Foldable Insulated Cooler in the bottom of my suitcase. It does not take up much space and is super handy to have as you travel.
Fill the cooler with drinks and lunches as you take day trips. I also pack a gallon-size Ziploc bag and fill it with ice from the hotel’s ice machine. It works like a charm to keep snacks, lunches, and water bottles cool.
33. Travel in the Off Season
Travel in the off season means that you are traveling in the months before or after the tourist season. For many destinations, the off season is in the spring or fall before or after popular summer vacations.
34. Book Your Next Cruise Before You Leave the Ship
If you have the funds and you know you will be cruising again, book your next cruise before disembarking to take advantage of the discounts offered.
35. Consider Travel Insurance
Buying travel insurance is another one way to travel smart. You never know what might happen, ie., like having your daughter contract Covid right before your scheduled cruise to Norway. (Yes, that happened to us and we were all denied boarding.) Travel insurance is often looked at as an added expense, but for peace of mind, it is one of the best money-saving hacks.
Travel Insurance options (as I do not yet endorse one company):
- SafetyWing (a great option for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (good for travelers 70 and over)
- Medjet (an option if you want additional evacuation coverage)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do people afford travel?
You have to make it a priority by preparing in advance, signing up for reward points, learning to save as you travel, and maybe cutting out some of the daily subscriptions and extras to add to your vacation saving fund. Don’t go into debt for travel.
What are additional ideas for creating travel savings?
•Travel with a friend.
•Travel during the off-peak or shoulder season.
•Plan ahead.
•Look for flight, hotel and transportation discounts.
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Final Thoughts on How do People Afford to Travel? 35 SUPER EASY Money-Saving Hacks
If you are a first-time traveler planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, just remember to take your planning one step at a time. Travel can be exciting and fun.
Begin building your vacation savings account today and then start to implement these additional money-saving hacks and expert travel tips into your planning to achieve your travel goals.
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I seriously can’t wait to travel again without all these COVID restrictions. Money-saving trips for travel are always so helpful and needed. 🙂
I hear ya. My husband and I can’t wait to travel again.
You are a pro! Love all these tips. I’ve never taken advantage of a pre-downloaded audio tour before, but definitely need to add that to our travel checklist for trips in the future!
Thanks! I enjoy listening to the audio tours and learning things I would not otherwise learn.
Let me know if I can help you with anything more. My SUPER EASY Travel Planner will be launching soon too. It would be a fantastic help in your planning.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them, some I’m already using but many to implement still.
Let me know how the new ideas work for you.
Some great minimalist tips in this article!!
Minimalist and money-saving!
We have tried one other brand of the hydration packs but do like Camelbak the best.
Africa would be amazing. We had planned to visit in December 2019. Alas, Covid…
I’m a big fan of a picnic lunch or a super cheap bite to eat at a local spot. Also travel points are my best friend!!
We have had some pretty memorable picnic lunches in Europe. Highly recommend planning for them.
Great tips! I am huge on the miles and points. Life changing.
It allows one to see the world when it might not be financially possible otherwise.
Ohhhh now I’m itching to travel! Great tips!
Me too! Where will you go first?
Enjoyed. This was different.
Easy ways to save that we don’t always consider.
These are amazing tips! I can’t wait to start traveling again. I’ve marked a few of these down for the future vacation! Thank you for sharing!
Where are you going on your next vacation? I am glad the tips were useful.
This is a great reminder to start working on my vacation fund again.. it can be so helpful to have money put aside for a holiday and the pandemic has put this priority to the back of the list but I am hopeful that this changes soon! Thank you for all of these ideas about how to save money on traveling!
Start putting those pennies away. They all add up.
Oh, this post is giving me such an itch to travel again! These were great tips and I definitely agree that no matter where you go, it’s possible to save money while travelling. My most recent trip was to Japan, which everyone said was going to be so expensive. But I stayed in capsule hotels for only 10 dollars a night (and they were amazing and super comfortable) and ate like a local and my trip was not any more expensive than usual! I especially agree with your suggestion to travel like a local. It can be confusing to use subways at first but definitely saves you money!
I would still get lost without my husband, but he has the traveling like a local thing down.
Great tips! I cannot wait to start going overseas again!!!
It’s like the Christmas commercial where people are waiting for stores to open. We are just waiting anxiously for the world to open and saying, “Open Open Open.”
Great. Glad you can use the ideas!
I agree about the hydration pack. We always bring one when we travel to Disney and get so many comments about it.
It is a great idea for sure!
Great tips! I can’t wait to start traveling again
My husband and I often say we are homesick for travel.
Like you, I get crabby when hungry so I always pack granola bars. I have paid for many flights with points from my Delta credit card. Good tips.
Thanks! Using points for travel is awesome. If people aren’t accruing points, they need to sign up now!
Minimizing packing is great advice! I always make sure to pack only what I know I’ll use.
Often, that is simply something you learn after trial and error.
Every little bit helps.
These are very good tips, I should start looking into it again, particularly tip no.2. I feel like in Europe there aren’t that many good deals in terms of credit cards as there are in the USA. Maybe, I’m wrong…
These are great tips! I’m definitely going to look into the VPN, thanks!
These are all awesome tips! Creating a travel savings fund was such a game-changer for me. It’s great to know that there is money specifically set aside for traveling, so you don’t have to feel “guilty” pulling out of your savings. Also, I love bringing my own snacks! It saves so much money, and then you can spend money on the “foodie” experiences you really want to enjoy.
Glad we aren’t the only ones out there bringing snacks! Great job on saving for your travel.
I usually find that there’s one more thing I don’t need to pack each time and try to be a minimalist.
These are some very practical ways of saving money. I have been using all of them for my trips and they’ve been really helpful. Best thing I did was to sign up for a travel credit card, seriously made life so much better.
Amazing how we can save money without a lot of effort.
Use most of these money saving tips. #1 is especially important, just start with it.
Those are some good tips, vacation fund is really good idea to have as traveling is not cheap especially now with covid.
Let’s just hope the world opens back up soon. We should all be building our vacation fund right now!