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Update: May 15, 2022
The travel industry is rebounding.
Hotels are showing a profit for the first time in two years.
International restrictions are being lifted.
Could the end of the pandemic be in sight?
Like with everything else, you will want to save money on travel.
Summer is fast approaching too.
Why spend a lot on your vacation?
You can get a free trip with some advance planning and knowledge of ways to cut costs.
If you don’t get a free trip, at least you can save money and spend a lot less.
My other blog, Travel Points 101, focuses on using reward points and other budget tactics to help you travel for less.
Check it out here.
I don’t stay at budget properties either.
I spend very little on travel while staying at Marriott and Hilton upper upscale hotels.
I even manage to get free or discounted luxury hotels like the Ritz or Waldorf.
In the meantime, here are 25 easy ways to save big bucks on travel.
If you are not spending as much on travel, you could be out building a bigger retirement or saving for kid’s college while jetting off on your next adventure.
25 Easy Ways To Save Money On Travel
Section 1: Save With Credit Card Rewards
1. Earn credit card sign up bonuses
If you can pay your balance in full, use credit card reward points to get to your next free trip.
Credit card sign up bonuses are the easiest and quickest way to get to your next free vacation.
A sign up bonus on one credit card can be your next international free flight and possibly hotel stay.
Again, check out my other blog, Travel Points 101, to get started using credit card rewards.
2. Use your everyday spending to earn more credit card points
After you have your credit cards, put your everyday spending on the cards like groceries, gas, cable, eating out, etc.
These are expenses that you would usually pay cash for.
This only works if you have cash for your expenses.
The only way to make reward credit cards work is to pay your balance in full again.
Watch out for closing dates on statements.
You want your balance on your statement to be $0 when the statement closes or your utilization rate might be harmed on your credit score.
I like to pay for my expenses as soon as I see them on my credit card.
3. Decide if you will prioritize travel credit cards or cash back cards
The difference between travel and cash back credit cards is great if you want to maximize travel.
While cash back credit cards are more convenient and take less skill, travel credit cards will get you more bang for your buck.
Using travel credit cards is how people are off flying international first and business class for pennies.
So, if travel is important to you, I would take the time to learn how to use travel credit cards.
Again, check out my other blog, Travel Points 101.
Good travel cards to get started with are the Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, American Express Gold/Green, and Citi Premier.
Since Chase has more rules than the other banks, most people should first get a Chase Preferred/Reserve card.
4. Know that transferable currencies are more valuable
Transferable currencies are currencies that transfer directly to airlines giving you outsized value.
The transferable currencies include:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Points
- Citi Thank You Points
- Capital One Miles
Transferable currencies give you more bang for your points.
This is how people can be out flying international business class for pennies like you see on Instagram again.
Section II: Save Money On Flights
5. Join airline loyalty programs
These programs will reward you for the flying you would do anyway.
If you are not signed up for an airline loyalty program, you are leaving money on the table.
Join an airline shopping portal to earn even more airline miles too.
6. Be flexible with dates
Prices of flights vary by date.
Be flexible in your dates to get the best price.
7. Choose your destination by the sale
Even better than being flexible with your dates, choose your destination by a sale.
Go wherever there is a sale.
For instance, if Spain is on sale, go there.
8. Use award sales
Using airline reward miles easily gets you your next free flight.
Miles are like money though.
You don’t want to spend more than needed.
Pay attention to when airlines have award sales.
For instance, while a one way ticket in the United States are usually around 12 k miles each way, you can find award sales as low as 5000 miles each way.
These are one of my favorites uses of airline miles.
9. Use budget airlines
Budget airlines like Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze can get you $30 flights.
Understand that budget airlines will charge for every thing from carry on bags to seat assignments though.
A good thing to do on these flights is to carry a back pack or similar item that fits their requirements.
10. Start your cash search with Google Flights
If you are paying cash (not using miles or points), start your search with Google Flights.
They will give you the best deal.
They even have advanced features.
11. Get an airline credit card
Airline credit cards are underrated.
After you have your main travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, get an airline credit card.
12. Fly carry on only
If not flying a budget airline (will charge for carry on luggage), fly carry on only.
This is the way I prefer to travel.
No worries about lost luggage, etc.
I watch all those frequent business travelers.
Section III: Save Money On Hotels
13. Be flexible with dates
Like flights, be flexible in your dates with hotels.
Hilton and Marriott have calendars to let you see the cheapest dates.
For instance, when hotels are more expensive on the weekends, book a Sunday or weekday.
14. Join a hotel loyalty program
Be a member of a loyalty program.
Just by being a member, you get perks like points, free wifi, etc.
You can also sign up for promotions that double your points, and can get you to your next free hotel stay quicker.
15. Get a hotel credit card
Like airline credit cards, hotel credit cards are underrated.
Even better, most hotel credit card get you a free night each year which more than covers the annual fee.
16. Stay farther from the city center
In most cases, hotel are cheaper farther from the center of the city and main attractions.
This means staying in a suburb can save you money.
This can also let you explore a city more.
I like staying in the center of the city myself, but you should know this tactic whenever you want to save money.
The suburbs are not the only location that can save you money.
For instance, in New York City, you could choose Lower Manhattan instead of Times Square or Midtown.
17. Stay with friends and family
If you have friends and family who will let you stay, go for a visit.
There is nothing better than free lodging.
18. Use AirBNB
Use the sharing economy to save money.
19. Get a 5th night free
Most hotel programs give the fifth night free on award stays.
Make sure to have enough points.
This is a great deal if you have a five night stay planned.
Some chains require that you have elite status to take advantage of this though.
Section IV: Save With Road Trips
Although you should prioritize international travel and see more of the world, road trips allow you to travel more.
20. Drive instead of fly
When it is cheaper, drive instead of fly.
This is nice when you have a family of five to buy airline tickets for.
Keep in mind that with great distances, it could be cheaper to fly.
21. Tour your own city or nearby town
Be a tourist in your city or nearby city.
I recently found a popular city in my state just an hour away.
I had never been there.
It was fun because it was new.
You can even be a tourist in your own city.
22. Travel in you own state
Most people do not explore their own state enough.
I lived in New York City for almost a decade and have never been to Albany or Buffalo.
Before I became a traveler/blogger, I would overlook these places.
Now, I have a lot more fun even in the state I currently live in: Alabama.
23. Do a day trip
A day trip is a road trip with no overnight stay.
It can only be done to cities that are nearby.
I live an hour and a half from Nashville, Tennessee.
Day trips save hotel costs.
Section V: General
24. Save on extras like parking
Parking can be a big expense on a trip.
Read TripAdvisor, and find cheaper options.
My last trip to Nashville, Tennessee could have cost $50 for parking at the Westin in Downtown.
I parked at the nearby library for $20.
25. Do free activities
It is ok to pay for the one of a kind experiences, but most major cities have a lot of free options.
Don’t spend money if you don’t have to.
One of my favorite cities in the United States, Chicago, has a lot of stuff to do in the downtown area.
On my last trip I spent on certain activities, but I did a lot of free things there too.
Summary
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on travel.
I like to spend as little as possible on travel and stay at nice hotels like the Westin or Waldorf.
When possible, I like to spend nothing at all.
Check out my other blog, Travel Points 101.
You can follow the blog on social media on Twitter Or Facebook too.
I actually post a lot of deals if you follow me on social media.
Now that travel is making a real comeback, you will want to save money.
What are things you do to save money on travel?
As usual, if this post was helpful, share it on social media below.