Tight Budget? Here Are 10 Tips to Stretch Your Vacation Money! Suzy Guese January 9, 2020 Budget Travel, Travel Tips The whole point of a vacation is to take off some time from work, relax, and unwind. We need that time off to recharge our batteries and return to our regularly scheduled lives with renewed energy. Sadly, travel does come at a price — and that price can be pretty high if you don’t mind your dollars and cents! But don’t worry, making the most of your vacation budget doesn’t have to result in munching on granola bars and pitching a tent for a week’s vacation. Just follow these simple steps to travel cheap, and you’ll be on your way in no time! Set Your Budget and Monitor It Although you might have a ballpark number of what you want to spend on your vacation, it can be hard to remain accountable to it if you don’t write down what you’re spending in an itemized list. Try creating a spreadsheet with food, accommodation, transportation, and attraction costs. Price out what you want to spend on each per day and try to stick to that number. Also, as you travel, keep track of your budget goals to avoid the post-trip bank account shell shock. You can often right a sinking ship before it goes down if you’re simply aware of a daily budget! Watch for Deals–and Be Ready to Jump at the Last Minute! The more flexible you are about your travel plans, the more you’ll figure out how to travel cheap. This goes for booking your trip as well as when you’re on it. There are plenty of deals on last-minute travel, whether that’s getting your flight or hotel for a discount or booking the last two spots on a tour. To take full advantage of last-minute deals, you’ll have to be flexible about when you’re able to head out on your trip. It also helps to be laid-back about where you travel to. Travel vendors would rather lower their prices a bit to have a flight, hotel, or event filled than lose that money completely. Even if you don’t see a lower price offered online, pick up the phone and call – they may make an exception if you’re willing to book on-the-spot. Travel During Off-Season If you’re able to take time off when everyone else is working or in school, you could save on your trip. Yes, some destinations have an off-season because the weather is less than optimal or all activities are closed for the winter. However, other places have an off-season simply because that’s when tourism dips. By traveling in the off-season — or even during the week instead of on a weekend — you can often save on both your flight and your hotel. Even moving your flight by one day can mean a few hundred dollars less for a ticket. Another perk to traveling when tourism is low is that you won’t have to wait in lines to get into major attractions or events, and you may even benefit from free or lower entry prices. Book Accommodations with Free Amenities Parking, Wi-Fi, and breakfast are some of the standard, can’t-live-without amenities. If you have to pay for these services, you’re spending will increase. A $15 Wi-Fi charge, $15 parking fee, and $15 breakfast can add up to an extra $45 a day. Seek out accommodations that are loaded with free amenities. From hostels to vacation rentals to family-run hotels, you can almost always save big bucks if the free amenities are abundant. Pack Light Remember that these days airlines will often charge you for checking a bag, as well as charge you more if the bag goes over the weight limit. That extra few pairs of jeans in your luggage could be costing your travel budget a whopping $50! Checking a bag can set you back around $25 each way. Try tossing out that extra pairs of hiking boots and savor that extra $50. Save on your vacation before it even begins by packing smarter, lighter, and going with carry-on luggage. Consider Hotel Alternatives Beyond what you pay for your flight, your hotel is going to be your next major major expense – possibly even the steepest expense of all. Luckily, there are hotel alternatives to consider. If you won’t be spending a lot of time at your hotel, consider staying in a hostel instead. While a lot of hostels have shared living space, you may be able to pay a little extra to upgrade to your own room. For a slightly more upscale vacation, consider a vacation rental. These accommodations usually cost a lot less than staying in a hotel, and you can find a rental with all the conveniences of home, like a kitchen and spacious living room. Use Public Transportation Taxis and car rentals are true vacation budget busters. While they can make travel more convenient, the cost can really add up. After all, you didn’t spend countless hours searching for cheap flights in September just to end up blowing it all on pedicabs and buggy rides! Luckily, if you’re staying in an urban setting, you can travel around town for a fraction of the cost by bus, metro, city bike rental, or on your own two feet. In bigger cities with subway systems, you can also generally purchase a multiple-day pass to take unlimited trips throughout your vacation. Rather than $20 per cab ride, you can spend that $20 on your entire transportation for the week. Find Free Tours and Attractions Entrance and admission fees can quickly add up on vacation. While you want to see the sights and gain a sense of where you are, those entrance fees can be budget breakers. Instead of merely filling your itinerary with paid attractions, sprinkle in several freebies each day. You can stretch your vacation dollars a bit further by heading to free public parks and walking tours throughout your stay. They often won’t cost you a dime and you can still see plenty of what makes your destination special. Before you go, consider scheduling your visit around free museum days, especially in certain destinations that tend to have pricey admissions. You may also like: Which Budget-Friendly Destination Should You and Your Friends Visit? Use Credit Card Points Whenever Possible Even if you have a credit card that gives you travel points, it can take a long time to build up enough points to actually be worthwhile. Consider opening a new credit card that gives you bonus points just for signing up. Then, use that same card to book all of your travel – the points may accrue quickly, and you can use them when booking the rest of your trip. Be sure to do your homework before opening a new card. There are a lot of different deals based on how you’ll use the card. For example, you may only get a signup bonus if you charge a certain amount within the first three months. Limit Your Food Expenses with Dining Alternatives One of the most expensive parts of travel is eating out for every single meal. Look for accommodations that have eat-in kitchens and full-sized refrigerators. Even cooking just one meal where you’re staying will help you save big on dining out. Also, fill up a reusable water bottle so you don’t have to pay a premium for bottled water from a convenience store. (Bonus: It’s better for the environment.) You should also see what freebies your hotel or resort offer. You may be able to get free coffee every morning or even a complete breakfast buffet. If they have complimentary snacks, grab a couple on your way out to curb hunger throughout the day. When you’re ready to dine out, try to make it lunch instead of dinner. You’ll often pay lower prices for the same or similar meal options. The same goes for heading to the bar — go for happy hour to cash in on deals. Traveling costs money no matter how you slice it — but if you plan out a budget and find ways to save along the way, you can totally lounge on the beach without worrying about your bank account. How do you stretch your vacation budget? Share your tips with us in the comments below!
