Money Saving Travel Tips for Bargain Hunters
In fact, I feel strongly that if I work hard every day of the week and strive to implement money saving strategies elsewhere all year long, then isn't a vacation where my hard earned dollars should go?
Now don't get me wrong, just as I believe a vacation is the perfect time to take a break from hard-core budgeting,I also acknowledge that proper planning and implementing simple money saving travel tips along the way make it possible to take future getaways.
Think about it... Would you rather blow thousands of dollars on one extravagant vacation per year or do some research and implement some creative ways to save money on vacation, so that you could escape the everyday "hustle & bustle" four times in the next 365 days?
As I love to visit new places and enjoy quality time away from the office, I keep these money saving travel tips in mind knowing that by using them, I can afford to get away again within a couple of months.
Top 5 Money Saving Travel Tips
1. Plan! Plan! Plan! I cannot stress this point enough. By planning your travel budget, you set realistic expectations not only for yourself, but for your vacation companions. Once you research your desired vacation spot, you'll have a general idea of the costs involved and can adjust and tweak as necessary. Before leaving, you should have a clear idea of the maximum amount of money you can spend. I have found that when I have that figure in my head, I make a game out of seeing if I can get back home with money still in my pocket.
2. Dinning for Less Dollars: We all need to eat, so going without food is not an option...lol! I have consistently made the mistake of blowing my budget on food in my former life, but seeing as I have become wiser in my older years I recommend that you consider the following:
Pack Snacks- Whether you are travelling solo or with your family, taking some time to organize tasty flavour snacks will save you a ton of headaches and cash! You'll also guarantee nutritional value and avoid time-sucking "pit stops". Personally, I like to visit my local bulk foods store and stock up on trail mix, dried cranberries and some sugarless candies (my daughter has a sweet tooth like her mama!). I also grab lots of fresh fruit and veggies at the grocery store and then do my cutting, sorting and packing in dollar store Ziploc bags the night before we leave. I get my daughter involved by having her write on each baggie with a permanent marker and drawing smiley faces or putting stickers :)
Avoid Convenience Stores- This shouldn't be too hard if a) you follow money saving travel tip #1 and plan in advance and b) you've packed snacks. Convenience stores are brutal in terms of price, as well as nutritional value. Of course, the famous "but I HAVE to pee!" will probably come into play if you have children, but when traveling by car, I simply avoid that ploy by stopping frequently at highway rest areas where there are typically no enticing marketing gimmicks to lure visitors into over spending.
Meals- Dinning out costs money. Period. It hurts for me to even write that, as I love to eat at great restaurants. Problem is I feel tremendous guilt spending $15 on a plate of pasta that costs under $2 to make, especially if I go to a restaurant for every meal of the day, every day on my vacation! To handle this predicament, I use multiple plans of attack depending on where I'm vacationing.
Money Saving Plans of Attack for Budget Friendly Meals
- For trips that entail a drive of 3 hrs or more, I ensure that I have a cooler packed at least 2 sandwiches for each person I'm travelling with (including myself), therefore avoiding the need to stop and eat at a fast food joint. I do a small load of groceries at a grocery store upon arrival at my final destination. Basics include: Bread, butter, mustard or mayonnaise, some cold-cuts or peanut butter, yogurt and a bag or two of chips. By ensuring that I have food available in the hotel room, it is easier to simply have a light breakfast or quick lunch without much fuss and look forward to going out for dinner.
- "Kids Eat Free" discounts or similar deals are among what I look for when sticking to money saving travel tip #1 of planning my vacation. As I travel with my daughter the majority of time, this type of value add really gets my attention. I'm carefully to make sure that the lodging is not marked up compared to other establishments and really hiding the "free meal" price tag in an inflated room price.
- The Entertainment ® Coupon Book is filled with hundreds of 2 for 1 deals and other great discounts (can you say 50% off?) and if planning a trip of 4 days or longer, I look into to ordering it the month before I leave for my desired location. Most major cities are covered on their extensive list and the cost of the book ($35 usd) dwarfs the actual savings you'll yield if you enjoy eating out at popular restaurants like me. This is especially true on vacation time, when we want to get the best bang for our buck! Not to mention, by having The Entertainment ® Coupon Book handy when planning your travel itinerary (remember tip #1?), you'll be able to benefit from additional money saving travel experiences such as local attractions or shopping.
3. Transportation for the Thrifty: When planning your trip, you'll need to decide on how to get there and back, as well as figure out how to get around town during your stay. If driving your own car is not in the plans, you will need to consider other options such as discount train travel, budget airfare or car rental savings. I encourage you to visit my sections devoted strictly to these topics as there are tremendous savings to be had.
If you are in fact taking your own vehicle, then make sure to be on the lookout for low gas prices. While it doesn’t make sense to drive around wasting gas looking for bargains, it does pay off to fill up if you see gas at a good price (even if you still have half a tank).
Also try to avoid toll roads. If you have a GPS, plug in your route and "avoid tolls" to get an idea if there is a more cost-effective way to drive to your location.
Expensive parking lots should also be avoided. These are typically located close to tourist attractions, but usually in heavily populated tourist areas, you should be able to find some free street parking within a few blocks and if that's the case, then a good walk to stretch your legs and take in new sights isn't really a bad thing.
4. Lodging for Less: Shopping on Expedia is not always the way to go. With some investigation on your part, you may discover greater savings by booking by yourself, if planned carefully. Most hotels offer discounts for AAA members and other groups or you may find wonderful seasonal discounts or promo codes by visiting independent websites that tailor to that particular location. Visit the other pages within this site for guidance on money saving travel tips and discounts at hotels.
When planning your trip accommodations, other options include house swapping, staying with friends or family and camping.
5. Don't go Extravagant on Extras! The little things tend to add up. Without paying attention to this category, you could easily rack up a few extra hundred dollars in spending. Why chance blowing your budget? That's why this is one of the most important money saving travel tips.
ATM visits should not be needed if you have planned properly. By purchasing traveler’s checks, using a debit card whenever possible, or bringing enough cash, you will less likely need to visit an ATM machine. The surcharges on these money suckers are crazy. Most hotels offer in-room safes, so make sure to take advantage of them if you are travelling with cash. Also by leaving your money locked up for the day, you'll be less likely to over spend. Only carry the cash you need for the day you have planned.
Plan your attraction visits carefully- again refer to money saving travel tip numero uno!.
By researching discounts beforehand or using coupons, you won't have to pay retail at the gate.
Ask for discounts wherever you go. Many facilities offer discounts for Auto Club members, AARP members, and other groups. These types of savings are not always posted or announced in travel literature, so there is no harm in simply asking.
Shopping for vacation "treats" is a major threat to your pocket book. How many times do you actually use that shot glass from Cancun or wear the neon jogging pants from Orlando? If bringing home vacation souvenirs for friends and family, why not visit a local dollar store if available... these places are usually loaded with coffee mugs, key chains and magnets emblazed with City Name all over them. I try to do my shopping on the day before I leave when I can accurately calculate how much money I have left in my travel budget for these types of expenses. I most certainly avoid airport shopping.
And those, my friends, are my top 5 money saving travel tips... Bon Voyage!
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