Part 1 of our 2 part series on how to make your travel bucks go the extra mile.
Gas. Plane tickets. Luggage fees. Food.
No doubt about it, the costs of vacation are going up, up, up.
Don’t cancel your trip just yet, though. Use this top 10 tips guide to stretch your travel dollar as far as it will go.
1. Maximize your miles. First things first: if you don’t already have frequent flyer or loyalty cards, get them. Then, use them for all they’re worth. Renting a car? Making a hotel booking? Ask about travel industry partners and get your points. Check the websites of each airline, hotel, or rental car agency to learn about their partners and get up-to-date information about current specials. If you don’t want to carry all your loyalty cards, write down the numbers on an index card and stick it in your wallet.
2. Stay flexible. If you’re flying, the more flexible you are with your dates, the more likely you’ll score a deal on tickets. Use travel planning websites with plus/minus day features, allowing you to search for the cheapest ticket with the same itinerary but on different days. Prices can vary by as much as $100.
3. Look into non-traditional lodging. Every traveler has his or her own lodging needs and adventure comfort zone, but those who are willing to consider non-traditional lodging options are likely to save significantly. Home swapping is one option, as are short-term vacation rentals; you can find listings for both on Craigslist. Couchsurfing is increasingly popular as well.
4. Pack light. With the recent increase in baggage fees—even for the first checked bag—it’s more important than ever to pack light. Leave behind toiletries that you can buy in your destination and utilize your carry-on bags well.
5. Know before you go. Guidebooks offer valuable information, but more people are turning to the Internet to plan their travel, and with good reason. Tourism boards, city governments, and local newspapers and magazines in your destination all have websites that you can consult to find out what’s going on in the area during your visit. Look for free or inexpensive events that will offer you a taste of local culture while taking it easy on your wallet.
Part 2 will appear on Pulse tomorrow.
What strategies are you using to stretch your travel budget? Share you tips below!
Photo: True Scot (creative commons)
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11 Comments... join the discussion!
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Best money saving plan I've come across so far has to be getting as many people into a room as you can – At one point when I was staying on Koh Chang in Thailand friends of mine had three girls sharing a double bed, with a fourth sleeping in a hammock outside on the balcony. Sure that many people in one place not the most comfortable thing ever, but if you figure slightly over crowded but comfortable huts can be more comfortable still then the cheapest accommodation at regular capacity. And it'll depend on the group of people you happen to be traveling with, but given you room is one of the biggest day to day costs, been a bit more liberal about your arrangements can save a lot in the long term, or even short term.
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Me too, Lola! I keep a running list of miles in a notebook and once I've got enough to travel, I use them up immediately. No delayed gratification here!
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Paul- Thanks for sharing this tip! Gotta be careful with it in the US, as hotels have gotten hip to the fact that there are lots of us who'd like to see how many people we can pack into a single room and have introduced all sorts of threatening sounding policies about what they'll do if you find out you've got so many people in the room that you've put your buddy in the tub.
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Yeah, nearly got in trouble myself with four of us in a twin room in Bangkok – Didn't need a full room as three of us only needed to put our heads down for an hour or two before leaving for the airport at 2am leaving our friend on her own, but we negotiated and handed over our passports for the couple of hours we were stopping and they seemed reasonably okay with that. So yeah, you need to be savvy, and respect the fact you might be pushing things in some places.
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I would VERY strongly caution potential home exchangers against using Craigslist to find partners. By home exchanging you are already saving several thousand dollars in hotel charges or rental costs, so be wise and enroll with a reputable, established home exchange agency. There are plenty around charging between $39 and $55 for a year's membership. You will then be negotiating with fellow members who are also registered. Because they have paid a fee they have validated their contact information and legitimacy. Over the years I've heard of very few issues from members listing with agencies, while it's been a significantly different story with people trying to penny pinch and use Craigslist, etc. I've hears several reports where people have bought airline tickets and assumed their arrangements to be finalized, only to suddenly have the other parties simply break off contact and disappear. Something that cannot happen when the arrangements have been set up via a genuine home exchange agency. I run a popular blog about home exchanging. It's well supported and contains frequently updated information, advice, tips, and contributions and success stories from experienced home exchangers. Please visit: http://exchangehomesblog.com Cheers!
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I would VERY strongly caution potential home exchangers against using Craigslist to find partners. By home exchanging you are already saving several thousand dollars in hotel charges or rental costs, so be wise and enroll with a reputable, established home exchange agency. There are plenty around charging between $39 and $55 for a year's membership. You will then be negotiating with fellow members who are also registered. Because they have paid a fee they have validated their contact information and legitimacy. Over the years I've heard of very few issues from members listing with agencies, while it's been a significantly different story with people trying to penny pinch and use Craigslist, etc. I've hears several reports where people have bought airline tickets and assumed their arrangements to be finalized, only to suddenly have the other parties simply break off contact and disappear. Something that cannot happen when the arrangements have been set up via a genuine home exchange agency. I run a popular blog about home exchanging. It's well supported and contains frequently updated information, advice, tips, and contributions and success stories from experienced home exchangers. Please visit: http://exchangehomesblog.com Cheers!
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Anne- Thanks for sharing the home exchange resource information. It's important to have alternatives, especially those that have been vetted through an application and screening process. I have successfully home exchanged through craigslist dozens of times and have never had any problems. I think, though, that you do have to have a good sense of other people and you have to put a safety system in place for yourself. I've talked with a couple of folks who I just had the sense would not be good for an exchange, and I let them know, gently, that it wouldn't work for us. You've definitely given me an idea about writing another piece about how to arrange a safe home exchange! Thanks!
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Great Article Julie! It's so true. I find that the real keey to streching your dollar is accomodation. That can be the biggest expense. If you can get that down or take it out completly, you can save a lot of money!!!!! I always try to use couchsurfing!! Hospitality club is another good one.
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Thanks for including home swapping in your article as a great way to travel free (or almost!) While the idea of strangers crawling around your beloved home may not appeal to some, we only had happy experiences of exchanging homes with people who become firm friends. But the real appeal of home-swaps is that they cost you next to nothing. There are many Internet-based services that pair prospective travelers with one another for a home-exchange vacation but I would highly recommend http://www.homeforswap.com
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Thanks for including home swapping in your article as a great way to travel free (or almost!) While the idea of strangers crawling around your beloved home may not appeal to some, we only had happy experiences of exchanging homes with people who become firm friends. But the real appeal of home-swaps is that they cost you next to nothing. There are many Internet-based services that pair prospective travelers with one another for a home-exchange vacation but I would highly recommend http://www.homeforswap.com
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