Saving Money on Travel

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Traveling is expensive. Saving money on travel can allow you to travel more frequently or to spend your money on other things during your trip. This is a guide about saving money on travel.

Solutions: Saving Money on Travel

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Save Money on Your Next Vacation

There are hundreds of ways to cut costs while traveling. Save a dollar here and there and pretty soon you've saved enough for a second vacation! If only you had the time, right?

The Non-Vacation Vacation

If the economy has brought your vacation plans to a screeching halt, there are some fun alternatives in your future. The alternative vacation plans might be even more enjoyable than a real trip, especially knowing that they're not costing you a fortune.

Take Your GPS Unit on Vacation

If you are renting a car while on vacation, you will almost always be asked by the rental agency if you wish to rent a navigation unit, or a GPS. While it is tempting to take that offer, especially if you are visiting an unfamiliar place, that will often cost about 5 or 6 dollars a day, which is pricey. Instead, take your own unit from home if you have one. It's small and easily packed, plus there is no learning curve trying to figure out a new gadget. Additionally, you will be able to program it ahead of time with all of the pertinent addresses for your trip, such as the hotel, places to visit, the airport address, even the local discount stores for those forgotten items.

Source: My own idea from personal experience.

By Ginny from Murrells Inlet, SC

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Trade Spaces for an Inexpensive Getaway

You can have an inexpensive getaway weekend or mini vacation just by trading spaces with a friend or family member. For example, my brother lives in the city and I live in the country about 45 miles away. If he is going out of town, he lets me know and then I can go spend the weekend in his apartment and experience city life. It is so much fun just to sleep in his bed; sit on his back deck with a cup coffee, etc.

Although my daughter lives in the same town as I, I enjoy staying at her house while she is gone because she has satellite TV, a whirlpool bathtub, and an in ground pool, and I get to enjoy it all for free!

By Margaret from Carrollton, GA

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Saving Money on Travel

Tips and ideas for saving money on travel.

Save Change As A Travel Fund

My husband and I save our change all year and use that for our vacation travel. We love to take off in the car and just drive until

we find some little town we can get a room in. Then we stay overnight and "poke" around the next day. I always pack snacks and drinks so that saves us money and when we do eat out we split meals. We have taken expensive cruises in the past and I have decided that taking a few "road" trips instead are much more fun as well as less money!

Get A Kitchen To Save On Meals

We checked out prices on places with full kitchens when we went skiing in December. We found that we saved enough money by eating our meals in our condo to pay for the convenience of being near the ski slope. Ski in, ski out, no less! Being so near the lifts, we could even eat lunch in the room and rest for a bit before going back out to ski. We saved even more by sharing the condo with our son and his wife. We took turns preparing the food. It was like going to a restaurant for the 'resting' couple. What a great time!

Bring Drinks And Snacks

My husband and I have 4 children and travel can get hairy at times. One way we have found to save a few dollars is to pack snacks and drinks inside the vehicle (not the trunk) so they are easier to get to. And we travel at night, with the kids asleep for most of the trip, stops are few and far between!

By MammaTenor

Drive All Night And Check In Early

If scheduling is not a priority, we've found that if you drive all night (open roads, no tie-ups) there are many motels that will allow you to check in as early as 7 a.m.,

We often check in, shower and sleep 'till mid afternoon. This leaves plenty of time to check out the town we are in, have dinner, indulge in whatever local evening fun we can find, pack up everything we won't need in the morning, and leave a wake-up call for an hour before checkout. It feels like you are getting two nights for the price of one. You'll actually have about 28 hours of hotel time, and get plenty of sleep before resuming your travels. Hampton Inn usually offers a nice breakfast buffet, (complete with fresh make-it-yourself waffles) which will save two people the time and money of a breakfast stop. : )

By Doggy

Stay In Hostels When Traveling

Join Hostelling International (http://www.hihostels.com), it will change your "hostel" image. They have facilities for one or many, sharing or private. US or otherwise. Locations usually have discounts for local attractions that are passed on to you, hotels usually keep this kickback. Also discounts on travel.

Trish Hart from Memphis, TN

Postcards As Trip Souvenirs

Here's a great tip for road trips or any vacations; the kids love it and it is a space saver! Wherever your vacation is, always get a postcard and write your highlights on it and date it. Take a hole puncher, punch a hole and collect them on a sturdy key ring. This is so easy, you can make your own and let the kids do theirs. What a easy way to remember trips, have fun collecting postcards, and save on storage space.

By Linda from Oceanside, CA

Saving Money on Cruises

A pal and her hubby prefer to book their cruises at end of season. She said the cruise staff are more at ease, as they're about to have some time off, making the cruise more like a party for all on board, more so than normally. She said another reason is they can get items in the cruise ship gift shop at drastically reduced prices (thus making some wonderful quality, inexpensive Christmas gifts!)

By Terri from NV

Saving on Vacations with Coupons

I would like to share a vacation savings tip I have discovered. I purchase an Entertainment book at www.entertainment.com (a new one is released each year) for the area where I'm planning to vacation during the summer. These books usually go on sale for about $10 by that time of year, and they offer savings on two-for-one meals, entertainment, etc. Some coupons need to be mailed in ahead of time, but most are good on the spot.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall

Take Advantage Of Complimentary Breakfasts

Look for motels/hotels that offer a free breakfast or get a room with a fridge and microwave, a coffeemaker too, if morning coffee is important. If there is a complimentary breakfast then, by all means, take some extra items, such as fruit, yogurt, etc., with you to have as snacks later. It is not frowned upon as I have heard the breakfast attendants at these places even encourage it since you are basically paying for it and entitled to it. If no breakfast, then bring some simple items from home to have breakfast in your room, especially if you're not a big breakfast eater anyway. I have found good rates at hotels by booking online. Sometimes the online rate is quite a bit cheaper and you'll pay more if you call direct. If traveling by car, pack a lunch and snacks or at least drinks. We always fix a ice water jug.

I have found out the hard way that some touristy things to do, aren't all they're cracked up to be and a big waste of money. Really think about the things you want to do and see so you aren't disappointed and wasting money!

By Debbie

Vacationing Close to Home

When I became ill many years ago, this was my only choice. However, there were so many great places and things to do nearby, I have had a ball. Since I live in Pasadena, I actually live where people travel from all over and spend a bundle to enjoy our Rose Parade, as well as all the other great things here.

I have learned that you can hop on the Internet and get information and mailings from Chambers of Commerce in nearly every town there is. Something cool like a Strawberry Festival or an Avocado Festival is fun, especially if you're a big fan of strawberry shortcake or guacamole, as I am.

Dog trials and shows, parades, all kinds of interesting activities you never knew existed that got along without you all these years exist in profusion.

Because these places aren't at ground-zero-Disney, the costs of rooms, food and everything else is usually a lot less. Plus, you have interesting photos for your friends, who missed the really good times that were right under their noses. Tulip festival, what a sight!

So, search for nearby cities' websites or the websites of their Chambers. Sign up for regular mailings. Colleges have lots of activities, too, like theater and one-week classes, such as Art and Senior hostels on Vancouver Island. Indiana University has a Madrigal in early winter--unforgettable. The Tiki Society had a Tiki Pub Crawl, including a bus, in SFO, no less.

PHD

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"Work" Your Vacation

Did you know you can "work" your vacation to help pay for it? Many camp grounds/state parks/national parks will have camp ground "hosts". The "hosts" work a set amount of hours a day, anywhere from 4-8 at the gate booth in exchange for free camping. Some will let you work 3 days at 8 hours each day, then camp free for a week.

Cruise lines often have people come in and "teach" in exchange for free or greatly reduced cruises. My former husband got a free cruise in exchange for teaching onboard a class in making items from stained glass. Another friend taught an aerobics class 6 times a day in exchange for free passage. and another is an RN who works on a cruise ship 3 weeks a year.

As an EMT, I often work at childrens camps; including church camp, 4H, Scouts, music camp, band camp, equine camp and on float trips. The pay varies, but some camps let my children attend for free, some pay me a straight wage, others pay me and my children attend for half off.

When I was younger I worked/volunteered at the city park department during the summer in exchange for a free family pool and park pass. The nice part was, my older elementry aged children got to go to work with me (for free using the pass) and I could keep an eye on them swimming while I worked. During the winter months, I taught one class a week at the park deparment for a month(usually a craft or sewing class). I had my choice of either getting paid cash OR a free winter pass.

I have also worked in the first aid booth and in ticket booths at state fairs in exchange for free event tickets, free parking, free on site camping, and discounted meals for the entire family. My work shifts were 4 hours each, and then I joined my family for the rest of the day.

Some family owned hotels will hire extra staff during their peak season, and as part of the pay, you get a cabin or hotel room free or at a hugely discounted price.

Another fun thing to do is to be a contractor for an RV company. Most RV's are too large to trailer to dealerships, so they hire drivers to pull them to their dealerships. My aunt and uncle used to do this and went from Indiana factories with them to dealers in FL, TX, California, Missouri. The RV company would then fly them back home. The RV company paid for all the fuel, the rental truck to pull it, and they got to stay in the RV enroute. They got to see a lot of country this way, for free!

Check it out, see what you can come up with!

By April from NW, MO

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Lighten the Load

When traveling take all of your older underwear (the ones your mother warned you about in case you were in an accident) and as you wear them throw them away, thus allowing for room in your suitcase for the souvenirs.

By Joanne from WI

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Questions

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Tips for Saving Money While on Vacation

Tips to help you save money while you are on vacation. Post your ideas.

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Most Recent Answer

By LOU (Guest Post)07/17/2008

Baby wipes , hand sanitizer are always a must for me. If your planning on eating in the car. And if you spill you can clean it right up. And don't forget to throw a box of cheap tissues or napkins in the car.