Travel Tips To Save You Money on Your Get-Away

Money-saving travel tips for your next adventure.

According to The Black Traveler report, Black travelers spent $129.6 billion on domestic and international travel in 2019. If your next destination requires a passport upon entry, the Department of State Travel provides a wealth of information on how to travel and protect your money, health, safety, and security. Your preferred mode of transportation can not only save you money. It can also allow for maximizing time while someone else does the steering.

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10 Money-Saving Travel Tips

The following tips will ensure you do not break the bank during your next trip. It doesn’t matter if you travel by plane, train, bus, or automobile. Plan your itinerary and book well to get the best experience possible. If you are going to spend money on a trip to your dream destination, you might as well get the best bang for your buck:

Reserve a rental car before booking travel plans

During the pandemic, Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise sold off inventory. Rental cars are scarce, options are limited, and prices have increased. Also, consider picking up your vehicle from an off-airport location near your hotel to save approximately 15% on taxes and fees. Some travelers have resorted to renting non-traditional travel vehicles such as U-Haul and other light-commercial modes of transportation during their travels. Autoweek offers more details about renting automobiles.

Redeem frequent traveler rewards and credits

Frequent flyers often have a stockpile of sky miles, hotel points, and rental car vouchers. Leisure tourists usually prefer to earn travel rewards for day-to-day credit card purchases, and most businesses in the hospitality industry offer credits for canceled vacations. These travel rewards might yield free, reduced-price, or upgraded accommodations for your next destination. Travel and Leisure offers more information about airline miles redemption mistakes.

All weekdays are not created equal

Depending on the route and mode of transportation, Tuesdays or Wednesdays are the cheapest travel days. Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are also more affordable. Depending on the carrier, Fridays and Sundays are typically the most expensive travel days. The TSA offers more travel tips.

Early birds and night owls typically secure the cheapest travel costs

Early morning and late evening trips are usually less expensive than trips scheduled during the middle of the day. Travelers can also receive compensation, credits, upgrades, accommodations, and meals if time permits. Be willing to give up a seat on an overbooked carrier in airports, buses, or other public transportation!

Pack your lunch

When traveling by plane, train, bus, or car, bring lunch and snacks before you leave for healthier and cheaper meal options. Read more about Healthy Foods to Pack When You Travel.

Use hotel ground transportation when flying

See if your hotel offers free ground transportation to and from the nearest airport instead of paying for taxis, rideshares like Uber or Lyft, tolls, and airport driver fees.

Beware of the hotel minibar

Weary travelers can be tempted by readily available chocolate bars, cookies, potato chips, wine, soda, and bottled water. These comfort foods are usually marked up 3-4 times the usual price, drastically increasing the price of a hotel stay. Save money by picking up a few groceries at a local market. You can have them in your hotel room during your vacation.

Before you go, count the cost

When planning a trip, be sure to budget for the cost of transportation (airfare, train, or bus ticket), parking at the airport, rental car and gas, lodging, tolls, food, and tips (maid service, baggage attendants, bartenders). These travel costs do not include enjoyable activities like shopping and entertainment.

Consider travel insurance

Understand which aspects of the trip are refundable and what coverage the credit cards provide to pay for travel and accommodations. Remember, U.S.-based health insurance policies offer coverage only within the United States. Get protected before you travel the world. Learn more at the United States Travel Insurance Association.

Save for future travel

Establish a travel savings account to protect against debt when planning the next getaway or dream vacation.

Still unsure about traveling? The Better Business Bureau offers travel tips for the best travel practices. Stay informed and prepared, whether traveling abroad or somewhere you’ve never been. From travel schemes and vacation scams to tips on saving money and getting your passport, BBB Travel Tips has it all.

About the Author

Al Riddick is President of Game Time Budgeting, an award-winning financial fitness firm that helps employees develop simple, easy-to-duplicate systems for managing their money. 

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