Cheap Flight, Will Travel

I don’t consider myself to be a spontaneous person. I’m a planner. When it comes to travel, I plan everything! And I actually enjoy the travel planning process.

Those who know me also consider me to be a bit thrifty. I love a good bargain! When it comes to travel, I’m always looking for a great deal.

A few weeks ago, an email from one of the popular airlines, buried in the numerous unsolicited emails that regularly fill up my inbox, caught my eye. Could flights really be that cheap? There must be a catch.

I went down the rabbit hole of researching flight options to see if the deals could really be that good.

And they were!

I could fly non-stop from Indianapolis to a handful of destinations for less than $85. Cha-ching!! But was I ready to pull the trigger? Could I really be this spontaneous and take a long weekend getaway in less than two weeks?

I first gave a little thought to my spontaneity, ran my trip by a few friends, and debated with myself for two days. Even my spontaneity takes a little planning!

In the end, I decided if the flight was still available at that low price I had very little to lose…and a great trip to gain! After a couple of clicks, I was booked for a 4 night trip to Orlando.

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Flying with Spirit Airlines

Now I know you are dying to know exactly where I found this amazing flight deal…Spirit Airlines. I had flown Spirit once before to Las Vegas and had a good experience.

Spirit is a no-frills, budget airline so it may not be right for everyone. If you require roomy seats, lots of inflight snacks, and tons of luggage, then you may want to consider spending a bit more and choosing another airline.

For this budget-savvy traveler, Spirit Airlines meets my needs! I love that Spirit flies from my hometown (Indianapolis) to tons of U.S. locations with non-stop flights. And did I mention, you can find really low-cost flights with Spirit?

There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to keep your costs low with Spirit Airlines. Being somewhat flexible with your flight days and times can make a huge difference. Spend a little time browsing the flight charges on your anticipated dates of travel as well as the days just before or after. If you have a little leeway in your travel schedule you may be able to go from a $250 roundtrip flight to one that is under $100.

If you just want to get out of town and are flexible on your destination, you are even more likely to rack up an amazing deal!

The next important factor to consider is your luggage. If you don’t excel at packing light, then Spirit Airlines may not be right for you.

Both checked bags and carry-on bags require an extra fee (around $50 each). Soon that cheap flight isn’t so cheap!

Personally, I can be a light packer. Especially if it saves me a ton of money! Given that I would only be gone for 4 days and I was going to a warm location where light clothing was in order, I decided I could survive on just the one personal item included in the cost of the flight.

I loaded just the essentials in a backpack and I was ready to fly!

If the idea of traveling that light sounds miserable and you are traveling with other people, consider combining your clothes and other essentials into just one large suitcase.  You will save a ton in extra fees if every traveler doesn’t need their own checked bag.

Airbnb vs. Hotels

With my flight booked and feeling pretty pleased with my low-cost trip so far, it was time to secure lodging.

If you consider yourself a high-maintenance traveler and need all the perks of luxury accommodations, then budget accommodations won’t be right for you.  However, if you are willing to forgo a few luxuries you can find incredible, affordable lodging in many popular destinations.

While budget hotels do exist, I personally think you can find higher-quality accommodations at reasonable prices through Airbnb. That was definitely the case when I researched accommodations in Orlando.

When choosing accommodations through Airbnb, just be sure to look at the full cost rather than just the nightly rate. Homeowners who utilize Airbnb set their own cleaning and other fees, and some really elevate the overall price!

By opting for a private room in a home (rather than the entire residence) I got 4 nights in a charming home for under $200!

In addition to a comfy and tasteful bedroom and sparkling clean private bathroom, I had access to the kitchen and living room. But the best part was the pool and hot tub just outside!

I relaxed poolside with a good book and lounged in the hot tub with a glass of wine whenever I wasn’t out exploring Orlando.

I rarely saw the other guests staying at this Airbnb, but I did spend some time chatting with the owner, Linda. With most Airbnbs you can get as much privacy as you require or you can enrich your travel experience by getting to know your host!

Uber vs. Rental Car

Back to planning my super affordable spontaneous trip to Florida…I was well on my way to a super affordable, spontaneous trip to Orlando until I started researching rental cars! All of a sudden my budget-friendly trip was going to break the bank.

I did a ton of research. I googled discounts on car rentals and asked numerous friends for budget-saving advice. This time I came up empty-handed. Renting a car for nearly 5 days in super touristy Orlando was going to cost quite a bit more than what I spent on my airfare and accommodations combined. Ouch!

If I were traveling with family or friends, I may have been able to justify this expense or at least had someone to split the cost with. However, for this trip, I was flying and driving solo, so I started to consider Uber.

After contemplating the specific trips I might want to take and researching the cost of rideshares for these trips in Orlando, Uber became the more affordable mode of transportation. Added bonuses included not having the stress of picking up or dropping off a vehicle, navigating traffic in busy Orlando, figuring out where to park, and paying extra for parking and gas.

I ended up taking 7 trips with Uber, which included to and from the airport as well as several rides to restaurants and other attractions. Given that I was in Florida and the beach was only 90 minutes away, I also wanted to spend a day along the shore. Ubering to the beach was not in my budget!

However, I found a great package through Viator that included a comfy bus ride to Clearwater Beach for a day of sun and fun as well as a dolphin boat cruise. All for just over $80! This was still quite a bit less than I would have paid for just one day of a rental car, and it provided for a stress-free day at the beach.

With my 7 Uber rides and my day trip to the beach, the total costs came in well under what a rental car would have run.

While traveling can be expensive, I hope this article gives you some ideas on how you can make it a bit more affordable.

By practicing some of these cost-saving options, you just might be able to take even more epic adventures!

How do you save on travel expenses? Comment below and share your travel-saving tips.

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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