How YOU Can Afford to Travel: Part 3

I am on a mission to help busy people make travel a priority. But I know that being busy is only half the battle. The other big issue that often gets in the way of travel is money. Or lack thereof.

In this 3 Part series, I provide practical tips you can implement NOW that will allow you to afford more travel SOON.

Unless you are independently wealthy or have a huge trust fund, traveling is typically viewed as a luxury. But with all the benefits to be gained from travel, I urge you not to put it off.  Instead, implore these steps to put travel within financial reach.

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

These are my 3 Steps to Making Travel Affordable:

Part 1: Make More Money
Part 2: Save More Money
Part 3: Seek Out Travel Deals

If you haven’t already, go back and read Part 1 and Part 2 for plenty of money-making and money-saving tips.

I hope you have already used some of my suggestions and your travel account is growing. Now you are ready to explore ways to stretch your hard-earned travel funds!

Part 3: Seek Out Travel Deals

There are TONS of ways to save on travel! I will just scratch the surface here and provide some of my personal favorite ways to find travel deals. Pick the options that work best for you and your preferred style of travel.

Bundle and Save

If your travel plans include accommodations and airfare or a rental car, then consider bundling these services for the best deals.

When I search for flights to Europe, the sticker shock gives me heart palpitations! But when I go through Tripmasters.com to purchase my airfare, hotel, and city-to-city transportation all through the same service I find that a trip to Europe is much more affordable.

Some popular websites that allow you to book both flights (international and domestic) and hotels at the same time are Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, and many, many more.

The key is to shop around and compare prices. Go directly to the websites for your hotel and airline of choice and compare those prices to what you can get when you bundle the services through a discount provider. Often the bundled price is cheaper, but not always, so be a savvy shopper.

Not Your Grandma’s Coupons

No need to get out the scissors and the Sunday newspaper to scour for savings. Instead, check out popular savings websites such as Groupon and Living Social.

These websites offer amazing discounts on hotels, activities, dining, and more. I use them to find deals as well as inspiration for things to do and new restaurants to check out in my hometown and when I’m traveling. Groupon has led us to unforgettable wine tasting excursions with friends and even ballroom dancing classes!

Just be sure to read the fine print to make sure the voucher is valid for the days you plan to use it, and pay attention to expiration dates.

Apps to the Rescue

One of my least favorite travel expenses is parking. Spot Hero to the rescue!

This handy app helps you find and reserve parking spots in 30 major U.S. cities with just a few clicks. We used Spot Hero during our recent trip to Chicago, and now I’m hooked. Parking at our hotel would have cost $55, but with Spot Hero we reserved a parking spot in a garage less than a block away for just $37.

Another money-saving techie tool I tried recently is Wikibuy. I added this extension to my web browser. Now anytime I surf deals on the web, Wikibuy pops up in the corner if it identifies an even better deal than the one I’m looking at.

When searching for a hotel in Chicago, Wiki popped up. It notified me of another website offering the same hotel stay at a lower rate. So I jumped on it and saved about $13. Not a huge savings, but it all adds up.

With just these two savings in Chicago, we had an extra $30 in our pockets…enough for another round of cocktails!

You can bet I’ll be using Spot Hero and Wikibuy on many more trips!

Reward Yourself

There are so many ways to earn travel rewards these days. But it can be overwhelming and time-consuming to figure out complex reward programs and keep track of the requirements and deadlines. Who has time for all that!

I certainly have not mastered this area, but I do have a few simple tips for newbie travel hackers.

Start by researching your current bank’s rewards program as well as credit cards you already have. You may be missing out on travel rewards or cash bonuses you didn’t know you had coming.

Before our recent trip to Europe, I stopped by my bank to alert them about our trip and learned they offer a credit card with no international fees.  We saved a bundle by using our Fifth Third Trio card as we traipsed through Europe. (Those extra fees can really add up!)

The Trio card also earns rewards, including a significant new cardholder bonus, which can be redeemed for flights, gift cards or straight-up cash. Just before our summer beach vacation we cashed in our rewards and had an extra $650 to spend. Not bad!!

If you decide to take on a new credit card with the goal of earning miles or other rewards, do diligent research first. Ask about fees and make sure you understand how rewards can be redeemed. If there are too many stipulations it may not be a reward at all. And be prepared to pay off your credit card in full each month. Otherwise, the interest you will pay on your credit card debt will far outweigh any rewards you may earn.

Think Beyond Hotels

If you want to see more of the world but your travel budget is fairly restrictive, think beyond the traditional hotel.

Hostels provide a very affordable option for those willing to share fairly meager accommodations with other travelers. Bunking with family and friends in locales you would like to visit is another low-cost option. And have you heard of couch surfing? No longer just a term for a moocher without a bed of his own, couch surfing is a legitimate way for travelers to connect with locals and have a place to lay their head while affordably seeing the world.

If those options are a bit too primitive for you, consider renting a room, apartment, or house through popular websites such as Airbnb and VRBO. While you can find some really high-end options on these websites, you can also find extremely affordable accommodations. You’ll have the added benefit of kitchen facilities, so you can save even more money by dining in rather than out.

If you do opt for a standard hotel, consider being loyal to a particular hotel chain. Join their rewards program to earn free stays and upgrades or sign up for Hotels.com. When you book a room, regardless of the website you choose, always ask about discounts you may be eligible for. Seniors, military, and AAA members can often get a special discount with appropriate documentation.

Timing Is Everything

I’m sure I am not the only one who has googled the ideal time to book flights to get the best deal. It appears that Tuesdays generally offer the cheapest fares, and booking 2-3 months out can snatch the best rate.

But don’t believe everything you find on google! Do your own research and track airline prices on various dates. Then be ready to make the purchase when a good deal comes up.

When you travel also has a huge impact on the money it will cost you. Avoid peak season if at all possible as prices will be the highest and crowds will be heavy. Each destination has its own peak season and a quick google search will give you that information.

I prefer to travel during shoulder season. This is the month or 2 before and after peak season (again easily googled).  We have had great experiences traveling to Europe in April and are planning our next trip for October. I love the more reasonable prices during shoulder season and appreciate fewer crowds of tourists fighting to see the same attractions.

Time is money, and traveling during shoulder season gives me more of both!

Planning Is Key

One common theme you’ve probably picked up on is the importance of doing your research. You can waste a lot of time and money during your travels if you don’t do some thoughtful planning ahead of time. It is best to decide what activities you really want to do and the kind of lodging you prefer, and then shop around.

If you plan to visit tons of museums, then it might make sense to purchase a CityPASS. Offered in several major cities, CityPASS could be your ticket to hitting lots of hotspots and saving money along the way. While museums were not on the itinerary for our recent trip to Chicago, my friend Pam used CityPass recently in the Windy City to check out all the must-see sights.

 

Many European cities offer similar options. Check out the ParisPass when traveling to the City of Light if you want to immerse yourself in art. Or consider the SwissPass, which could save you a bundle on transportation in one of the world’s most notoriously expensive countries.

Try to embrace the planning process as part of your journey as well as a way to make travel more affordable.

I hope your travel dreams are starting to come into focus as you reveal more and more ways to stretch your travel dollars. Keep your eyes peeled for great travel deals, and when you find them, send them my way!

Want even more ideas on how YOU can afford to travel and see the world? Check out this compilation of articles from several amazing budget savvy travel bloggers!

How do you get good discounts on travel? What resources can you share for finding affordable travel options? Comment below and tell me all about them so I can use them too!!

Now go forth and travel…without breaking the bank!

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

P.S. Subscribe to my newsletter (at the top of the screen) and never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips!

Pin It For Later!