11 Things to Do to Save Money While Planning to Travel

Nothing worth having comes without a price. Traveling is fun, but many expenses are involved, which, if not tackled with skill, can be a significant burden on your pocket. To help you figure this out, here are eight things you can do to save money while traveling.

Analyze your destinations

Make a list of everywhere that you plan to go for your next holiday.

Conduct research for each destination to figure out which place offers you the most value for your money.

Zeroing in on places where you have friends or relatives with a spare bedroom or where you can get free meals is a great option.

Research sites to refer to:

• Number: Ranking of countries is done by cost of living, restaurant cost, and cities by travel cost
• Fairness: Comparison is made based on your prices, the dates you plan to visit the place, and other times.

Schedule your airfare

Some days in the year are reserved for travel in your calendar. Why wait until the last moment to book a flight ticket when you could be saving a lot of money with just a little planning?

Currently, tickets through the end of November are already on sale, so book your tickets at a reasonable price if you plan to be somewhere on Halloween or Thanksgiving or for someone’s birthday.

You could wait to get the best price if you want to save more. Use Travel Hacker global pages, Hopper App, or set an airfare alert on Airfare Watchdog to get the best deals.

Airfare purchases postscript

There are some airlines where you can only book a ticket through their websites, such as Southwest Airlines.

Many countries have “hidden” airlines, and you might like to look at the fares they offer before you book a ticket.

Google the list of all commercial airlines and plan accordingly.

Cook your own meals

Suppose you are traveling to Paris and wish to sample authentic French cuisine. A main course, dessert, and beverage could cost between 30 and 40 Euros per person at a moderately priced restaurant. If you dine out for every meal, you will spend between 90 and 120 Euros daily on food alone.

If you choose to prepare your meals, you could purchase supplies from a local market or supermarket for approximately 20 Euros per day. This budget will allow you to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner with leftover funds.

Therefore, by preparing your meals, you could save between 70 and 100 Euros per day, which could be spent on other activities or conserved for future travel.

Consider alternative accommodations

Imagine you are looking for lodging while visiting Tokyo. A night at a moderate hotel in Tokyo can cost between 15,000 and 20,000 yen (around 130 to 175 USD). However, if you opt for an alternative accommodation such as a capsule hotel or a hostel, you could pay between 2,000 and 5,000 yen per night (around 17 to 44 USD).

For instance, the famous Nine Hours Capsule Hotel in Tokyo charges approximately 4,900 yen (about 43 USD) per night for a standard capsule. This could save you substantial money, particularly if you are traveling on a budget.

Additionally, some hostels and homestays offer complimentary breakfasts or communal kitchens where you can prepare your own meals, which can save you even more money on food costs.

Avoid the holiday season

Let’s say you’re planning a trip to Hawaii. If you choose to travel during the peak holiday season in December, you can expect to pay much higher prices for flights, accommodations, and activities due to the increased demand.

For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu in mid-December can cost around $600 to $800 USD. However, if you choose to travel during the shoulder season in May or September, you can find flights for as little as $300 to $400 USD.

Similarly, accommodations during the holiday season can be much more expensive. A mid-range hotel in Waikiki can cost around $300 to $400 USD per night in December, while the same hotel may only cost $200 to $250 USD per night in May or September.

Apply for a credit card

Assuming you’re traveling to Paris and you want to make purchases without carrying a lot of cash. If you choose to use a credit card for your purchases, you can save money on foreign transaction fees and also earn rewards points or cashback.

For example, if you use a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture, you can earn 2x points on all travel and dining purchases, including purchases made in Paris. You can then redeem these points for statement credits, travel rewards, or other rewards like gift cards or merchandise.

Additionally, many credit cards offer benefits like travel insurance, rental car insurance, and extended warranty protection, which can save you even more money on your trip.

When using a credit card in Paris, it’s important to look for cards that have no foreign transaction fees, as these fees can add up quickly. For example, a 3% foreign transaction fee on a $1,000 purchase would cost you $30 in fees alone.

Use discount codes

Suppose you intend to reserve a hotel accommodation in Las Vegas. If you secure your room using a discount code or promotional code, you can save money on your stay.

Numerous Las Vegas hotels, for instance, offer promotional codes and discount coupons through their email newsletters, social media channels, and websites. These codes may provide discounts on room rates, complimentary room upgrades, and other benefits such as free parking or resort credits.

Using a discount code, you could receive a 20% discount on your lodging rate at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, for instance. A standard accommodation at the Bellagio can cost around $200 per night without the discount, but with the discount, you could save $40 per night or $280 per week.

Similarly, you could use a promotional code to receive a complimentary suite upgrade at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. A standard room at Mandalay Bay can cost approximately $150 per night without the upgrade, but with the upgrade, you could save money and experience a more luxurious stay.

By using discount codes and promotional codes when reserving your hotel room, you can save money and have a more affordable Las Vegas vacation.

Switch your cellular plan.

For example, you’re traveling to Japan from the United States and you want to stay connected with your friends and family back home. If you choose to use your US phone number and roam on a Japanese network, you could end up paying high fees for data usage and international calls.

For example, if you use AT&T in the US and roam on SoftBank in Japan, you could end up paying around $10 USD per day for unlimited talk and text, and an additional $10 USD for 500MB of data. If you’re traveling for a week, that could add up to around $140 USD in roaming fees alone.

However, if you choose to get a local SIM card or use a mobile hotspot, you could save a significant amount of money. For example, a prepaid SIM card from a local Japanese provider like B-Mobile or IIJMIO can cost around 3,000 to 5,000 yen (around $25 to $45 USD) for a week’s worth of data and voice calls.

Alternatively, you could rent a mobile hotspot from a provider like Sakura Mobile or PuPuRu, which can cost around 5,000 to 10,000 yen (around $45 to $90 USD) for a week’s rental.

Don’t stick to your favorite travel agency.

Prices vary with location, so instead of being loyal to your travel agency and greedy of collecting points, search for the cheapest company in your place. You may end up checking into some great hotels and traveling around in some fantastic cars.

Go for free activities.

Let’s say you’re visiting London and you’re looking for free activities to do. London has many free museums and galleries, such as the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Tate Modern. These museums and galleries offer free admission, saving you a lot of money on entertainment.

For example, a ticket to the Tower of London can cost around £28 (around $38 USD) per person, while the British Museum is completely free. Similarly, a ticket to the London Eye can cost around £28.99 (around $40 USD) per person, while a walk around Hyde Park or a visit to the famous Speakers’ Corner is completely free.

London also has many beautiful parks and gardens that are free to visit, such as Regents Park, St. James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens. These parks offer a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery without spending any money.

By choosing free activities in London, you can save a significant amount of money on your trip and still enjoy all that this amazing city has to offer.