Everyone has a yearning to get away from the day to day and explore. Especially now that we’ve been locked down with Covid. It can make almost anyone go stir crazy and we all need to take time to get away. I know that I had a personal trip to Peru planned for my 50th birthday that was cancelled as well as a family cruise. As we start to get out and about, we need to make sure that we’re not overpaying while traveling.
The most obvious and simple way to not spend money for travel is to not do it-at all. Simply stated, if you’re not traveling, you’re not spending money in that manner. However, some people are required to travel for work, or other reasons. The fact remains that everyone wants AND NEEDS to get away every now and then to recharge. Travel is also very educational for those of any age. It broadens your mind and gives you experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. For our family, I know that we value these experiences over “things.” Even though the simple answer may be not to travel, we’ll discuss how you can save money while traveling for business or pleasure.
In deciding where to go, you may be able to save a lot of money by staying domestic versus overseas or far distances. I say “may” because you can basically spend as much as you want on any vacation. Generally, you’ll spend less money if you go someplace domestically (in the United States). Of course, there are always exceptions. As always, spend the time researching travel options. If your finances are tight but you still have the travel bug, choose to visit places in your immediate area that are only a drive away that are of interest to you. You might even be able to do day trips with no overnight expenses.
As I mentioned previously in my blog on 3/17/21 (Saving Money in the Air), the first step in saving money is on your airfares. Refer to the previous blog for full information related to plane travel. If driving, the most basic way to cut costs is in gas spending. As I recommended on 3/11/21 (Cutting Costs on Your Car), you need to try to purchase the cheapest gas you can. Download the app Gas Buddy to find the lowest prices locally and on the road.
Another avenue in which you can travel is by bus. Greyhound (www.greyhound.com) has a wide variety of schedules and buses travel to many places in the country. This option is great if you have a more open schedule for your time frame. Traveling by bus can take stress off you as you don’t have to worry about driving at all hours of the day and night, dealing with other drivers, traffic, and you can even enjoy a nap. It’s also a good experience for a family to take together. In addition, you don’t have to worry about stopping for bathroom breaks. The prices are very reasonable which is a definite plus.
Traveling by train is very similar to taking the bus. It is usually quicker than bus, but still remains quite economical. Not only do you not have to stop for bathroom breaks, but also you won’t need to stop for gas either. Of course, there might be stops along the route, for passengers to get on or off, but it won’t slow you down tremendously. Go to www.amtrak.com to check availability.
When you arrive at your destination, you will have to find a place to stay. If you’re not lucky enough to be able to stay with friends or family, you will have to pay for your stay. Most people will opt to stay in a hotel, although this is not the only option. If you decide that you want to stay in a hotel, you should do the research yourself before the trip. We are very lucky to live in the information age. You can access everything on the Internet, even if you’re going overseas. Not only are the following websites great to purchase airline flights, but also for hotels and even rental cars.
If you arrive later in the evening to a hotel and you have not booked in advance, you can usually barter the price for your room. The desk clerk knows that if they don’t “sell” the room to you for the night, that it will possibly get left unused. It is better for them to take some money than none. This works to your advantage, especially if you’re not traveling during peak times of the year and there are several hotels in the immediate area. The prices of the rooms are NOT set in stone. If you have a family, this may not be an option for you to search out hotels and be willing to walk away if the deal isn’t good enough. More likely if you are traveling with only adults and everyone is aware of your goal.
Another place to stay besides hotels are hostels. They are extremely reasonable and are a great experience for individuals and families. Check out www.hostels.com for specific locations and prices. They are in 178 countries. What makes them extra special in my eyes is that they each have their own personality. It’s not the typical “hotel” experience. I believe that traveling is all about experiences and hostels can be a great one.
Recently there has been a big surge in using third party sources while traveling like VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) and Airbnb (air, bed + breakfast). There may also be other places that do similar deals but these are the most well-known. (www.vrbo.com and www.airbnb.com). Some of the great things these types of avenues allow is more space and to they allow you a “resident” feel within a city. We are a family of five, so we especially like this option to have our own space together without getting more than one hotel room or being crammed into a small space and someone having to sleep on the floor. We have personally used both of these services over the years. We stayed in a three-bedroom apartment in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a week within the city, walking distance to everything. We stayed in an apartment in Niagara Falls that was a fraction of the cost of the expensive hotel rooms—especially when you needed to get two rooms. We stayed in downtown Toronto in an apartment in a high rise right in the thick of things. It was a very small apartment and was a tight squeeze but it was a wonderful experience. We rented a lake house in Michigan over the summer where we also got use of kayaks, chairs, and other things related to the lake. We also stayed a week in Sydney, Australia in an absolutely beautiful 2-bedroom apartment that had access to a pool, hot tub and sauna. You can find great wins as well as really bad experiences. We were mostly happy with our experiences with these formats.
Some down sides of using Airbnb or VRBO is that sometimes the pictures and descriptions can be deceiving. It’s crucial to read the reviews carefully. In addition, check out the extra fees that they charge on some places. A cleaning fee is typical and can vary greatly from as little as $35 to over $400 which can take a big hit on your finances if you’re not expecting it. Even though we had a wonderful experience in Sydney, we had an awful experience PRIOR to finding that apartment. We were booked (months in advance) in Sydney with a check in on New Year’s Eve. There is great demand to be in Sydney at this time for the major fireworks that are televised worldwide. The morning we were supposed to fly into Sydney and get the apartment, I got an email notification that our reservation had been cancelled. It could’ve been awful due to the timing, but we were very blessed to be able to find something at the last minute. It was a little farther away from city center and more expensive, but sometimes you have to realize that everything is not going to always go as planned. When traveling, I typically will check there first to see what deals they have. Sometimes they are better than hotels, sometimes not. It can vary a lot. Again, planning makes all the difference in the world.
When vacationing, shopping is one of the biggest expenses that one can occur. It’s fun to be able to take back a souvenir to remember your trip or buy gifts for loved ones. The problem lies in the fact that souvenirs can be even more expensive than other gifts. If you really “must” purchase some souvenirs, stick to those cheaper in price. You may be able to find some deals in areas where there are a lot of souvenir shops, where they have to keep their prices competitive. Unless you live in T-shirts, try to stay away from them because they wear out and your souvenir is gone. A postcard or a photo of your trip is a wonderful memory from the trip. You can frame a nice picture and have it forever.
No matter what type of transportation that you are using for your travel, packing a cooler with food and drinks is essential. It can save time as well as take the sting off of all the other expenses that come with traveling. The cost of eating on the road can really add up to a substantial amount of your budget for your vacation. You may want to have one nice meal on your trip and go on the cheap other than that. If you’re traveling for business, this isn’t as much of an issue as long as you are being reimbursed for expenses. If you are not reimbursed or you are traveling for pleasure, you CAN cut back on your costs.
A great way to reduce your meal costs is to go to the local grocery store while traveling. You can usually rent a small refrigerator in your room for a minimal cost if there isn’t one there already. If you choose an Airbnb or VRBO, you will most likely have a kitchen. When my children were little, my family went to Hilton Head where my husband was having a business conference. The room was already free since my husband was there on business, but we tagged along at no additional cost. There was a mini refrigerator in our room, but it was full with items to be purchased such as liquor, beer, and snacks. I had the hotel remove all the items so I wouldn’t be charged and headed to a nearby grocery store. I purchased cereal, milk, yogurt, and small snacks to have while we were there. We didn’t have to go out to eat and I earned a lot of money for our family. Overall, we were able to visit Hilton Head as cheap as you can.
You can find lots of deals online for all inclusive deals. www.Groupon.com has vacation getaways that can include car rentals, all inclusive vacations to almost anywhere, and hotels for amazing deals. Some even include flights and tours. You can also find deals on local restaurants and activities locally where you’re traveling. If you are a member of Costco, they also offer vacation packages, hotels, cruises, and rental cars at special prices. Both of these can include major discounts on trips and travel items. Another hack is to check Facebook. Your online friend may be a travel consultant offering amazing deals. Some specialize in cruises, all inclusive vacations, and others. If you’re looking for something specialized for cruises, check out www.vacationstogo.com. Lots of promos all around the world. This is one of the places I searched for our cruise. We ended up going through a travel agent because she met the price and additionally, we got money in cruise credits. Don’t be afraid to ask them to match or beat other deals. It’s a very competitive business so you may be able to get the prices lowered.
I have a personal friend who uses credit cards and deals to travel the world for almost free. It’s a little on the extreme side, but if you’re willing to be more vigilant, please check out his YouTube page and subscribe. He has traveled to incredible places for almost nothing. He’s even taken his family along for the ride. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhkE6mhsYxdUXNjmJdtq_Q
There are always deals in regards to traveling, you just have to put in the effort to find them. It might take some time and some sweat equity, but it’s worth it. You’d be able to get the same travel experience for a fraction of the cost. For me, trip planning is a science. We plan everything out in advance so we can search out all the deals and specials we can find. Why spend more on items or adventures than you have to??
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