6 Ways To Save Money On Travel Expenses

Someone once said to me, "I've decided that whenever I travel, I'm going to always fly first class and only stay at nice resorts."

Well, that's cool if that's how you want to travel, but unless you've got it made, you're not going to see much of the world this way.

It may be easy to assume that anyone who travels has a lot of money or they are in debt, but in reality, not everyone is spoiling themselves on vacations.

Travel doesn't always equate with getting pampered. And it's a lot of work to save money while booking a vacation, but it's worth it.

I have traveled to San Francisco at two-thirds the average cost for most travelers. Our trip to New Orleans was half the typical cost even though we splurged on a swamp kayak tour. I could afford to see the aurora in Canada and touch a glacier in Alaska.

All thanks to these several tips I've used to save a lot of money on travel over the years.

I had so much fun writing this post and it got so long that I broke it up into two parts. For more money saving suggestions check out: 

7 More Ways To Save Money On Travel Expenses

I hope these ideas are helpful to you and please leave a comment at the end of this post with your questions and suggestions!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own. Thank you for your support and help in keeping The Bucket List Chronicles running! 

1. OPEN A TRAVEL SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Long before booking a trip I will do some light research to determine a ballpark estimate. Then I aim to save up more than that amount before making specific plans.

Of course, the goal is spend less than I saved, but initially, I find it's safer to overestimate how much I'll need.

Create a seperate savings account just for your travels. Set up automatic transfers from your checking account so you don't have to think about adding to your travel fund with every paycheck.


2. FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO FIND TRAVEL DEALS

I follow Flights From Home SLC and Flights Machine SLC which help me find great deals I might have otherwise missed.

This is how I find roundtrip flights listed for $38 from SLC to San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, etc.

There are tons of similar accounts across social media, so be sure to find some based in your city. 

Also, I keep a list of places we would like to go and keep an eye out for those cheap tickets to those specific destinations.

These deals sell out quickly which is why it's important to have a consistent travel fund so we can go when the opportunities arise.


3. TAKE YOUR TIME TO RESEARCH AND PLAN

My mom has always been good at saving money on groceries because she will search ads and coupons, then shop at multiple stores and find the best prices.

Fortunately, when shopping around for travel, you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

It only takes a few minutes to compare flight tickets for various dates and airlines. And while it may take some time to research and compare a myriad of hotel, Vrbo, and Airbnb prices, it can save you a lot of money.

No matter how good a price may appear, always dig deeper to find the best deal possible.

The same is true for adventures like riding a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge or whale watching.

Don't settle for the convenience of the easiest to find deals on Google or you will miss out on a lot of savings.


4. BE FLEXIBLE WITH TRAVEL DATES

Be flexible about travel for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. You can save a lot on flights and hotels if you're not determined to take a trip on the exact day of your anniversary. 

It will still be magical when you celebrate late or early, perhaps more so if it means you save hundreds of dollars. 

It's also significantly cheaper to travel during the off-season and keep in mind that this varies from place to place.

September is my favorite time of year to travel as it's the shoulder season for most destinations and the weather is still nice almost anywhere.

Virtually any round-trip flight in the US will cost more around the holidays i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. This is a time of year when many people want to visit family and airlines know that people will be willing to dole out more money than usual.

January - February is the cheapest time of year to fly to most US cities. But each peak season differs based on location.

For example, if you want to save money on a vacation to New Orleans, be aware the most expensive time of year will of course be Mardi Gras season which starts in January and stretches into the spring.

The cheapest time to fly and book hotels in NOLA is July through October. But the heat and humidity is often unbearable even for locals in the summer months.

So if you want to see New Orleans without breaking your budget, shoot for late September through October.

I searched everyday for a few weeks and found non-stop, round-trip flights from SLC to New Orleans for $230 with Delta in September!

On the other hand, a trip to Albuquerque will be most expensive in the first half of October as this is Balloon Fiesta season. If seeing the balloons is your main reason to visit, expect to pay more for flights, rental car, and accommodation.

It's a spectacular city and we felt it was worth it as the Balloon Fiesta was incredible and we got to float in a balloon!

But if you want to experience great New Mexican food and see the Balloon museum, (which I've heard is really cool) watch for lower rates in the spring.


5. LEARN HOW TO PACK LIGHT

We generally (but not always) prefer budget airlines so we only have to pay for the luggage we actually need and not what's included in a steep ticket price.

And I never check a large suitcase unless I'll be traveling for more than 2 weeks.

I understand that this one takes practice.

It can feel unnerving when you're packing to forego few extra pairs of underwear or anything else you might need just in case.

But believe me, packing light makes travel so much easier and cheaper.

Having fewer bags means you can book a cheap flight with a budget airline and save $100 or even more on the cost of a carry-on.

Yes, you'll have to pay extra for a carry-on (if you really need it), but even that is cheaper than paying for an all-inclusive deal with Delta.

Flights from my city to Denver are typically $130 dollars cheaper with Frontier ticket plus a carry-on compared to the same flight with Delta. So that "extra" cost for a carry-on suitcase with budget airlines is often not truly extra.

My husband and I have gone on several trips with one carry on bag and one backpack between the two of us. And once we went with just one backpack no problem.

The just-in-case items are often things you really won't use or you can buy them locally if you're truly desperate. And if you're visiting family or friends, you can borrow certain items.

When I went to San Francisco with my cousin, I recommended she pack some snacks from home for a slightly cheaper trip, but she couldn't find room in her bag because she'd packed so much.

We laughed together about how she'd brought her swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops even though she guessed the motel probably didn't even have a pool.

I could have told her that, but she wanted it just in case. Even if there was a pool, we wouldn't have used it because there was so much to do in the city.

You don't need a travel size first aid kit as you could just pack a couple bandaids and a few loose aspirin. And you can buy more sunscreen almost anywhere at your destination if you actually need it.

You really don't need an extra change of clothes, or an umbrella, or a hardcopy book, or an extra phone charger, or a towel.

And you don't need your full set of skincare or haircare products, or a curling iron.

You can do without every tiny convenience for a few days. It helps if you see it as part of the adventure.

We've used the same refillable travel size toiletry bottles for years. Find durable ones and you won't need to go out and buy new ones for every other trip.

When it comes to packing clothes, my ideal trip includes just one pair of shoes on my feet and one jacket if the local weather requires it.

I'll even wear leggings under my jeans, because I get cold on flights, but especially to save room in my bag.

We've also done laundry at friends' houses when traveling to avoid overpacking.

On a four night trip to Atlanta, I was able to pack one carry-on suitcase and two backpacks for our family of four. We did laundry one day at my friend's house while we had dinner with them so it was easy.

Packing light can feel super satisfying. You'll feel a sense of pride in saving money on baggage fees and making it a game when determing what you will actually need for your trip.


6. FIND A TRAVEL BUDDY

Find someone you can have a great time with in a new place. This can save you a lot on transportation and hotel/Airbnb.

My cousin and I split the cost of a private motel room in San Francisco and each paid the same price as a decent hostel.

A bunk bed in San Francisco will set you back about $70 dollars a night which is what we each paid for our motel stay. But we had a private bathroom and a mini fridge to ourselves.

If you're in a relationship, travel with another couple. You can split the cost of an Uber to and from the airport and the price of an Airbnb.

You don't even have to hang out during the day. Go see the sights with just you and your partner and meet up at night with your short term roommates.


Travel can be expensive but it doesn't have to drain your savings if you do it right. 

This takes a lot of time and practice, but it is so fun to save money as you make the most of your trip.

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