I like to travel. Scratch that, I love to travel! And it feels like there are more places to go than there is time and money. I haven’t given up though and thrown in the towel when it comes to getting off the couch and exploring the many incredible places there are in this world. And since you’re reading this too, I imagine you haven’t given up either. Plus, you’re looking for some tips to help you travel more affordably and stretch your vacation dollars! And thankfully, we do have some tips. Here are ten- ten tips to getting the most out of your vacation while traveling on a budget.
1.) Plan Ahead- Spontaneous last-minute trips are fun! As a last-minute, flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of person (and traveler), I’ve enjoyed quite a few of these trips. Oftentimes, these trips were poorly planned though, and looking at the aftermath of my checking account and credit card statement was nowhere near as fun as the trip. To avoid the barrage of unexpected costs and unintentional spending, it’s ideal to research and plan way ahead if possible. I personally believe it makes financial sense to start looking 6 to 12 months in advance. This means I’m vetting and selecting the destination even further in advance (when I’m being a good girl of course, and not flying by the seat of my pants!). Having the time to plan far in advance allows you to search for the best prices on airfare, hotels, rental cars, attraction tickets, and even more!
2.) Scroll (insert preferred social media platform) With a Purpose- When you do follow my numero uno advice and you plan ahead, it gives you the chance to shop around as I already mentioned. Furthermore, it gives you the chance to wait patiently and be on the lookout for discounts! This is when social media comes in handy.
Bypass the memes and funny reels ( I know I’m asking A LOT!) and use some of that social media scrolling time to look for deals for your upcoming trip.
Check the social media accounts of places you would like to visit or would consider visiting, better yet follow those accounts and keep your eyes open for special ticket prices and offers that will save you money or add more value to your trip. A lot of times, I’ll join the newsletter or mailing list to take advantage of sign-up offers or just to ensure I receive any sales or special offers that can be possibly used on my trip.
3.) Travel When It’s Not the Popular Thing to Do- If your schedule allows travel during slow times also known as the offseason or off-peak time periods -the times when school is normally in or on weekdays- you can definitely save yourself a lot of money this way. It’s not a secret that avoiding holidays, summer, and peak travel time periods can keep a good amount of money in your wallet and it can also save you a lot of time and frustration since traveling during the offseason usually means less traffic, less wait times, and less crowds. Fortunately, a lot of destinations have something to offer year-round, so there’s a great chance you won’t be making a huge sacrifice and you’ll still really enjoy yourself! There are even some places I’ve grown to love during the offseason. So much so that the offseason is the only time I’ll visit now! Less money, less crowds, less traffic and still having loads of fun, those are all wins in my book!
4.) Flex Your Flexibility Muscle- If you’re not bent on going to one particular place, you can allow your budget or your savings to determine where you’ll go. So if plane tickets and hotel stays are less expensive for one particular destination or you’re ok with choosing a closer destination to drive to so you spend less on gas, then you can jump on an opportunity to still travel somewhere without trying to work magic with your money. And not the disappearing money trick ( I know that one all too well), I’m talking about the reappearing money act (if you know that magic trick, help a fellow traveler out!!)
5.) Search For What’s Free- This is probably one of my favorite ways to save because every city or town I’ve visited has had some form of free entertainment- whether it’s beaches, parks, gardens, places of worship, outdoor murals, walking tours, or museums. I have been pleasantly surprised by how many fantastic free activities I’ve been able to delight in while on vacation. Furthermore, look up free admission days for museums, attractions, or places you may be interested in visiting. Disclaimer: I haven’t been able to do a whole vacation of free activities (perhaps that should be an upcoming challenge?) but I have been able to have a day or two of little to no spending while out of town which has allowed our family to keep within the budget without feeling like we missed out on a day of vacation fun.
6.) Keep the Savings Going- This year we bought an annual membership to Atlanta Botanical Garden with the promise that for just a few extra dollars, we could have access to free and reduced admission to over 300 gardens, arboreta, and conservatories and that promise has paid off. We’ve had the chance to visit Leu Gardens, we have plans to visit Bok Tower Gardens next month, and we’re actively making plans to visit more gardens this year as well. What I think is great about annual passes and memberships is that if you have a garden, zoo, museum, or whatever type of annual pass or membership you purchase, if you have one of these places nearby, you can have something affordable to enjoy too when you’re home and want to get off your couch.
7.) Check out Groupon- Groupon and I are tight, longtime, loyal travel companions. Before any trip, I’ll check the site to see what’s available when I’m considering or planning a trip. I also search online for any local savings sites, and I’m sure to pick up the local discount magazines once I arrive in town, the ones that you find at gas stations, hotels, visitor centers, etc. Groupon, local savings sites, and discount magazines offer discounts on food, gaming places, and attractions and those small to medium-sized discounts do add up! And in many cases, they have been lifesavers! When costs start to creep in that I didn’t account for ( as they always do!), those extra savings often allow us to still come within or near our budget.
8.)Set a Travel Schedule- Once you’ve selected your place, done your research, and selected accommodations, flights, rental car, activities, and any other aspects needed to enjoy your trip, it’s helpful to write out a travel schedule. A travel schedule would include which activities happen on which days and possibly where you’ll even eat. From my experience, this is important because some days are ideal for eating in (if you have accommodations that offer a kitchen) or ordering a less expensive takeout option and on some days you would be better off splurging and eating out. Also, knowing what you’re doing day to day and gathering all of the necessary supplies the day prior, can keep you out of that dreaded place where budgets go to die- the gift shop! Let’s say, for example, your trip involves a visit to the waterpark. Only after you get there, do you realize your kid did not bring their goggles and there is no way your kid is going to enjoy their waterpark day without a pair of goggles! It’s just unrealistic!! The last thing you want is to have to make a trip to the gift shop to invest in a 30-dollar pair of swim goggles. And no, I’m not exaggerating about the price, unfortunately! (I’m still feeling that $30 sting two years later!!!) Heading to the gift shops for goggles, sunscreen, water shoes, pretty much anything is asking for a swift kick to the gut of your budget. Of course, things happen and sometimes you can’t avoid them, but if you can, I definitely would recommend that you do too. So having an idea what each day will most likely look like and what you’ll need to have or do will most likely keep you on financial track while on vacay.
9.) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask- Some attractions advertise their discounts on their websites and signage, some restaurants advertise discounts prominently on their menus, and some do not. But just because you don’t see a discount listed on their website, signage, or menu doesn’t mean it’s not there! Therefore, we have made it a habit to ask. And more often than not, asking pays off!
10.) Stay Loyal- There are loyalty programs for everything that I can think of- airlines, hotels, gas, fast food, and many of the restaurants that have multiple locations. I’m sure there are even more loyalty programs that I missed and as many that you use, like, and find beneficial, try to stay loyal to those programs. Frequenting the same places will allow you to accrue more
There it is! We have made it to number 10 and have completed our list for ten ways to stretch your vacation dollar, get the most out of your trip, and travel more affordably! Are there any of these tips you’re using already? Did you gain any new tips to help with your upcoming travels? And are there any other tips that you would recommend? If you have any other travel tips that you’d like to share with your fellow travelers, email us at info@offourcouch.com.