As an experienced international traveler, who has visited 8 countries, with plans to visit 4 more this year alone, I have compiled a list of how to save money on travel expenses. In this article, you’ll find how to save money when planning your trip, at the airport, and while on your trip. If you have any vacations planned this year, these tips could save you up to $900 on your vacation.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through the links provided on this page I will earn a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you.
How to Save Money on Travel Expenses While Planning Your Trip
Flights & Getting There
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for Scott’s Cheap Flights. If you make a purchase through this link, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Generally, when planning a vacation or holiday, I book flights first. The more flexible you can be when booking flights, the cheaper your flight will cost. I would suggest booking international flights 4 months prior to when you want to travel and domestic flights 2-3 months before. It helps to avoid peak travel times, like Friday nights or on Sundays. Try to book flights to travel on days in the middle of the week. You’ll also want to consider which airport you’re flying out of. If it’s a local airport you will most likely pay more for your ticket. Flying from a bigger international airport can significantly reduce your costs.
If you’re a frequent flyer or are looking to jet-set often, I suggest subscribing to Scott’s Cheap Flights and Dollar Flight Club, both services will send you email alerts for great flight deals! I also have found great deals using Skyscanner to find international flights and flights within Europe.
Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights here.
Sign up for Dollar Flight Club here.
Attractions & Sites
After booking flights, I suggest making a rough itinerary on where you want to go and what you want to do. This helps to prioritize and budget for activities and attractions. Finding free attractions such as historical sites, monuments, city squares, viewpoints, or some museums, can be a great way to save money on travel expenses. If you focus most of your time on free attractions, you’ll be able to save up to $200 in entrance fees alone.
With that being said, don’t prioritize free things over must-see or bucketlist items! You still want to experience the destination and feel like you’ve seen the city or place you’re in. For example, if you are going to Rome and the Vatican is an iconic place you’ve dreamed of visiting, definitely go see it! Then, you can fill the rest of your trip with beautiful city squares, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, and other iconic sites that you don’t have to pay for.
Don’t forget about student and senior discounts at attractions either! Most of the time, major attractions will have discounts for students, children, and senior citizens. By prioritizing things you want to see, taking advantage of free activities, and using student or senior discounts, you will be able to save money on travel expenses.
Accomodation & Lodging
When you’ve booked your flights and know where you want to stay, I would suggest looking for accommodation as soon as possible. When it comes to booking accommodation, you may want to try to save money but I will advise to make sure you feel comfortable and safe with your accommodation choice. I also advise you to stay somewhere central in the city you’re traveling to or to stay somewhere close to public transportation.
Another thing to consider when booking accommodation is how many people you will be traveling with. If you’re traveling with family or a group of friends with 5+ people, I recommend booking a cottage, villa, or house to accommodate your party size comfortably. If you’re a family with up to 4 travelers, a hotel or flat on Airbnb could be the best option for you to save on expenses. When you’re traveling by yourself, it can get pricey to stay in hotels. I would recommend looking at renting a room on Airbnb, where you can still have privacy but save some money.
Airbnb
Airbnb can be a great way to save money because you can choose options for your budget and comfort level. For example, you can book single rooms on Airbnb that would be a great way to save money, but some people don’t feel comfortable or safe doing this. I’ve stayed in 2 Airbnbs like this in other countries and actually really enjoyed our hosts and felt very safe. If that’s outside your comfort level, you could book an entire flat or an entire home. I love staying in Airbnbs because you learn about how people live in that city or country, which is always an experience I look for!
Other Ways to Save
There are discount hotel search engines that can help you to save on hotels. In addition to search engines and tools, consider visiting friends or family located in other cities. If you can stay with them, that helps to reduce your travel costs immensely. You could also sign up to housesit for someone. Trusted House Sitters is an online platform that you can sign up for and watch either a house, plants, or pets in exchange for a free place to stay. If you have a blog, vlog, or a lot of followers on social media, you could also offer to share your experience at the accommodation in exchange for a discounted rate.
How to Save Money on Travel Expenses at the Airport
Unfortunately, airports are notorious for expensive snacks, overweight baggage fees, and unexpected costs. However, you can change that by planning and preparing for these unnecessary costs. Some ways that you can save money at the airport include:
- Packing your own snacks – avoid the overpriced snacks past security
- Weigh your luggage at home – to avoid overweight charges
- Pack less by only taking a carry-on – this saves you from paying to check luggage
- Bring an empty water bottle to fill past security – this will save you money throughout the whole trip!
How to Save Money on Travel Expenses on Your trip
When you start your trip, odds are you’ll already have most of your expenses paid for, like your flight and accommodation. The other expenses will of course be food, souvenirs, and transportation at your destination. It’s easy to get carried away with spending when you’re excited and in a new place. Continue on to see a list I’ve made on how you can save money on travel expenses during your trip:
Souvenirs
Everyone wants to take home memories and reminders of their amazing vacation. Souvenirs can be an easy way to do that. However, buying souvenirs here and there can add up quickly. If you plan to buy large souvenirs or a lot of them for family and friends, make sure you have enough space saved in your suitcase to fit them. By choosing small souvenirs, you can save money and avoid extra baggage fees on your journey home. Some great small souvenirs include: postcards, magnets, keychains, and stickers.
Food
Food is something I always prioritize when traveling. I love trying new foods and flavors everywhere I visit! Going out to restaurants for every meal can get expensive though. I’ve found some tricks on how to experience the food while keeping to a budget.
One way you can save is by deciding not to eat at a sit-down restaurant for every meal. There are all sorts of food stands where you can find great authentic food for lunch without paying the high prices. You could also go to a bakery or cafe for breakfast and get lighter meal that could save you a couple of dollars. Eating at small local restaurants can also save you money. I find they often provide the best experience and food for the price. You also get to support people that live in the community you are visiting which is one of the best parts of traveling!
Another way to save on food while you’re traveling is to stop at a grocery store when you arrive at your destination. This is a great way to find fun local foods to try that will save you a considerable amount of money. I always love seeing what the popular snack flavors are in new places. At the grocery store you could pick up food for breakfast at your accommodation or snacks for while you’re out adventuring. This is honestly one of the best ways to save money while on your trip!
Transportation
Getting around in another country or city can be difficult. It can especially be difficult to save money if you’re not sure of the most cost-effective methods of travel. For example, some different methods of transportation include public buses, underground transportation, taxis, trains, and ride-sharing apps. Depending on the city you’re in, one method of transportation might be more cost-effective than others. I’ve found that busses, trams, and subways are usually the most affordable options. However, if you’re going somewhere that would require multiple route changes and it would be difficult to get there with public transportation, I would recommend booking a taxi or using a ride-sharing service. By doing this you’ll save more precious time, allowing you to do everything you want on your trip.
When it comes to finding public transportation routes maps or google is your best friend. As long as you change your travel mode from walking or driving to public transportation, you should find detailed directions to help you get to where you’re going.
Enjoy Your Trip!
I hope this article helps you to confidently book your next holiday or vacation on a budget! Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive and once you’ve gone on a couple budget trips, it gets even easier. Pretty soon you’ll be teaching your friends and family how to save money on travel expenses!
If you liked this article, you may like my article on Top 5 Places I Want to Travel to Next. Spoiler alert, they are all in Europe. Click here to read it!
