21 Ways on How to Save Money on Vacation
21 Ways to Save Money When Travelling
No matter if it’s an annual summer vacation, quick weekend away, or a big family trip of a lifetime, there’s no getting around the fact that holidays cost money. Whether you’re looking to stretch out a longer holiday by reducing your daily spending, or just hoping to book a low-cost mini-break away for the family, it is possible to do a holiday on a budget. Regardless of where you’re headed, you can still get there for less, and we’re here to help, with our top 21 Ways on how to save money on vacation!
After all, the less money you spend, the more you can save for your next vacation, right?!
Planning your trip
1. Check your passport
Before you’ve booked anything, make sure your passport is still up to date, the last thing you want is to get to the airport with an expired passport!
If your passport has expired and you leave it until the last minute, you will have to pay the far higher rate of a fast-track renewal in time for your trip.
If you check well in advance of your holiday, you will only have to pay the standard renewal rate!
2. Go incognito
When you repeatedly search for a certain flight, the prices will increase due to your browser cookies.
Search for and book your flights in incognito or private browsing to always see the lowest prices.
To go incognito in your browser, simply right click on your preferred browser icon and select new incognito window (sometimes called private window).
3. Find the cheapest times to fly
Identify the cheapest times for you to book your holiday, and take advantage of them.
For example, if you’re not going away with kids, pick dates outside of school holidays.
How to save money on vacation if you are traveling with kids? We recommend to look at dates right at the end of the summer holidays which are often a little lower in price, or consider a trip over winter or spring break instead.
4. Opt for all-inclusive
Often a package holiday that includes both flights and accommodations works out cheaper (and easier) than booking separately.
Another side to all-inclusive are the all-inclusive resorts.
All-inclusive resorts are not normally found inside the USA, however many foreign destinations offer these kinds of accommodations, which include all you can eat and unlimited drinks!
Latitude 21 Resorts have a wide range of options that will suit your needs.
5. Subscribe for the best deals
Signing up to email updates from a few of your favorite flight or travel companies could give you access to subscribers-only early bird discounts before they become available to the general public.
6. Comparison shop
Use comparison sites such as Kayak or Trivago to measure the costs of different hotels.
7. Consider a timeshare rental
Vacation and timeshare rentals are usually cheaper than hotels and often offer more room, better amenities, and in the end an overall better accommodation option for vacationers.
Head over to our rentals section to check out our great deals on luxurious vacation and timeshare rentals in Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean!
8. Invest in travel insurance
While it may seem like an unnecessary added cost, buying travel insurance is a small price to pay in order to cover any unexpected fees you might incur while travelling.
You could save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you are injured or if something goes wrong during your trip.
9. Reuse last year’s holiday wardrobe
Going on a shopping spree can feel like a really exciting way to get ready for your vacation, but is it really vital to splurge on a new outfit for each night of the holiday, 10 pairs of flip-flops, or a bikini in every color of the rainbow?Probably it is not the best idea if you are looking on how to save money on vacation.
Go through the clothes you already own that would be appropriate for where you’re headed, and figure out if you actually need anything new.
Be strict with yourself, only buy something new if it’s absolutely crucial, and if you really want to, treat yourself to just one or two new pieces if you can afford them.
Chances are, you can mostly make do with what you already have, and packing a little lighter will help you avoid paying more for excess baggage when you get to the airport.
10. Set a spending budget
Sit down before your trip to decide on an overall budget for the trip, which will also help you to determine how much currency to exchange if you prefer to take cash with you.
A good way to do this is to work out a daily spending budget, then add on extra for bigger splurges, and then a little more as a safety net.
Naturally this will not be easily accomplished, since it may be difficult to guess how much you will need to spend while in a destination you are unfamiliar with, but setting down some basic expectations can still help!
Also remember, when converting money there are always bank charges to pay, so keep in mind that you don’t want to purchase too much foreign currency as every extra dollar converted will cost you a little!
11. Design your itinerary
You don’t have to suss out a strict day-by-day schedule, but it may be wise to consider what activities or excursions you want to partake in, or sights you want to see.
Explore free alternatives or versions of these online, and then settle on choosing just a few of the paid-for experiences that you really feel are a must.
You may be surprised at the number of exciting things you can do at no cost at all – pack out your itinerary by searching for ‘free things to do in’ – followed by the name of your destination.
While on your holiday
12. Live like a local
Ask a local for advice on the best things to do in the area, or where to shop and eat.
It’s likely they can provide you with something you won’t find straight away online or in a guidebook, which also means it’s likely to be cheaper or even free!
If you’re feeling shy about approaching a local, ask your hotel front desk – they may be able to tell you about some local hidden gems too.
13. Fill up at breakfast
If you’re eating out for food, treat yourself earlier in the day to a big breakfast or brunch, which will often have a cheaper menu.
If breakfast is included in your hotel rate, it is a great option on how to save money on vacation. Help yourself to a bigger serving of the buffet so you can just have a light and inexpensive lunch later on.
No matter how cheap the local cuisine seems, meals can add up to be an expensive part of your vacation if you are not careful!
14. Get off the beaten track
If you’re looking for something to eat for lunch or dinner, avoid the areas directly surrounding main attractions and landmarks – the prices can be hugely inflated here.
Instead, try walking just a few minutes away for more authentic cuisine and lower restaurant prices.
Experience some local delicacies at a street vendor or market to indulge your palette without breaking the bank.
Again, ask the locals where they suggest, they will be able to direct you to the cheaper local options that they themselves consider good eating!
And don't forget, your hotel staff is there to assist you, ask your hotel concierge or front desk staff for directions to the more off beat areas!
15. Take advantage of free days
No matter where you are headed on holiday, free attractions shouldn’t be too hard to find.
However, if you’re set on visiting a particular museum that charges an entry fee, browse their website in advance to see if they have free days – one day a week where they waive their admission fee.
If they don’t offer free days, see if it’s cheaper to book in advance online, or if they offer any kind of family or group discounts.
Also, if you booked your vacation through a travel agency, consider contacting them to see if they offer any discounts on your museum or attraction of choice.
16. Make it a picnic
If you’re planning on being out and about sightseeing, or perhaps spending the day at the beach, it could be ideal to pack your own lunch to take with you.
Packing a picnic can be fun, and it will always cost you less than purchasing food from a beach club or restaurant.
Visit a local supermarket where you can stock up on food for a picnic, allowing flexibility, and costing far less than a restaurant lunch for the whole family!
17. Find out the WiFi password
If your hotel charges daily fees for WiFi and you’d prefer not to go off-grid for your whole holiday, try searching travel forums or review sites for your hotel’s WiFi password.
It seems like a long shot, but some helpful people who have stayed there before may have posted the password.
It happens more often than you’d think, and it could save you from racking up a daily WiFi bill.
18. Arrange your own outings
Avoid paying for a guided tour by creating your own.
See if your hotel offers free maps or guidebooks, and search the best routes to take between the things you want to see and do.
Also consider local transportation, paying for a taxi directly from your hotel will always be more expensive than taking the local buses or even finding a taxi on the street.
19. Dodge the minibar
It might be tempting to pop that bottle of bubbly in your room as soon as you arrive – you are on holiday after all!
However, the minibar is often highly overpriced, and that champagne and little spirit bottles all add up!
Hit up a nearby supermarket instead to pick up your celebratory drinks for the week.
20. Spend your change
It can seem a lot easier to just use a fresh note every time we pay for something in cash abroad, but that mound of coins piling up in your wallet is worth more than it looks!
Use your change to pay for smaller costs like public transport, or your evening cocktails, to stop it from going to waste – after all, when you get back home, you can easily change leftover notes back to your local currency, but not many places will accept coins.
21. Discover a local market
If you’re looking to do some shopping, or perhaps collect some souvenirs from your trip, avoid the tourist-filled areas, they are regularly full of overpriced and often tacky gift shops.
Alternatively, find a more low-key market that sells locally handcrafted goods.
The prices will be far lower, and you’ll be grateful to find some truly unique keepsakes from your vacation to take home with you!
While not all of these money-saving tips may suit you, we hope that one or two can be helpful on your quest: how to save money on vacation.
Also, be sure to check out our blog for more helpful travel articles!
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