11 Ways to Save Money on Travel

Ever since my first ever Vegas trip last summer, I have had the travel bug. After every vacation, I’m planning the next one!

One of the biggest reasons that most people, especially people in their 20s like me, don’t travel more is money. That’s definitely been a big burden for me that kept me from doing it. But, now that I have 3 planned vacations under my belt, I can tell you that you don’t have to be rich to see the world!

All 3 week long trips I’ve planned across the country, have cost me less than $800 for two people! Could you spare $400 for a great vacation? I think so! Here are some of the tips I’ve used to help us save money on traveling.

1. Sign up for email lists

I know that email clutter is never fun, but when it comes to having the vacation of your dreams, I think you can manage. I’m signed up on Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Jetblue, and basically anything that offers great travel deals.

No matter how annoying those emails get, you know before anyone else when there is a deal! I booked our Phoenix flight during Frontier’s $29 flight weekend that I only saw through an email! Talk about cheap!

2. Air BNB

Hotels can definitely cut right through your budget. So, I’m glad that I discovered Air BNB, a website where people rent out their rooms and homes to people looking for a place to stay (Okay, hear me out).

It may sound strange, but you can find places nicer than most hotels that include more (ex. a kitchen, more rooms/beds, a host to show us around, etc). Plus, you can save some major dough! Our Phoenix room was so peaceful and had amenities that we may not have gotten at a hotel (ex. pool and hot tub all to us, honor bar, etc.)

3. Split travel costs with a SO/friend

Nothing is cheaper than flying with a friend! Splitting the costs gives you double the fun for half the price!

But seriously, travel with someone so you can split hotel costs or food costs. Plus, you have a travel companion for adventures.

4. Plan ahead of time

Give yourself plenty of time before your trip to scan the web for deals. I usually beginning planning a trip 3 or 4 months before. The more time means less stress and you can think about your options before deciding.

5. Bundle your trip

I strongly believe that my Vegas trip was so cheap because we bundled our flight and hotel on Spirit.com (plus, they had a really good Vegas deal). Most airlines bundle hotel and you can save big! Also, sights like Expedia offer deals for bundling. On top of that, you can knock out all the travel details in one click!

6. Have flexible destinations

I’ve noticed that travel sites have deals for certain places. So, if you’re planning on going on vacation, it helps to be flexible on where you want to travel. We didn’t plan to go to Vegas but I saw a 45% off deal on Spirit Airlines and had to take it! Of course, the trip was a blast and cheap too!

7. Bring snacks

The best part about planes is that you can bring your own food! Pack some travel snacks to keep you from ordering overpriced ones on the airplane. You can also bring travel sized liquids on carry on bags. We brought travel sized liquor bottles on our Vegas trip, then ordered a sprite on the plane to mix them with. It was much cheaper than an ordering an actual mixed drink.

Plus, anything you have leftover can be used while on the trip to save on food! Chips, sandwiches, or whatever your heart desires!

8. Don’t pack more than you need

Pack the essentials and travel light. Most budget airlines charge you for bags and those bags have weight limits. For our Vegas trip, we payed and packed two 40 pound bags and didn’t need everything we took!

For phoenix, we flew Frontier and they allow 50-pound bags. So, we brought one bag for the both of us to cut down costs (It worked out fine).

Also, don’t underestimate the free personal bag! As long as it fits under your seat, you can put as much as you need in it! Two personal bags and a large suitcase is all you need for two people on a week long trip!

9. Fly on weekdays

I’ve noticed that the old flying myth of traveling Mondays and Tuesdays is pretty true. I tend to find better deals when I fly out on these days. Being flexible with your travel dates also makes vacations cheaper to book.

I also discovered that the best time to book flights is Tuesday afternoons. We are heading to Florida this fall, got our tickets super cheap by doing this. Under $300 for two of us round trip. Plus a bag!

10. Don’t book right away

Look for deals! Always shop around. Use Google flights to compare prices! I usually shop around a couple months before deciding because you never know how things will change from week to week.

I try multiple different sites to ensure that I’m getting the best bang for my buck. Definitely look before you book!

11. Lyft

Lyft was an invention created by geniuses who wanted people to get around. Renting a car for travel is too expensive. With a car, you have to pay for parking and gas and go through a long process just to get the car. When we travel, Lyft is our main way to get around.

With Lyft, you can go from place to place for cheap and see the sites while you ride. In Vegas, a lot of Lyft drivers had information about places to visit while we’re here. I highly recommend it when traveling.

You can try it out by using my Lyft Code for some free credits! Try it here.

Happy Travels! Leave your favorite vacation photos in the comments!