Don’t allow your finances to extinguish your desire to explore if your aim is to travel more this year.
If you began the year determined to see new places and create lasting memories, monthly bills and everyday expenses can quickly pull you off course.
Yes, staying current with your financial responsibilities matters, but what’s life without a touch of adventure?
These 10 strategies will demonstrate how you can travel more often while keeping costs under control.
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10 Ways to Travel More Without Overspending
1. Build a Vacation Fund Gradually
Start by estimating the total cost of your trip. Tally everything. Flights and accommodation will likely be the biggest expenses, but remember to include food, activities and souvenirs.
Then take that (potentially daunting) total and divide it by the number of months until your planned departure. This gives you the monthly amount you need to set aside to afford the getaway.
Personal finance enthusiasts often call this a sinking fund.
If the monthly target doesn’t fit your budget, delay the trip, choose a cheaper destination, pick up extra work, use money-saving browser extensions to shop smarter, or try some of these quick ways to save cash.
2. Travel in the Shoulder Season
Airfares and hotel prices shift throughout the year. Traveling during holidays or peak tourist periods usually means paying top dollar.
Cut costs by traveling in the shoulder season instead — the window between peak and low season. For many destinations, October is less crowded and often offers better bargains.
3. Take a Day Trip
Day trips are an inexpensive method to travel more often. You won’t need to buy plane tickets, rent a car, or book a hotel when visiting a city within a few hours’ drive.
Opting for a staycation stretches your budget even further. Schedule local attractions, indulge in a spa treatment, and visit that upscale restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.
4. Snag the Best Flight Deals
There’s a right time and a wrong time to book flights. Buying airfare just two weeks before your trip is rarely the best strategy if you’re trying to save money.
The cheapest flight windows tend to be between three weeks and four months before departure. Still, the ideal purchase time depends on the season and where you’re heading.
5. Swap Planes for a Road Trip
Although it can mean long hours in a car, driving often costs less than flying — especially when traveling with family.
These road trip tips will help you maintain a budget-friendly vacation so you can travel more during the year.
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6. Maximize Credit Card Travel Rewards
Using your rewards credit card throughout the year lets you accumulate points you can put toward booking travel. But watch out for common pitfalls when using travel-rewards cards.
One frequent oversight is not understanding the card’s benefits. Some cards reimburse expenses from trip delays or include rental-car insurance.
7. Dodge Extra Charges on Rental Cars
Credit card benefits aren’t the only way to avoid paying for rental car insurance. Your personal auto insurance may already cover rental vehicles.
When you need a car while vacationing, steer clear of these common rental-car mistakes to avoid unexpected fees.
8. Choose a Hostel Over a Hotel
If you’re not particular about accommodations, staying in a hostel rather than a hotel can be more economical.
You’ll often share a room with others, but in exchange for less privacy you’ll get lower rates, communal activities and chances to meet fellow travelers.
9. Earn Money While You Travel
Fitting a bit of work into your trip can offset expenses and let you travel more for less. Work-exchange programs, selling travel photos and house-sitting are ways to earn income while on the road.
10. Cut Back on Food Spending
It’s easy to overspend on meals while traveling, so don’t let dining wipe out your vacation fund.
Try these suggestions for saving on food while away. Bring snacks from home and shop at grocery stores to avoid pricey convenience items. When dining out, consider sharing starters instead of ordering entrees or choose lunch over dinner for the same menu at lower prices.
Nicole Grant is a senior writer at Savinly.
