Yahoo Lifestyle People Are Sharing Their Biggest Travel Hacks To Save Money, And Your Wallet Will Thank You Later
If you love to travel as much as I do, you know making your dollar stretch is key. I recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share the travel hacks that save money. Here's what to keep in mind before you plan your next trip:
1."Travel out of season. This seems like a no-brainer but I find most people won't commit to it. I traveled to large, expensive cities like Boston and New York City in January and stayed in four-star hotels in prime locations for $100 a night. Is it cold? Sure, but who cares? Unless you're going for a season-specific reason, like seeing the fall foliage in New England for example, travel off-season."
—Lexi from Tennessee
2."Pack healthy-ish and filling snacks for long journeys or day trips so I don't splurge if or when I get hungry while exploring."
3."I started planning my trips based on finding cheap flights since the flights are usually the biggest expense. I go onto Skyscanner, hit the Explore Everywhere tab, and then pick a destination based on the cheaper flight prices I find."
—Anne from West Virginia
"The reason I got to see the majority of Europe was by using the Skyscanner Everywhere option. I would find return flights for £30. If you're not fussed about where or when you're going, you'll find more places and hidden gems."
4."Pack a capsule wardrobe."
5."Get a travel credit card where you can earn points towards future trips."
—MB
6."If you have a membership to a big box store, try to plan your gas stops where they are located, if possible. The gas is cheaper (assuming the lines aren't awful), and they have a bathroom and a food court. At Costco, water bottles are only 25 cents. All is much better than paying out the nose at a roadside convenience store."
—J from Arizona
7."Avoid checked baggage fees by packing light. You can do laundry once you reach your destination and not worry about bulky luggage."
—MB
8."Take local public transport where possible and safe."
9."Bring your own water bottle you can refill while on the go."
—MB
10."Instead of eating three meals a day, I aim for two. I usually have a brunch-type meal earlier in the day and an early dinner. Not only does it save money, but you can also hit up popular places at unusual times, making your wait time much less than trying to eat at peak times."
—Lexi from Tennessee
11."Track prices on Google flights to find the best deal for your destination."
—MB
12."Learn how to politely bargain."
13."Booking tours and trains ahead of time. I am locking in tickets and planning every day of the trip months ahead. You can get the most desirable windows of time, and the cost is far lower than if you booked closer to arrival or the day of. Set up a spreadsheet and start booking once that flight is secured."
—Patty from Arizona
14."There are hostels that are really nice but still affordable, and many offer private rooms with shared bathrooms, so you don't have to sleep in a dorm."
15."I have a compression bag I used for clothes on my last trip. I saved a lot of space and could get around with just a carry-on."
16."Get on mailing lists even if it may sound annoying to keep receiving emails from a particular company. I have friends who have taken advantage of promotions from various hotel chains and travel agents."
17."One of my friends drives me to the airport so we don't have to pay for an Uber or the expensive airport parking lot fee."
—Callie from Arizona
18."We're a road-tripping family. We have three kids and often travel with our dogs. The best things we ever figured out were packing a small Rubbermaid and/or ice chest with easy-to-make food items for at least one to two meals a day, and learning to stop at grocery stores for takeout instead of drive-thrus. Bringing food helps us stop wherever we need to. Stopping at grocery stores for something premade is great because you have the deli, produce department, and any snacks you want for much cheaper and healthier than fast food, and the bathrooms are usually much cleaner and less busy."
—L.S. from Texas
19."If you have to travel for work, ask your employer or HR if the company/agency you work for has discounts at certain hotel chains. There might also be discounts for transportation like flights, trains, or car rentals."
20."Stay at a place where you can cook meals at home rather than dine out for every single one."
—MB
21.And finally, "Avoid tourist traps. It's not difficult."
What's your biggest travel hack that saves you money? Share your tip(s) in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
