Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Pack Light to Avoid Extra Fees

Packing light isn't just about avoiding checked baggage fees - it's a travel hack that can save you time, stress, and money every step of your journey. Veteran travelers know that less truly is more when it comes to packing. Not only are you less likely to incur extra airline fees, you'll breeze through security lines, have an easier time getting around, and may even score upgrades and special treatment along the way.

The first advantage of traveling light is avoiding steep checked bag fees. Most airlines in the US now charge around $30 for the first checked bag and up to $50 for the second. International flights can cost over $100 per bag! Even domestic economy class tickets that used to include a free checked bag have stripped this perk. The only way to skip this extra cost is by fitting everything in a carry on.

Savvy packers recommend sticking to a maximum of 40 liters total for your luggage. Try packing capsule wardrobes that mix and match just enough outfits for your trip length. Choose versatile shoes that work with multiple looks. Limit yourself to one pair of dress shoes if needed. Roll clothes tightly and use organizational inserts to maximize space. Compression cubes, plastic bags, and packing folders keep items compact and wrinkle-free.

Don't forget the personal item! Backpacks around 20 liters are ideal for in-flight essentials and daily outings. Consolidate chargers, medications, documents, snacks, and other small items in clear plastic bags to speed up airport screenings. Minimize liquids by moving toiletries into travel-size containers.

Traveling light isn't just about fitting in carry on bags. It's a lifestyle that enhances the whole trip experience. Breezing through airport lines with just hand luggage reduces stress. Public transportation and walking between sights is easier. Many travelers secure flight upgrades with extra legroom or first class when cabin bins are full and they're willing to check their carry on. Light packers report airline agents being more lenient with policies like allowing oversized personal items when flights are full.
At your destination, you won't waste precious time unpacking and repacking. Laundry takes no time at all! You have more room for shopping trips and souvenirs. Getting around is faster using just a daypack for essentials. Minimal luggage gives you flexibility to splurge on taxis when needed versus relying on crowded public transit.

What else is in this post?

1. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Pack Light to Avoid Extra Fees
2. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Research Off-Season Travel Dates
3. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Stay in Hostels or Vacation Rentals
4. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Sign Up For Travel Rewards Programs
5. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Learn Basic Phrases in the Local Language
6. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Take Free Walking Tours
7. Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Cook Meals Instead of Dining Out

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Research Off-Season Travel Dates

One of the best ways to save money on travel is by being flexible with your dates and traveling during off-peak seasons. While the holiday breaks and summer vacations might seem ideal, visiting destinations during their quieter periods can lead to huge savings.

Seasoned travelers plan trips strategically based on when prices are lowest, avoiding school calendars and national holidays. Visiting beach destinations in the winter or ski towns in the spring and fall brings empty streets, shorter lines, and rock bottom deals on lodging and activities.

Do your research on the destination’s high and low seasons. Many tropical spots have a rainy low season that brings dramatically lower prices on hotels and flights. While weather can be a gamble, the cost savings often make it worthwhile. Southeast Asia's low season coincides with monsoon rains, but savvy travelers head to drier regions like Thailand’s Koh Samui or Indonesia’s Lombok.

Europe’s low season runs November to March minus the Christmas holidays. Flights drop by hundreds of dollars compared to the crowded summer months. Popular cities feel less hectic and you'll enjoy famous museums and attractions with smaller crowds. Just pack warm layers!

Use tools like Google Flights’ price graph to visualize seasonal price changes over the year. Set location and length, then scroll through different months to pinpoint cheapest fares. Skyscanner’s “whole year” search works similarly. Average weather info helps weigh potential savings versus climate risks.
Vacation rentals and tours often list peak, high, shoulder, and low seasons with corresponding price jumps. Resisting the urge to join the crowds brings big dividends. For example, an African safari in late October before the holidays might save 40% over Christmas-New Year’s pricing.

Talk to friends who’ve visited your target destination during various seasons - their real life experiences are invaluable. Join online forums or Facebook groups to crowdsource tips from fellow travelers who’ve traveled in the low season. Their insights help set realistic expectations.

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Stay in Hostels or Vacation Rentals

Budget-savvy travelers know that accommodation costs often dominate travel spending, so finding affordable lodging is key. While hotels offer convenience and familiarity, their nightly rates can quickly limit trip durations and destinations. More intrepid globetrotters choose alternative options like hostels and vacation rentals to unlock huge savings.

Hostels provide basic dorm-style lodging with shared bathrooms starting around $10-30 per night. Travelers sleep in bunk beds in a common room alongside other guests. The social environment facilitates meeting fellow backpackers. Lounge areas promote mingling, with board games, books, movies, and computers on offer. Guest kitchens allow cooking meals on a budget. Many hostels organize activities like pub crawls, tours, or family dinners.
While hostels suit solo travelers on tight budgets, those seeking more privacy and amenities can consider vacation rentals. Sites like Vrbo, Airbnb, and Booking.com list furnished apartments of all sizes in coveted locations for a fraction of hotel prices. Entire homes or condos with multiple bedrooms work perfectly for families and groups.

Vrbo traveler Jessie S. describes an idyllic Florence apartment as "magnificent" with "stunning views of the Duomo" at nearly half the price of a hotel room for their family of four. Anne K. loved her Paris rental's "perfect location by the Eiffel Tower and Metro" with a fully-equipped kitchen that allowed enjoying "fresh croissants for breakfast every morning."

Vacation rentals include household amenities from laundry machines to hairdryers that add convenience. Local hosts provide insider tips on neighborhood gems. Reviews from previous guests identify ideal properties, like Lena D.'s Costa Rican rental with "walking distance to both beautiful beaches and local shops."

Flexible cancellation policies provide peace of mind while comparison shopping. However, vacation rentals do require some planning around key pickup or home access. Groceries must be purchased to prepare meals in the kitchen. Daily cleaning is not included like a hotel. But the cost savings easily justify these small compromises for many wanderers.

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Sign Up For Travel Rewards Programs

From hotel points to air miles, travel rewards programs offer a secret weapon for jetsetters looking to redeem perks and score free flights and nights. Signing up for the major programs is a no-brainer for frequent travelers who can quickly rack up points on daily spending. Even occasional travelers find value in accruing miles over years ready to cash in for dream trips.
Elite travel hacker Tristan shares how he funded two round the world trips in business class thanks to strategic points play. He signed up for rewards credit cards that earned 50,000-100,000 point bonuses with minimum spend. Tristan put all his regular purchases on the cards, paying off the balance each month to avoid interest. In just a couple years he had enough rewards for premium cabin flights worth over $30,000.

Jennifer, a busy mom of three, uses hotel rewards to take her family on a beach vacation each year. She sticks to one main hotel chain for all her business and personal trips. Thanks to elite status she earned from work travel, Jennifer redeems annual free night certificates for her vacation hotel stays. Signing up for the hotel credit card also gives her extra points towards free nights.

Airline rewards work similarly – simply sign up for an airline frequent flyer program before booking your flight. Give them your account number when booking or entering ticket details after booking to get points credited to your balance. Many airlines have credit cards that offer bonus points earning rates to turbo-charge balances.
Study program policies before committing to understand requirements and elite tiers. For example, some hotel programs expire points if no stays are made annually. Airlines often require hitting minimum spend to keep elite status. Read blogs and forums for tips to maximize specific programs.

Don’t keep all your points in one program. Diversify across hotel chains and airlines in case policies change. Transferable credit card points offer flexibility to use on multiple airline and hotel partners.

Signing up for travel rewards programs requires organizing to keep track of account numbers and passwords. Bookmark key account pages. Set reminders on your calendar for any deadlines to use points or keep status active.

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Learn Basic Phrases in the Local Language

Making an effort to pick up a few key phrases in the local language shows respect for the culture while enhancing your travel experience. Beyond simply being polite, knowing basics like greetings, please/thank you, and counting helps navigate everyday situations more smoothly.

Fellow wanderer Alex still chuckles recalling his trip to Japan when he confidently asked at a restaurant counter for “two beers” using his freshly studied Japanese. The worker looked baffled until Alex’s companion clarified he had actually requested “twenty beers!” An innocent slip of the tongue, but memorizing those Japanese numerals again was top priority.

Even English speakers like Michelle find brushing up on the native tongue removes barriers, especially with older locals less comfortable in English. On her dream trip to Iceland, Michelle diligently reviewed pronunciations on YouTube so she could converse during a countryside horseback tour. Bridging that language gap led to deeper connections with both the guide and magnificent Fjord horses.
Beyond fostering goodwill, language skills grant travelers priceless insider access. American student Jessica studied basic Cantonese phrases before her semester abroad in Hong Kong. Local shopkeepers warmed up as she carefully ordered eggs and vegetables in their dialect. Jessica shared how everyday items at wet markets magically dropped in price after she conversed with vendors in Cantonese.

Immersed in Puerto Rico's lively salsa scene, Khalia felt her clumsy steps didn’t match the rhythmic Spanish beat. She asked her dance partner for a quick lesson in timing cues. Khalia soon flowed across the dancefloor counting “uno, dos, tres” with the melody. Now she packs a travel-size Spanish dictionary to build her vocabulary on every Latin American trip.
Even one correctly pronounced word makes a difference. During a whirlwind 36 hours seeing Beirut’s landmarks, American traveler Rachel discovered “shukran” (thank you) was the most appreciated phrase. Thanking every waiter, taxi driver, and hotel employee in their native Arabic brought instant smiles.

Traveling with food allergies, Georgia learned to properly say “I’m allergic to peanuts” in the local language before dining out in Greece, Vietnam, and Mexico. Servers took her seriously and helped steer her towards safe menu options. Georgia felt less anxiety eating at restaurants knowing how to clearly communicate.

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Take Free Walking Tours

Urban explorers know that free walking tours are an unbeatable introduction to any new city, offering insider knowledge that can't be found in guidebooks. Local guides share a passionate, boots-on-the-ground view of iconic and offbeat sights. Best of all? No upfront costs - you tip whatever you feel your experience was worth at the end.
Jetsetter Martin still raves about his Berlin tour covering the city's complex 20th century history against the backdrop of its dynamic contemporary culture. Winding through hip neighborhoods, their enthusiastic guide Niko offered thoughtful reflections on Berlin's world war and cold war eras while pointing out vibrant street art, bustling cafes, and LGBTQ-friendly nightclubs as symbols of today's open-minded energy.

Over 2.5 hours across 4+ miles, Niko delivered an informative overview helping first-timers grasp Berlin's complicated evolution. Back at the meeting point, Martin happily tipped 20 euros, feeling Niko had enhanced his Berlin experience exponentially. He appreciated Niko's passion as a local resident.
Melanie chose an after-dark walking tour for her weekend in Budapest, wanting to see the city's most photographed landmarks artfully illuminated. Winding along both Buda and Pest sides of the Danube, their guide Miklos was a fount of historical trivia, architectural insights, and Dracula mythology surrounding each bridge, square, and castled hilltop.

The small group size facilitated asking Miklos questions along the way. Melanie was grateful for the close-up nighttime access to icons like Fisherman's Bastion, St. Stephen's Basilica, and the Parliament Building glowing under spotlights. She tipped 40 euros, considering her private nighttime tour with Miklos' expertise well worth the cost.
Walking tours suit all travel styles - history buffs, photographers, foodies, craft beer enthusiasts and more. Tell your guide your interests to personalize content. Do your own research to identify each city's highest rated tour companies and guides. Check review sites like Tripadvisor, Viator, and GetYourGuide. Look for hidden gems, not just mainstream tours.

Globetrotters Reveal Their Top Tips for Saving Money and Maximizing Travel - Cook Meals Instead of Dining Out

Packing an insulated lunch bag lets you picnic anywhere - museums, parks, scenic viewpoints, and trains offer perfect picnic perches. Build sandwiches or salads at your rental to avoid cafe markups. BYO snacks like trail mix, fruit, and energy bars eliminate pricey impulse buys when hunger hits.

Grocery shopping in a new place becomes a cultural adventure. Browse colorful outdoor markets overflowing with local produce, spices, baked goods and artisan specialities. Bangkok's night markets and Barcelona's La Boqueria tantalize travelers with culinary discoveries from mangosteen fruits to jamon serrano hams.

Select vacation rentals based on furnished kitchens that allow preparing breakfasts and light meals. Cooking basic pasta dishes or omelets saves over pricey hotel room service. Envision leisurely mornings enjoying an espresso on the balcony with fresh pastries from the bakery next door.

When dining out, lunch specials offer discounted set meals at many restaurants. Opt for the daily soup-and-sandwich which costs a fraction of dinner entrees. Shared tapas or mezze plates provide a taste of regional flavors without breaking the bank.

Avoid wasting leftovers and stale groceries. Seek restaurants with doggie bags and mini fridges. Portion control prevents squandering extra food. Planning versatile ingredients like eggs, cheese, and seasonal vegetables allows assembling simple, satisfying meals.

"After tasting the exquisite street food in Hong Kong, we planned on splurging for one nice sit-down dinner," shares budget traveler Tara. "I was still determined to offset pricey restaurant meals, so each morning we prepared yogurt bowls and fruits in our Airbnb kitchen before sightseeing all day."

"My boyfriend laughed when I packed a collapsible camping stove for Europe," says shoestring globetrotter Leila. "But we picnicked riverside in Prague and cooked pasta watching the sunset over Santorini. Making basic meals ourselves left cash for gelato every night!"