Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024
Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Leverage Loyalty Programs for Free Nights and Flights
One of the best ways to cut costs on travel is to make the most of loyalty programs. Airline, hotel, and credit card points programs can be invaluable for scoring free flights, hotel nights, and other perks. Yet many travelers don't realize just how generous these programs can be. With a savvy strategy, you can rack up points for minimal spending and redeem them for outsized value.
Let's start with airline points. Most major carriers have their own frequent flyer programs that allow you to earn miles each time you fly with them or use a co-branded credit card. While the exact earning rates vary, as an example, with American Airlines you'll get 5x miles per dollar spent on flights booked directly with them. Even if you only take a couple flights per year, those miles can add up. The key is to get an airline-branded credit card that boosts your earning potential. The American Airlines AAdvantage credit card gives you 2x miles at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. Before you know it, you could have 50,000+ miles, enough for a free roundtrip domestic ticket. If you time it right and find an off-peak "saver" award, you're looking at hundreds in travel savings.
Hotel points work similarly. Major chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt all have free night certificates you can earn just by getting their credit card and meeting minimum spend requirements. No need to pay hundreds per night when 30-50,000 points can score you a free room. We're talking $500+ in value for a $95 annual fee card. Even budget hotel chains like Choice Hotels offer generous point bonuses of up to 20,000 points for just 2 nights stayed. Redeem those for a free week's stay.
What else is in this post?
- Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Leverage Loyalty Programs for Free Nights and Flights
- Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Travel During Shoulder Season for Lesser Crowds and Prices
- Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Get Creative with Public Transit to Save on Ground Transportation
- Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Stay in Vacation Rentals Over Hotels for More Space and Amenities
- Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Cook Your Own Meals Instead of Dining Out Every Night
Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Travel During Shoulder Season for Lesser Crowds and Prices
Want to scope out Europe's most iconic sights without being trampled by hordes of other travelers? Or lounge beachside in Mexico basking in the glorious off-season sun? Then shoulder season is calling your name. While peak summer and winter see droves hitting popular destinations and prices skyrocketing, traveling during spring and fall allows you to avoid the crowds and save big.
Let's take Europe for example. Cities like Paris, London, and Rome teem with tourists packed elbow-to-elbow from June through August. Good luck getting a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower without a hundred other smiling faces photobombing. Meanwhile, visit in late April or September and you'll encounter manageable crowds at major attractions. I felt like I had the Louvre all to myself wandering its cavernous halls in early May. With thinner crowds, attractions keep normal business hours instead of staying open late, vendors aren't overwhelmed so service improves, and the vibe is far more relaxed. Even flights, hotels, and tours run 15-40% cheaper compared to peak rates.
Shoulder season beckons adventure travelers too. Hiking trails that would be crunchy and dry in the summer stay lush and verdant from April to June. Serious mountaineers scale peaks before intense summer storms roll in. Safaris spot more wildlife on the grassy savannas since animals congregate around shrinking water sources. From Torres del Paine's breathtaking vistas to roaming wildebeest herds in the Serengeti, get your outdoor fix without throngs of others competing for the view.
Beach vacations also shine brighter during shoulder months. Escape the winter blues soaking up sun in destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean where off-season rates make resort stays a steal. Laze on near-empty beaches, snorkel thriving reefs, and sip cocktails without battling for lounge chairs. Or head Down Under - while December through February is scorching hot in Australia, autumn brings balmy weather ideal for exploring cities like Sydney and nature escapes along the Great Barrier Reef. Affordable shoulder season accommodation lets you vacation in style even on a budget.
Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Get Creative with Public Transit to Save on Ground Transportation
From trains to buses to ferries, public transit offers a treasure trove of potential for thrifty travelers seeking to minimize ground transportation costs. Hopping on buses and subways rather than splurging on rideshares or renting a car can instantly chop transportation budgets by 75% or more in many destinations. Adventuresome travelers willing to piece together creative routes tapping various forms of transit can notch even bigger savings.
Samantha discovered the joys of public transportation firsthand during her three-week Eurotrip. Rather than shelling out for pricey point-to-point train tickets, she maximized her rail pass to traverse much of Western Europe. Traveling overnight by train enabled her to save money on accommodations while simultaneously getting free transport. During days spent exploring cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam, Samantha became a pro at navigating local subway and bus networks. Though it took some research and planning on the front end, she managed to crisscross countries and cities seamlessly without breaking the bank.
Public transit can also unlock affordable access to hard-to-reach destinations. Local bus routes service many national parks year-round, allowing hikers to access trailheads without paying hefty private shuttle fares. Visitors to US National Parks like Zion and Yosemite can find trails just steps away from bus stops inside park gates. Savvy travelers do their homework to identify public transit options before assuming they need to rent a car.
Even in remote destinations, stitching together shared shuttles, ferries, and local buses can reap major savings over packaged tours or cruises. Michael explored Alaska spending under $50 per day on transport thanks to the state's Marine Highway ferry system. He pieced together a journey from Juneau to coastal towns like Sitka, hopping ferries between ports. Local buses took him from docks into town centers. By tapping public options, Michael achieved the trip of a lifetime at a fraction of the cost chartered buses or cruises would have run.
Some travelers even manage epic journeys riding solely public transportation. In 2019, Christian Schiller trekked over 3,000 miles from Germany to China relying solely on buses, ferries, and trains. Without spending a penny on other ground transport, this intrepid traveler proved the possibilities when one embraces bus and rail networks. Of course not every place has the extensive public transit infrastructure of Europe, but a creative traveler can cobble together surprisingly affordable trips.
Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Stay in Vacation Rentals Over Hotels for More Space and Amenities
Who doesn't love having extra room to spread out and enjoy themselves while on vacation? Yet many travelers feel constrained booking traditional hotel rooms where you're lucky to get 400 square feet of living space. Families trying to share one room inevitably wind up tripping over piles of suitcases while kids go stir crazy. Forget entertaining friends or preparing a home-cooked meal in that cramped kitchenette. And good luck finding a washing machine to keep clothes fresh on extended trips.
That's where vacation rentals come out shining. Whether you opt for a full apartment in an urban Airbnb or a spacious villa through VRBO, rental properties deliver ample room along with handy amenities for a home away from home feel. All at prices comparable or even cheaper than hotels. No wonder vacation rentals have exploded in popularity, especially among savvy travelers aiming to maximize value.
Spacious doesn't even begin describing Kelly's oceanfront Florida condo rental that slept her entire extended family of 10 comfortably. The 3,000 square foot property boasted 4 bedrooms with plush king beds, pull-out sofas, and enough floor space to inflate air mattresses. After wearing themselves out at the pool and beach just steps out the back door, the kids would sprawl across the massive sectional watching movies on the 60" flatscreen.
Meanwhile, Kelly whipped up family dinners in the fully-equipped kitchen and laundered swimsuits so they'd be fresh for another day frolicking in the surf. "I never could have hosted everyone in a cramped hotel suite," Kelly raves. "This rental felt like I brought our home comforts with me."
Even couples and friends splitting costs can gain big by choosing to rent. Samantha and James were delighted to discover their Parisian apartment squeezed in a laundry machine - perfect for freshening up clothes between museum outings and neighborhood strolls. After whipping up custom omelets and croissants for breakfast in the cozy kitchen, they'd gather around the farmhouse dining table trading stories and sipping coffee.
Cut Costs in Half: Clever Ways to Save on Travel in 2024 - Cook Your Own Meals Instead of Dining Out Every Night
Eating out for every meal can quickly devour your travel budget. Yet the temptation is real when tantalizing aromas waft from sidewalk cafes and restaurants beckon with sumptuous menus. Who can resist grabbing dinner while exploring a new city's dining scene? But savvy travelers know that balancing fine dining with home cooking saves big on the bottom line without sacrificing deliciousness.
Alex was determined to savor Barcelona's incredible cuisine during his week-long visit. Yet dropping €50 per person on restaurants two times a day had his wallet whimpering after just a couple days. Craving a budget reprieve, he stopped by the famed La Boqueria market to stock up on fresh ingredients. Laden with vibrant produce, juicy meat, bold spices, and artisanal cheese, he lugged his haul back to his vacation rental. After whipping up Spanish omelets, vegetable-stuffed empanadas, and seafood paella in the well-equipped kitchen, Alex realized he could eat like royalty for a fraction of restaurant prices.
"Dining in let me splurge on pricier ingredients that would have doubled my bill in a restaurant," Alex explains. "And nothing compared to feasting on authentic homemade paella overlooking the city from my apartment's rooftop terrace."
Even travelers without kitchen access can curb costs by opting for groceries, food stands, and casual takeout over pricey sit-down eateries. Street food dishes like banh mi sandwiches, tacos al pastor, and currywurst satisfy foodie cravings for just a couple bucks. Grocery store staples like bread, cheese, fruit and nuts offer picnic possibilities in scenic urban green spaces.
For Claire, strolling Vienna's lively Naschmarkt sampling apricot strudel, bratwurst, and other authentic bites perfect for a DIY picnic felt quintessentially Viennese. She grabbed groceries to supplement restaurant meals during multi-country trips through Europe and Southeast Asia. "Eating one meal a day in restaurants gave me my foodie fix without overextending my budget," she explains. "I got to sample top local eateries while avoiding the financial ruin of doing all my meals out."
Travelers willing to sacrifice some convenience can gain even more savings. Booking accommodations with full kitchens for home cooking avoids takeout costs. Grocery delivery services like Instacart offer an easy way to shop for essentials. Multi-serving recipes like soups, curries, and casseroles prepared during downtime stretch across multiple meals. A little planning and effort yields huge dining savings and lets you put funds toward experiences over pricey calories.
Samantha swears by grocery runs immediately upon arriving in a new destination. Stocking her rental kitchen in Portugal with fixings for hearty bean and veggie stews provided inexpensive, authentic meals between exploring Lisbon's cobbled alleyways. She stretched leftovers into lunches paired with cheap bread and wine. "I got my foodie fix at restaurants a couple times a week," Samantha says. "But preparing most meals myself meant more euros for pastries, port tastings, and other treats!"