The Frugal Traveler – Tips for Cutting Travel Costs

Are you considering a vacation, but worried you can’t afford it? Read on to learn how you can save a ton of money and finally take that trip you’ve been dreaming about from your desk every Monday morning.

Travel Off-Peak
From airfare to hotel costs, everything is cheaper when you visit your destination in the off-season. Any guide book will tell you when your destination is at its sleepiest, so once you have those dates you may find that the five-star hotel you had your eye on is now within your price range. Can’t take a trip during those dates? Consider a location that is in the middle of off season during the dates you can travel.

Track Your Flight
Don’t do a few searches for your flights and then buy the lowest option. Airfares fluctuate tremendously throughout the year – sometimes prices drop hundreds of dollars within a few weeks. Find a flight tracking site like Yapta and start monitoring your flights for a few weeks. When you think you’ve seen the lowest price you’re going to get, pick up the tickets.

Know Your Baggage Allowances
If you show up with an overweight bag or more bags than you are allowed to check, the fees can start to add up, especially if you’ve got multiple flights in one trip. All airlines have plenty of information on their baggage policy available online, so do your research and make sure you only bring what doesn’t result in extra fees.

Get Creative with Hotels
You may think that a cheap hotel chain like Best Western or Motel 6 may be the way to go if you’re looking for a bargain. While these are good options for the budget-conscious traveler, they tend to lack character. Find the local hostels and see how much cheaper they are for a private room. You may find that you don’t really need a lot of space or the extra frills of room service if it means you can stay longer or spend more money shopping. Hostels also provide you with an excellent way to meet people if you’re traveling alone – and many of them are filled with character!

Cook Your Own Food
If you’re staying in a hostel or a place with a kitchen available to you, save money on food and cook for yourself. Think you might be missing the local cuisine? Find the closest farmer’s market and grab fresh local produce and meats, and cook a traditional local meal yourself! Recipes are available online, and your hotel can point you in the right direction for shopping locally.