Who doesn’t want to save money on their next vacation? Nobody. Here are nine easy ways. With the money you save, you can buy that extra cocktail at the bar, stay an extra night in the nicer hotel, or buy the souvenir sweatshirt you promised your friend you would buy.
1. Visit that nearby city. When we think of vacations, we often think about traveling across the country or to another continent. Take a look at a map and consider the cities and national parks within 1,000 miles of you. Not only is it cheaper to fly there, but you probably won’t have to fight against hordes of tourists who also want a glimpse of the Mona Lisa or the Statue of Liberty.
2. Fly on off-peak days. Be flexible and your airfare will drop. Play around with the dates and you will be surprised by how cheap that flight can be. Wednesday, Tuesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, Friday and Sunday are the most expensive. Avoid holidays and breaks that children have off from school since those times are busier.
3. Take public transportation to/from the airport. To get from my house to the local airport, it costs $10 using buses and rail, $50 by airport shuttle van, and close to $100 by cab. Sure, it will take more time, but think of what you can buy for $90/$180 during your trip. Once your flight reaches your destination, you should also consider taking public transportation to your hotel. Modern airports in touristy regions are often situated far from city centers. They often have safe, clean, and fast rail systems that are cheaper than taxis.
4. Rent the smallest car that you can tolerate. The smaller the car, the cheaper it is. If you are willing to live with a compact or a subcompact, go for it. Chances are good that when you arrive at the rental counter, they won’t have any compacts/subcompacts in stock (because rental car companies tend to have more popular mid-size cars in stock). And whenever they don’t have the car you reserved, they will move you one size up, for free.
5. Don’t buy supplemental insurance through the rental car company. Rental car companies make millions, if not billions, off of supplemental insurance policies. Chances are, your personal auto insurance policy or credit card already covers your rental car. In addition, the credit card you use may also provide insurance coverage. Of course, always check with your auto liability insurance carrier or card issuer first before making any insurance coverage decisions.
6. Join AAA. The auto club offers a variety of services for travelers. It’s not just a free tow. Show your card and you can get discounts at many hotels and tourist destinations. And your local office will have a great supply of free maps.
7. Take an overnight bus/train. This options not only saves a night in a hotel, but airfare as well.
8. Stay in a hotel room with a kitchenette. Even if you don’t plan on cooking dinners in your room every night, you can save money by reheating your restaurant leftovers or preparing simple meals in your room.
9. Bring an empty water bottle. Bottled water inside airport gift shops is notoriously expensive. Once you pass through security, just fill up your bottle with drinking fountain water. Once you are on vacation, you will likely be walking a lot. To hydrate yourself, fill up your bottle(s) at your hotel. It’s cheaper and healthier than buying soda and sports drinks outside the Acropolis.
Do you have any tips? Share them with us!
Image source: Maxichamp
