“How do you travel so much?” is something that comes up a lot in my life and honestly, it always makes me giggle. The short answer, I am a crafty little sucker. Traveling is a BLAST and I am so excited to do it every single time. Ever since I was little, I get butterflies in my stomach going to the airport. Although LAX is quickly becoming my second home, I still get giddy going to the airport every trip. There is something about adventure, reuniting, and new places that always make travel fun. That being said, it can be SO expensive if you don’t calculate, plan and take the road less traveled sometimes. I would rather travel less luxuriously, but more frequently. If that’s you as well, then here are my tips on how to travel cheap:
1. Book your flights as early as you can
For international travel, I try to book mine at least 6 months in advance. I know that can’t always happen, but know that the earlier you book, the cheaper they will be. Also, if you are just traveling solo, for fun, or with a friend, swallow your pride a little bit and fly with the crowds. I’ve never flow first class or business class and almost every flight I’ve had has been good. If you are going on your honeymoon or something, splurge for sure! But for your everyday trips, fly smart. It’s always nice to stay loyal to an airline, but a lot of times it spikes up your prices. We fly anyone from Spirit, American, Southwest, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus…you name it, we’ve flown it.
2. Pack less
I know…brutal. Packing less is a talent and honestly takes more time than packing a lot because you have to be really intentional with what you bring. But, plan out your outfits, create a “capsule collection” for your trip and get everything in a carryon, or a backpack if you want to get crafty.
3. Get creative with accommodations
Always check Airbnb, especially out of the country, they are WAY cheaper than hotels and you can split the cost between a bunch of people. Plus, the always end up being bigger and more of a homey feeling. Secondly, look into private rooms at hostels, or if you are down, shared rooms. You actually meet so many cool people and have a blast. I’ve stayed in many and have yet to have a bad experience. (St. Christopher’s Inn, Hostelling International and Backpackers are my favorites).
4. Stay at hotels with free breakfast
Sounds silly, but it’s true. If you are staying at a hotel, stay at one with free breakfasts, you’ll knock a meal a day off your tab. Plus, often the cheaper hotels have free breakfast so you’re saving money all around. Don’t be afraid to swipe a bagel for the road either! As one of our best friends Dylan says, hunger management is key. If you make sure you’re eating at the right times, you’ll have a better trip and spend less on snacks.
5. Cook at home
If you’re on a longer trip or a trip that has a kitchen, cook some meals in your Airbnb/house with everyone. Whenever we go skiing we do this and it saves SO MUCH MONEY. You don’t realize how quickly the dollars go on dinners out for a week.
6. Take public transportation
If you’re in a city that has metros, buses, trams, etc., take them! They will save you so much money over time. Ubers can be great, but they can add up, especially if you’re traveling with a small group.
7. Look at trains/buses over planes
If you’re traveling (especially overseas) look at taking trains instead of planes if your schedule allows for it. You’ll save a lot of money and you won’t have to worry about if your bag weighs too much, score. Plus, you can look at buses like Flixbus and save hundreds. It’s not as luxurious, but so worth it.
8. Look for discounts (Student, Military, AAA, American Express)
When you’re signing up for experiences, sign up for the email list #1. Coming from an email marketer, I can almost always promise you you’ll get a discount. If you don’t look for discounts on Groupon, Airbnb, or on their site’s seasonal promotions.
9. Travel in the offseason
If you really want to go somewhere but it’s crazy expensive and you cannot figure out how to travel cheap, go in the offseason. The hotel we stayed at in Italy was over $1,500 more in season. YES, I REALLY SAID THAT. We paid a few hundred for a month or two before the “high season”. Banff is way cheaper the first week of October vs. September. Amalfi is cheaper when it’s not June-September (I’ve been in May and October and love it). All in all, get crafty. If you’re flexible, plan at a less busy time. Plus, non-touristy seasons make for a more local experience.
10. Remember how much money you really have
This can be a mean wake up call, but if you want to really know how to travel cheap, it’s the number 1 rule. Although Instagram makes traveling luxurious in today’s world, remember how much you are making and tell yourself those fancy things are not worth it. I would much rather not splurge on some ocean club when there is a public beach down the street, knowing I could spend that money on a few more days of travel elsewhere. It’s all about weighing your options, remembering to travel frugally on occasion and enjoying spending money when you really want to!
