The number one excuse people use to not travel is lack of money. Trust me, I get it. Working part-time at a coffee shop doesn't exactly give me enough money to buy unlimited plane tickets. But if travel is important to you and you budget accordingly, there are quite a few ways to save money and still go on that dream vacation. I'm going to give you all my secrets on how I travel and spend the least amount of money possible. I give 13 tips that cover flights, rental cars, housing and food.
1. Flights
Drive if you can: Not exactly a flight tip, but if you can drive, drive. This isn't always an option, but will definitely save you some money. Flights can be expensive and once you land, you'll either have to Lyft everywhere or rent a car. If you drive, you only have to pay for gas and parking.
When booking a flight: Google Flights is always my first stop when looking to book. It shows you a calendar view that highlights the cheapest days to travel to that destination. This specific photo shows Columbus to Denver in April and you can see that leaving on a Monday or Saturday would save you about $100.
2. Rental Cars
Don't rent from the airport: This may be my biggest tip. Do not, I repeat do not, get your rental car from the airport if you are trying to save money. Instead, take a Lyft to a rental car place 10 minutes away and rent from there. You will save so. much. money. Here is an example for a one week rental from Denver, Colorado (because everyone is going to Colorado these days). If you pay $10 for a Lyft, you will save around $100 on the rental car. The exact numbers will change, and it's possible that the money you save won't always be worth the extra hassle, but it is worth keeping this in mind. Remember: if you are traveling with other people you'll be splitting the cost so don't get to freaked out by the price of a car.
At the airport:
At a city location:
AAA discounts: Did you know that AAA partners with Hertz rental cars and will get you discounts? It's true. They often give up to 20% off weekly rates and are always promoting new discounts.
AAA under-25: If you are under 25 years old and trying to rent a car you will be hit with a fee around $200. But if you are a AAA member, they will waive that fee if you book through Hertz. Not a AAA member? It's about $60 per year. If you need to rent a car just once a year, you're already saving $140.
The age differential fee:
3. Housing
Go where your friends are: Look and see if you have any friends who live in the area you're wanting to visit. If they don't mind, crashing at a friends house is always the cheapest option and can be a lot of fun. You know you'll have a great place to stay, get to have endless sleepovers and have a local to show you around.
For families, use VRBO: I'm going to talk about the wonders of AirBnB next, but VRBO is great for families or large groups of people who want to rent an entire house, not just a room. I personally have never booked through VRBO, but my mom swears by it and I've always had great experiences staying in one.
Use AirBnb: This seems to be pretty common knowledge these days, but get an Airbnb. They are less expensive than hotels and I have always had great experiences. Don't be afraid to book a place that is just a single room with a shared bathroom and living space. If you are traveling with two other people, you really don't need more than one bed and a couch. That is how my roommates and I stayed three nights in Chicago for only $60 each.
AirBnb discounts: Take advantage of the $20 off referral codes. If the person you're traveling with has never personally booked an AirBnb, send them your code and they get $20 off their first rental and you get $20 as well.
Stay at cheaper places on the weekend: A lot of AirBnbs will up their prices on the weekend. If you want to stay at a really nice house, stay there during the week and then stay at a different, less expensive place on the weekend. Remember: the price you see on the listing won't be accurate until you put in the dates you want to stay and the number of people. There are always extra charges. Here is an example of an AirBnb that was listed as $55/night on the main search page. So what you thought would be $110 for two nights, is actually double that.
4. Food
Grocery shop: Food is often one of the biggest expenses when traveling. It is so easy to pick up bagels, oatmeal and granola bars for breakfast and bread, lunch meat, chips and fruit for lunch. You'll spend under $30 at the grocery store for enough small foods that will last you the whole trip. Now you can save money on breakfast and lunch, and splurge on a nice dinner and drinks.
Bring food from home: There is nothing wrong with throwing a pack of granola bars you already have at home in your suitcase. Yes, food is allowed in carry ons (with some restrictions) and no, your parents won't notice when all their snacks disappear with you.
Happy hour: Always, always, always take advantage of happy hours. Happy hours are incredible and most restaurants and bars take part, so do a quick Google search and eat and drink the deals that night.
I hope you guys learned something from this post! I would love to hear any tips you have for traveling on a budget, either in the comments here or over on my Instagram.
THE TO DO LIST
("before you leave for a trip" edition)
1. Use Google Flights to find the best time of the month to leave
2. Book an AirBnB and find the cheapest rental car
3. Arrive in the city and pick up some local foods to stock your kitchen with
