5 of the Best Travel Tips for Saving Money

Hey, traveling is just like any hobby and costs a lot in the long run. I’ve picked up some money-saving tips here and there that I’d love to share with you. Here are my top 5 travel tips for saving money:

The amount of times I’ve heard someone say, “I wish I could travel like you but I just don’t have the money.” Trust me, YES YOU DO. If you book the right flights and the right hotels, travel doesn’t have to be as expensive as we make it out to be.

How to Save Money on Travel

1. Be Flexible

This really makes all the difference. Flights are different and cheaper on different days or even different airports. I use Skyscanner for all of my flights.

Skyscanner has an option where you can view flight prices during an entire month. In this example, it’s way cheaper to fly on the 15th, 16th, or 18th as opposed to the 17th. Just be sure you check out what the flights consist of. The $248 could be a flight with 3 stops and $453 only has one. In this case, the 17th might be your best choice.

I love to use the Skyscanner Everywhere option. When I lived in Paris the first time, I would use this option to decide where to go for the weekend. With this option though, you do need to choose a specific date.

Yes my American friends, I know. Painful isn’t it? Flight prices are insanely different from when we travel in the good ole U.S. of A. However, that brings me to my next point:

2. Don’t shy away from budget airlines

Guys, Spirit really isn’t THAT bad. As long as you know what you’re doing, Spirit can be way cheaper than competitive airlines.

Around the world, budget airlines tend to be more of the norm. Just do as much research as possible to determine: How much will my luggage cost? Is it cheaper to have a carry-on or a checked bag? Do I need to check-in online? Is food included?

I was heartbroken when my favorite budget airline: WizzAir went out of business. I flew to Copenhagen for $150!! But many people are too worried about what they might be missing when taking a budget airline.

One budget transatlantic airline is Norwegian Airlines. While not as nice as American Airlines or British Airways, Norwegian is way cheaper. You will have to pay for extra bags, meals are not included, and there is no entertainment with the seat. However, you can pay for the food ahead of time to ensure you get a meal and the airline has iPads for you to rent if you want entertainment and didn’t bring your own. A bit of a hassle but if it saves you money it’s worth it right?

3. Sign up for an email subscription list

In addition to religiously checking Skyscanner, I’m also on several email lists. One of my favorites, Scott’s Cheap Flights, sends me emails every few days with cheap flight updates. You can also specify what airport you normally fly from, so they can send you deals related to your airport. I believe that Scott’s Cheap Flights is also opening up into the Europe market.

4. Book directly with the site

I love Hostelworld, I really do. It’s convenient and amazing to see different options. HOWEVER:

Instead of using Booking.com or Hostelworld, go through and book directly on the hotel’s website. Booking.com and Hostelworld charge a commission, so many times the hotel or hostel raises their prices on those booking engines to compensate for the money they’re losing.

5. Buy a SIM card in the hosting country

Honestly, you don’t always need cellphone service. Most places you travel to will have ample wifi, and you can download maps before you leave the hotel. If you’re dead set on having wifi though, always always buy the SIM card when you arrive. American phone companies will charge you crazy prices for international roaming. In Spain, I pay $20 a month for my Spanish SIM card that I can also use anywhere in the EU.

Airports will have many SIM cards you can buy, although you can normally find something even cheaper in the city center. I like Orange because it’s available in many countries, you can customize a plan to your own needs, and the top-up program lets you use foreign credit cards. There are companies that have specific SIM cards for tourists.

I hope these tips will help you save money in the future! Let me know what you think or if you have any other personal tips for traveling on a budget.