Money Saving Ideas
Set Up Flight Alerts: this is our number one travel tip! I use Skyscanner and Google alerts for flights. I will select a few different locations and dates and start seeing what flights cost. Then I will set up alerts for locations that appear to have reasonable flight costs to monitor if they drop. The key to this is being open to different locations. Also, I recommend exploring flying on weekdays or off hours if possible as prices are usually more reasonable.
Car Rental: if you are a Costco member, book a car immediately after securing flights. They are fully refundable and often the cheapest option. However, you can use them as a baseline to try and find cheaper rates or cars. Another option is Turo. This is car rentals through individual hosts. This is a great option if car rentals are sky high OR if you are having trouble finding a car in a certain location. If you are traveling to Europe do NOT rent a car – use Uber or public transportation. Trains are usually a quite practical mode of transportation in Europe.
Point Redemptions: we have found becoming a reward member at hotel and airlines has its perks. We LOVE Southwest Airlines not only for their customer service, but they run regular promotion and deals with Wanna Getaway Fares. My husband is also an A-List Preferred member thanks to his work travel and has companion pass which takes care of one of our flight costs. We also have the Southwest Credit card which gives points for purchases (note: we pay our credit cards off in full each month and are not recommending you add another credit card just for points). Another card that is great for travel redemption is the Chase Sapphire credit card which allows you to earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals. You can also sign up for hotel reward programs to become a loyalty member if you find yourself staying at the same chain time and time again. We are Marriott loyalists when possible.
Drive When Possible: road trips can be underrated and some of our favorite trips have been those we drove to. We have made the trek with six of us from Chicago to Destin, FL many times which not only saves us on airfare, but allows us to save on a car rentals when down there AND we pack a cooler of food and meat for cooking meals. We also have done road trips to Yellowstone which was our furthest trip as well as to Gatlinburg – both allowed us to have the flexibility we needed and to see sights along the way.
Pack Light: packing carry-on bags allows you to avoid the fees associated with checking bags on most flights, which can add up. If you are traveling with a stroller or carseat, you can gate check these for free when boarding.
Free Activities: not everything has to have a price tag for it to be fun. In fact, some of our favorite memories are the ones where it didn’t cost a penny. Hiking outside or visiting historic sites that don’t have an entrance fee can help save money. Research options before you go – there is usually plenty of activities you can arrange or plan that will help your budget.
Airport Rides: have a friend or family member drive you to the airport rather than taking an Uber or a taxi. For a larger family that requires a larger vehicle or even a limo, we usually can save a few hundred dollars if we have a family member who is available and willing to drop and pick us up at the airport.
