Everyone loves to save money, so why not make it a point to do so on your next trip? No matter where you go, there are always things that you can do to save yourself anywhere from a few dollars to a significant chunk. For example:
Make lunch your biggest meal
Dining out can be expensive, but it can be especially expensive during dinner. If you’re planning on dining out, have a light breakfast and make lunch your biggest meal. You’ll not only get more bang for your buck, you’ll spend less on both breakfast and dinner.
Use public transportation
Renting a car can be costly and while taxis are convenient, they too can rack up money. Instead, consider taking a bus, train, or subway to wherever you’re going. You’ll save money and it’ll most likely be faster, too.
Pack light
Airlines love to charge passengers for overweight or oversized baggage, so do yourself a favor and pack light. You’ll save anywhere from $50-$100 and you won’t have to worry about lugging around heavy luggage with you everywhere.
Stay outside the city
If you’re headed to a major city, you’ll probably want to enjoy the downtown area of it. However, hotels tend to be at their highest in this area and you’ll pay a lot more to stay close. Instead, consider staying outside of the city and taking public transportation in when you want to visit. You’ll pay as low as 1/3 of the price of a downtown hotel.
Use a water bottle
While it may sound silly, carrying around your own water bottle can help you save a few dollars on your trip. Unless you’re dining out, you’ll have to pay for a bottle of water in a store or at a stand. However, if there are water fountains (or even just a bathroom with a clean faucet) around, you can fill up your own water bottle and have it on hand.
Find local deals
These days, there are some great third party coupon websites, such as Groupon or Living Social. Don’t overlook the chance to find a good local deal and save some money on your trip.
Fly at the right time
If you’re flying to your destination, your airfare will be a good chunk of your budget, so make sure you get the best price for it. If your dates are flexible, try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday (or at the very least, a Sunday). Flight prices tend to be cheaper on these days. Also consider flying a red eye flight or an early morning flight, which also tend to be cheaper.
Consider Airbnb
Have you ever used Airbnb before? If not, there are times it can be cheaper than staying in a hotel. Before you book your hotel stay, take a glance at Airbnb and see if there’s a better deal. You may find something closer for a cheaper price.
Travel with others
The more people you travel with, the more people you have to split costs like hotel rooms, taxi rides, gas money, and more.