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28 Simple Ways to Save Money While Traveling

When planning any trip, budget is a primary concern. Often your wallet may not be as ready as you are for the trip. ResortsandLodges.com is ready to help you find the best ways to save. We are going to show you how to stretch your dollars in the major areas related to travel. Buckle in and get ready to save some money.

 

Air Travel

  • Book your next flight at least a month in advance. While the booking site may charge you a minimal fee, they will save you much more in the long run.

  • Travel during the off season. Airlines tend to charge more during peak travel times of the year. Figure out when travel to your destination is at its lowest and you’ll find favorable rates.

  • Take a connecting flight. Nobody really enjoys layovers but if you reroute your flight through another city, the overall price of your airfare will usually be lower.

  • Fly into a jump off location. TravelChannel recommends this to travelers because you can fly into less popular location and have access to a high traffic (higher cost) location. An example of this would be flying into Baltimore and finding other mode of transportation to Washington, D.C.

  • Cut out the clutter and travel as light as possible. Airlines now commonly charge their customers for extra luggage. Eliminate the extra baggage and find yourself saving money.

  • Schedule your tickets round trip. Round trip tickets are usually cheaper.

  • Travel on non peak days such as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. According to Bankrate, airlines usually release new deals during Tuesday's and Wednesday's and those are the cheapest times to buy and fly.

  • Make use of budget airlines that fly out of smaller venues. They commonly fly out of smaller airports but if you're not afraid of a short road trip in addition to your flight, this will  save you money.

 

Food and Meals

  • Prior to arriving at your destination follow the advice of Moneyning and plan out your meals. Most eating establishments have online menus and hours of operation listed on their websites. Plan when and where to spend your money and you’ll save.

  • Many establishments have coupons and deals through social media, websites, magazines and newspapers. Keep your eye for deals because they are out there.

  • Purchase snacks when you arrive at your location. Go to a regular grocery store and not a speciality store. Eat snacks before meals and you can get away with eating smaller and cheaper meals when you do go out.

  • Stay in a location that has a kitchen and cook for yourself. This can help familiarize you with the area as you shop for groceries and will give you a new cost effective perspective on cooking.

  • Only drink water when you go out to eat. This is harder than it sounds but the money you save can be significant and it's always good to stay hydrated.

  • Pay attention to portion sizes and use a tip from DailyFinance to split up single meals among multiple people. Many food establishments give you way too much food and this is a great way to feed everyone and prevent fatigue from eating too much.

 

Car Rentals

 

  • Keep your car pick-up and return at the same location. Some rental companies will charge you an extra 60 percent or more if you return a car to different location.

  • Lifehacker suggests that you do away with rentals altogether. Try using the public transportation, car sharing programs or uber (if available).

  • Make sure to have the rental company fill the car up as close to your pick-up as possible. In addition don't forget to fill the car back up when you return it. Rental companies have been known to charge ridiculous fees to fill cars that are returned with less than a full tank.

  • Budgettravel suggests to contact your insurance and credit card companies before you rent. Both of these institutions commonly cover you with insurance when are renting a car. Dont let the rental company tell you that you need to buy their insurance. They are trained to sell it to you and may try to push it on you.

  • Choose a economy car over anything larger and more expensive. People tend to avoid  renting the small cars so the rates are cheaper for them.

  • Go through all of your club memberships, credit cards and any other organization your apart of. Many clubs such as AAA and AARP offer their members up to a 10 percent discount.

  • Check with the companies and see if they are offering any types of deals. They regularly  have a special web pages that have lists of deals for their customers.

 

Accommodations

  • Use ResortsandLodges.com to find your ideal destination and book a reservation.

  • Plan your trip during the off season of the specific location. Much like airfare, cheaper rates and increased availability are much more common during offseasons.

  • Stay in a town or location that is close to where your trip is planned. Staying off the beaten path and finding transportation to your destinations can save you a lot of money. Hotels in neighboring cities offer reduced rates compared to the bigger cities.

  • Use the rate of another hotel against the rate of your primary choice in lodging. They often will give you a better rate or upgrade. Even if you need to cancel one reservation to save on another, it’s a good way to save money.

  • TravelandLeisure recommends to frequent flyers and regular hotel patrons to check with both companies and see if they are part of a loyalty partnership. Its becoming common to use frequent flyer miles on hotel rooms.

  • Join rewards programs in places you stay. They usually cost nothing and can provide you with hotel perks and free rooms.

  • Familiarize yourself with all the extra charges that they can possibly add on to your bill at checkout. This can be done at check in by asking the front desk for a list of all charges that can be assigned to the room during a stay. Cancel any extra services that you don’t want to pay for before you go to your room.