Do you want to learn travel hacking 101? Believe it or not, you can save money while traveling! That’s right, and you do not have to pay top dollar for lodging or your flight. I don’t know about you, but that means more traveling for my family. And there is no better way to make some memories.
And even better, there are so many ways to save money and get upgraded.
What is travel hacking, though? And how can you make it happen?
What Does Travel Hacking 101 Entail
Image source: Pexels
Travel hacking 101 means being able to find the best deals for every trip you take. Whether it is for a flight, hotel, cruise, train, or rental property.
There are some great tricks into finding the best value for your trip. Sometimes, it may require you to do a lot of research and possibly yelling at your computer screen, but it’s worth the time.
Travel hacking 101 is used for so much
There are people who may think travel hacks are only for flights or hotels, but it can be for so much more.
Saving as much money as possible for everything you use or do on vacation is crucial.
Packing
Did you know if you pack less and wash while you are away, you can save a ton of money? That’s right; airlines charge you an arm and leg for an extra bag. However, carry-on bags are usually free, so that may be a great choice if you are only going on a trip for a few days.
Besides, the less you carry around with you, the better it is for your stress level. You will not struggle as much to carry your bags. Also, finding your luggage at the baggage claim area is a major pain. I hate standing around watching the carousel of luggage go around and around, only to realize my luggage is not there.
Also, carry-on bags that are simple and small to hold your personal care items. This can make finding your things incredibly easier, and you will not throw away as much because it will be the perfect size for the trip.
Eating
Depending on where you are staying and what type of storage you have, will depend on how you can save money.
If you are staying in a hotel, try to find deals that include breakfast and free parking. Also, if your hotel has a stove and refrigerator then shopping at the grocery store and buying food will save you a lot of money.
Food and lodging eats, no pun intended, up a significant portion of travel budgets. You could use that extra money towards shopping or other activities you may want to try.
Or if you are staying in a campground, try to save your leftovers for the next day. You could also borrow a friends camping supplies instead of buying everything new.
Wifi overseas
During vacation, you will still need to stay in touch with the world unless that is why you are a vacation. Having a portable wifi device can save you a bunch of money. Not only is finding a hotspot a pain the rear but it can be almost impossible in some places.
You can simply carry around a small device to make getting wifi so much easier, and it should cost you a lot less than those long-distance calls if you are traveling overseas.
Shopping
Now, I love to shop, like really who doesn’t, but I’m not going to lie, I have purchased a lot of things on vacation that I never use.
So, to save a little money, think twice about buying that fur coat if you live in Florida.
Lodging
When booking a place to stay, you may find great deals online. You can also take those online results to your local travel agent, and they may be able to find you even more discounts.
There are many websites out there but depending on if you are looking for a hotel, cabin, vacation home, or going a little rugged staying in a tent, will determine which website is best. Expedia, for example, often gives their members a percentage off of the lodging.
And if you know someone who works for a hotel chain like Hilton hotels, then you could check with them and see if they can add you to their friends and family account. Oftentimes, hotels give large discounts to their employees.
Flights
You may have heard that booking your flight on certain days of the week will save you money. You may have even heard to fly out on certain days, but this is not always 100 percent true. I have booked many flights online on a Friday and rechecked to find the same price on the following Tuesday. Weekend flights are usually more expensive, though. So, if it is possible to fly during the week, that is the best route to take.
This is also something you can take to your local travel agent and see if they are able to find a better discount.
Local transportation
I have found with all my international traveling that using the local bus, is much cheaper than the taxis. If you do not mind being crowded with complete strangers, then traveling this way is the cheapest.
Also, if you are able to walk to your destination, then that can be a relief for your wallet. Now, we know not every place you travel will have clean, safe local transportation, but it is worth a shot.
The Major Need for Travel Hacks
Almost everyone loves to travel and save money. If you are able to get enough taken off of that flight to afford an upgraded hotel room, then all that research was worth it.
I am a mother of five kids, and when we fly internationally we spend around $2,000 for just the airfare. We try to find every discount we can with transportation to our vacation home. We make sure to wait to eat until we get to our place, instead of buying the overpriced food on our flight. By doing simple things like that, we are able to save enough money to do some sightseeing.
Types of travel hacks
One of the best travel hacks is Google maps offline. I have been stranded on the side of the road many times because my phone has lost signal. If you download the map before you start your journey, it will make your day less chaotic, for sure.
My husband’s favorite item to take everywhere he goes, is a pen. I know right, why is a pen such a big deal? Well, he travels internationally at least twice a year, and the flight attendants always have forms for you to fill out but never any pens!
Another great travel hack is baby powder. Baby powder can be used for more things other than your baby’s bottom. You never know how long your layover will be, and using a little baby powder to freshen up may make you feel a lot better.
Also, don’t forget that purchasing your tickets to some places in advance can save you some money. Not only could you save money on the tickets, but you also do not have to wait in the long line to get in.
We also think having a reusable water bottle is terrific. Not only does it help the environment, but you don’t have to constantly buy bottles of water.
Finally, don’t forget to do an internet search of all of the free places to visit in the town you are going to. For example, my family was recently in Asheville, North Carolina and there are roughly 50 free waterfalls to visit in the area. Also, free botanical gardens, tons of hiking trails, and more.
How to Find the Best Travel Hacks
Of course, doing a lot of research will find you the best deals.
Many credit card companies give travel bonuses and money back if you meet the requirements on time. You may not like all those emails about promotions until it is time to use them, but they are great. Most airlines have deals, even free flights, so try to have an open mind when you sign up for their advertisements.
Also, adding companies to your social media will help you know when a big deal may be going down. Yes, the deals may not come every day, but you do not want to miss a big one.
The traveler in the YouTube video below finds many benefits of using Ebates for all her purchases online. Please take a moment and let her explain how it works. Plus, she has a few other travels tricks up her sleeves that may help you on your next trip.
Benefits of Knowing Some Travel Hacking 101
The benefits of knowing travel hacks is saving money! The more money you save, the more trips you can take. If you have saved tons of money, then you will not feel bad about how much money you spend while shopping.
My mother has worked hard her entire life. Her biggest regret is not traveling enough, and always worrying about her credit score. We are not saying to stop paying your bills. Just to remember it is okay to do something for yourself every now and again.
My family and I love to travel, but with five kids, it can be very costly. So, every dollar we save on one trip goes towards our next trip.
Travel hacking 101 can take some time to learn, but it is worth the time you spend learning it. There are so many surprising ways to save money while you travel. Please do not stress too much when you start your next vacation. Remember, it takes time to learn all the tricks.
What is the best travel hack you have used? Please let us know in the comment section below.
