Why do we think that we don’t DESERVE to take a trip? Is it money/ financial issues? Time or maybe lack of knowledge on where to go? What’s holding YOU back from making lifetime memories?
Let me tell you that you CAN do it AND you CAN afford it!!!
People ask me all the time…HOW DO YOU TRAVEL SO MUCH??!
I find bargains! Yes, sometimes it is time consuming but hey, if I am saving $$$ I am all about research!
Here are a few ideas on how to afford a getaway-
Cheap Airfare
Cheap airfare- there are a few great ways to search for airfare. I recommend that you do a google search on your cell phone. Yes, I said phone! There are “mobile’ discounts that are offered ONLY on your mobile phone.
Some say to search for airfare on- Tuesday around 3pm eastern time. Many airlines release weekly sales on Tuesday, which then prompts other airlines to match. Airfare fluctuates day to day. But I have personally found that it just all depends on the airlines.
Don’t shop too early or too late.
Be careful! Buy too early you could pay too much and waiting until last minute you could pay way too much. The sweet spot is usually when you shop between these times:
U.S tickets: 3 months to 30 days before trip
International tickets: Shop between 5 months and 1 month prior for best deals.
Fly on these days during the week– Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Leaving Friday and returning Monday may be the best for your work week, but not always for your budget. Departing on Sunday,Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday are normally the best rates.
Cheapest flight times of the day: Normally Dawn or overnight (red eye) flights are the best for the frugal traveler.
Fly on the cheapest route
Non-stops are more convenient, but you can sometimes find better deals on connecting flights. (Not always but often).
Always compare airfares.
Some people fail to do this because they have their “favorite” airlines but you can save a lot of money by shopping around and comparing.
Set up a www.farecompare.com alert. It will send you direct emails when a flight you are searching for has a deal. ACT FAST though. These deals sell out fast.
Sign up for www.frontierairline.com, www.airfarewatch.com, www.airfarewatchdog.com , http://www.cheapair.com www.skyscanner.com Using these sites can save $$$! Trust me, I am the Queen of Frugal finds! My husband deemed me “Bird lady” cheap-cheap! ha ha
Some airlines send out weekly specials or even a “flash sale”. Also sign up for “fare alerts”. I know that a handful of airlines also have a “club membership”. You pay a one-time yearly fee and have access to the discounts all year long. Frontiers membership is called “DISCOUNT DEN”. They also have a PROMO right now, where kids fly FREE with a paid adult that is enrolled in the discount den membership http://www.flyfrontier.com
When searching for airfare, some sites give you the option of searching by the month, not just the specific dates you are searching for. I also recommend that you adjust the dates- there will be a button that asks if your dates are “flexible“. It is normally 3+ or 3- days. I recommend searching Roundtrip and then trying ONE WAY. Sometimes you can get a better deal that way.
PLEASE NOTE- affordable- budget friendly lines such as Frontier, Spirit and a few other airlines ONLY ALLOW 1 personal item and one small bag. PLEASE make note of their luggage policy so there are no surprises!
Use Travel sites
I also am a HUGE fan of http://www.travelpirates.com, http://www.travelzoo.com and www.TRIPADVISOR.com . These are a few of my favorite sites to find bargains on also unpublished fares, last minute deals, sales, glitches in the system = rare finds on airfare, hotels and cruises. I also have used GROUPON and LIVINGSOCIAL for travel deals.
I belong to many of the travel/ booking sites which offer perks, such as http://www.booking.com, http://www.expedia.com and all the other travel sites. You can earn points as well as reserve flash sales, members only rates and more! I also always look for bargains on rental cars. http://www.hotwire.com and http:// www.Rentalcars.com are normally the best at deals. Follow my link to booking.com I love this site and have saved so much money!
To give you an example, I have scored on airfare- Normal price– average of $389 roundtrip from Southern California to Orlando Fl. I paid $82!! YES my friends… I REALLY did!! How about airfare from Lax to Seattle? Normal average is $200 RT, I paid $92-. Palm Springs to Denver- ONLY $59!!! That was a SUPER SCORE!!!! PSA: Palm Springs is a smaller airport and flights are normally $100+ more then LAX or San Diego. That flight would of averaged at least $200-300 RT. The dates may be a little tricky with these super score flash sales, but if you can get out of town last minute….. You will be jumping for Joy!
FANCY & FRUGAL Travel Tips……….. Tips for taking a Vacation on a budget
1.Travel in the off season- The “low season effect” is popular in outdoor vacation destinations
2.Become one with nature-Did you know that most National parks have campgrounds? Campsites start at only $15 a night! Another tip- If you are a Senior Citizen or disabled, there is a National park pass that you can get for FREE! You also save on State and National Park campgrounds. Here are the links….https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27241
3.Always check for coupon codes or last minute travel. One of my frugal travel tricks is LAST MINUTE travel! I know , I know… we all have jobs and responsibilities but if you have the opportunity to book a last minute trip, you can save a lot of money! Flash sale $39 RT to Denver- would you pass that up? Make it work!!!
Booking.com and other travel sites will offer codes via email or as a member. Take advantage of those deals.
4.Join discount travel sites. Booking a hotel- Always compare! I like to use a few different site. Tripadvisor is great because you can search several sites. After I find a good rate, I also check the hotels direct webpage and compare. Sometimes they will even honor the same rate if you call in. One good thing though with the 3rd party sites, sometimes the resort fee or parking is included, so make sure you do your research. http://WWW.Hoteltonight.com will be your best friend if you are ever stuck in bind last minute. I once got a $600 room for $185.
Hotwire, priceline,skiplagged
5.Eat cheaply- Speak with local people & find out where they go! Not only will you save $ but you can also learn about their City or Town and Customs. I always recommend to find local neighborhood spots instead of “tourist traps”. Use Yelp or another app to check “cheap eats” in the area or if you are traveling as a family, check out places that offer “kids eat free”. Also pack snacks or if you are flying, stock up when you get into town. If you have a mini fridge in your room, fill it with bottled water, drinks and snacks. So much cheaper to buy bottled water instead of the $4 a bottle surcharge at the resort! If you plan to stay more then 3 days at a place that can add up! Also…bring your own travel water bottle to refill. This is especially handy when visiting theme parks.
Happy hour- Many resorts offer happy hour not just on cocktails but also on food items. Grab a glass of wine, beer or cocktail and also enjoy a “heavy” appetizer as your dinner.Most places offer 50% off on selected items. Sometimes this can even give you an opportunity to try out a restaurant that normally wouldn’t be in your budget. On one of my adventures, I really wanted to eat at this posh restaurant. The plates were $120 each. I really just wanted to check this place out because of the view. But I couldn’t bring myself to pay that price tag! So, My husband and I had drinks and an appetizer for $60.00 instead of $240.00+. Million dollar view….. I joked with my hubby-“Ballar”..”Mama got her million dollar view on a Mickey Ds Budget!”. I love moments like these were we find frugal deals or score on great find!
Eat an “early” dinner-late lunch. Have your dinner a little early. Order before 3-4pm and most restaurants are still on lunch menu pricing. We normally sit and enjoy our meals. By the time we are finished an hour or 2 goes by. We miss the huge dinner rush and also save money on our meal.
When staying a few days, I highly suggest finding a rental or hotel that has a place with a kitchen or kitchenette & cook your meals, or at least a few of them! Grab a few items at the grocery store that are easy to prepare. When traveling as a family this can save you a lot of money! I remember meeting a Parent one time that traveled with her crockpot! Yup, she brought her crockpot on family vacations. She said that she could make a one pot meal in it! Oatmeal for breakfast, chili or hot dogs for dinner! Great idea for some families.
Dining out- Fast Food is a HUGE expense. Try using coupons, look for local Groupons and yelp will sometimes offer deals with check in at certain eateries.
When its just my hubby and I…. HAPPY HOUR! I know I mentioned this before but it saves you so much money!!! Not just for bar drinks, but for food. Some restaurants may offer a special such as “Taco Tuesday” or have appetizers at 1/2 off. I have saved so much money at times doing this. This trick is great if you want to try a high end bar or maybe a fancy shamancy restaurant that would normally be out of your budget! Live like a Queen on a Burger King Budget! ha ha. Split an entree, order a glass of water instead of a $3.50 soda.
Hotel breakfasts- free is always nice and can save you money. Fill up and grab a piece of fruit for the road. Some hotels offer a full breakfast not just danishes and orange juice. Occasionally at some of the resorts, there will be deal with free breakfast as an added bonus. Remember to keep this in consideration when booking a hotel!
5.RESEARCH!!!! I can’t stress enough about how important this is!!! I honestly thought about opening up a business- forget the travel agent, let me be your frugal vacation fairy! Research is key to saving money!
6.Last minute cruises or repositioning one way cruise- Live near a Port? There are tons of deals for residents! A few times a year some ports will do a “repositioning cruise”. For example there is a 3 day cruise leaving from Long Beach , Ca and arrives in Vancouver, BC. $600? NOPE…. That cruise is approx $150. 3 days on a ship, full of adventure-food, entertainment, did I say FOOD? Now that’s a bargain! Make note- it is a ONE WAY cruise. You need to fly back to your hometown. Great way to take advantage of a killer deal on a cruise but check airfare before you book the cruise!
7.Do you REALLY need all the souvenirs from the theme parks? Headed to Disneyland or Disney World? Stop by your local Dollar$ store and stock up on Disney goodies! Glow sticks, headbands and many fun themed things you can find in this store, Target also carries items in their dollar spot area. This will save you $$$$! You can also order Mickey-Minnie Ears on Amazon or from crafter (Like Me!) for half the price of what the theme parks charge. Make your own Family trip t-shirts! (I will have a blog on this).
8. Explore LODGING options-Backpacking, single or need a place to crash? Renting a room or Hostel may be perfect for you! When Traveling as a family, I highly suggest you look into AIRBNB or VRBO.
My favorite is airbnb. I have been using them for a few years now and absolutely LOVE it! Yes, I was a little sketched out at first. The thought of staying at someones home kinda freaked me out! I am a clean freak and I also like my privacy, So I wasn’t to sure what to expect. But I am so glad that I tried it out. I now am a huge fan!
FYI- 90% of the listings on AIRBNB are ” vacation rentals”. EVERY place that we have stayed at has been spotless, secure, safe and well taken care of and NOT someones home that they left for a few days and you enjoyed all their snacks, culling up with their blanket and looking at their photos and trinkets! ha ha. These were true rentals! I highly suggest AIRBNB.
Want $55 for airbnb? Friends who sign up for Airbnb with the link will get $40 off their home booking. And they get $15 to use toward an experience worth $50 or more.
Use my code https://www.airbnb.com/c/christyo2?currency=USD
Another great thing about airbnb; you have a personal profile on airbnb. It has your photo, bio as well as the airbnbs owners info. You can read reviews, communicate with them and there is even a place that the owners can leave comments about you. I have found that Airbnb is very affordable! I like to make our trips adventures and stay at a few places, so this works out perfect! Tip- dying to stay at 5 star resort but can’t afford to spend high dollar for a week? How about book a night or 2 at an amazing resort and enjoy it fully, then book an affordable airbnb for the rest of the trip? Feel free to reach out if you would like me to share some of the airbnbs that we have stayed out around the World-Both USA and Internationally.
9. Pack like a Pro- Oh those lovely baggage fees! Learn how to pack the perfect bag and save money on the extra baggage fees. Save the $$$ for fun and learn how to pack like a pro! ( I will have a Blog post about this).
10- All inclusive- If you love to get “yo drink on”, eat 3+ times a day, have kids that need activities and you just want to chill, enjoy the resort and all the amenities, then all inclusive may be for you. I absolute love to treat myself and my family to an all-inclusive but we also love to see the places we travel. We want to go out an explore, eat the local food and enjoy all the local activities. So sometimes all inclusive is not always the best option. Plan out your trip and way out your options, see what works best for your family. I have booked trips were we spent a few days of luxury at an all inclusive then stayed at another hotel or airbnb that was more cost efficient for the remainder of our adventure. That way you get the BEST of both worlds!
11. Plan out your activities ahead of time- This is one of the many times that research is important. Planning your trip will help you save money. I like to look on local discount sites such as GROUPON and LIVINGSOCIAL for deals. I also use Tripadvisor and look up “popular attractions” in that area. Then I research and see if there are deals on those specific activities . I also like to read reviews. I know everyone has different opinions and I do take that in consideration, but if 50 people say that it wasn’t worth the money, then sometimes that is a no-go!
It’s not always necessary to pay for a tour. Do your own tour-self guided! Take your time and look at what you want to look at. A tour may cost you $50 but the entrance fee is only $5-. RESEARCH the activity!!!
Get a multi-attraction pass or city discount card like CityPASS .Use the trolley, subway or bus line. Take advantage of free events likes concerts in the park, street fairs, free museum days. Also check out local community calendars for events. Many places offer discounted rates for students, seniors, military, veterans and disabled.
12.Think about your budget while choosing your destination. Experts say that one important detail that people need is to be more mindful of their destination . Rather than deciding where you WANT to go, look at airfare or hotel deals within your budget and plan from there. Let me tell you from my personal experience, this is 90% of my travel! Deals-deals-deals! Of course I have a bucket list and the top places I would like to travel, places my hubby would love to see and also must see places to bring the kids. But sometimes I get lucky and the deals I find are to the places on my list! This year I went to Seattle, Washington State, Portland and Denver all on “flight deals”!
13.Take a road trip- Have a friend or family member with an RV? Team up with them or check out renting one from a legit person on your local community pages. A lot of people rent out their RVs/Campers. Also look into repositioning trips. That is the way to go! Only thing, you will have to find a way back to your City. Theses are one way trips, so keep airfare into consideration before booking. So good sites are www.rvshare.com, www.juicyrvrentals.com, www.escapecampervans.com, www.cruiseamerica.com
14. Vacation package versus ala carte -Make sure to research the pros and cons. Package deals may seem the best, but sometimes you can do things on your own for much less.
15.Manifest-Save-Set your intention. Change your mind frame! YES you can do it! Setting goals and accomplishing dreams can come true! I hope that my tips help save you money and help prepare you for your adventure!
Traveling is an adventure, but it is also a very personal experience. Two people can visit the same place and have different experiences. I hope though that some of these travel tips help you on your Journey and that your adventures bring you much joy!
What ways do you find save you or your family money on trips? I would love to hear!
Travel heals the Soul and feeds the mind! Make it a priority in your life! I guarantee you that your life will change! Wishing you the best and HAPPY TRAVELING! xo Christy
