20 Ways to Keep Your Travel Costs Down This Summer

Many people are talking about skipping their annual summer vacation this year because they’re trying to save money during this recession. It’s certainly smart to reduce what you’re spending but do you really want to sacrifice all of the fun in your life? It’s possible to travel on a budget and have a great time without spending an excess amount of money.

Follow these twenty tips for reducing the cost of your travels this summer:

1. Start making plans now. The most important thing that you can do to reduce the costs of travel is to plan everything in advance. You’ll want to compare the costs of different types of trips, different modes of travel and different lengths of stay so you should start looking into making those plans now.

2. Look for deals and discounts. There are discount travel deals offered by airlines, hotels, car rental companies and local attractions. Once you’ve decided where you want to go, you should start looking for ways to reduce the cost of traveling there by getting discounted prices and coupon deals for the vacation.

3. Be smart about avoiding unnecessary fees. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in travel that we agree to fees. We get the extra rental car insurance that we don’t really need. We agree to check our bags at the airline and pay a fee. Make it a point to ask yourself if you really need everything that you’re agreeing to during the trip so that you avoid some of these charges.

4. Stay with friends or family. Avoid the cost of hotels by visiting people that you know who will be happy to have you stay with them. You can catch up with those folks that you haven’t seen for awhile while still enjoying the chance to get away from home.

5. Don’t eat out while you travel. You can save a lot of money by hitting up the local grocery stores and farmer’s markets to get fresh foods at a low cost rather than paying to eat at restaurants during your vacation.

6. Enjoy free activities at your destination. You don’t have to spend a lot of money at a vacation destination to have a good time. Do your research to find out what free activities are happening and where there are free landmarks and museums to visit. Window shopping, people watching and self-guided walking tours are great ways to get to know a new area without spending any money.

7. Remember to get all of the discounts that you can at every stop. There are many places that give discounts to travelers. Certain credit cards, club memberships and professional organization affiliations offer discounts at hotels as well as at well-known attractions. You can get discounts for kids under a certain age and seniors over a certain age. Don’t forget to ask about these at restaurants, hotels and attractions.

8. Choose a destination that’s not so popular. Instead of going to the hot spots that everyone visits in the summer, see if you can find an alternative destination that is more affordable. This might be a small town that is close to where you live. Alternatively, it may be the less-popular sister site of a popular destination. For example, if you were looking into going to a popular beach area, see if there is a beach a short distance away that is less popular and more affordable.

9. Think about the exchange rate of your money. If you’re going to be traveling out of the country then you should choose a destination where your money goes further than it does for you in your own country. Make sure that you fully understand the exchange rate for wherever you are traveling.

10. Make it a short trip. The longer that you stay at your destination, the more money that you’ll be spending on the trip. Reduce the length of your trip. You might only want to get away for a weekend this year. You’ll still get to travel but you won’t spend as much.

11. Use your rewards credit card. If you already have a credit card that gives you cash back or miles then be sure that you use it during your vacation. Pay it off immediately so that you don’t get charged for using it.

12. Pack everything that you need. Many people forget to pack things like toothbrushes and sunscreen then they have to pay to buy those things at their destination. Avoid these costs by double-checking that you’ve packed every item that you’ll need. In addition to personal hygiene products, a reusable water bottle, a swimsuit and a sweater are good things to remember to avoid unnecessary costs.

13. Don’t buy what you don’t need just for the trip. If you have a swimsuit that fits you and isn’t torn or stained then you really don’t need to buy one just because you’re going on vacation. Avoid these types of pre-vacation expenditures.

14. Take pictures instead of buying souvenirs. It’s tempting to pick up that great antique item that you’ll probably never see again or to get the good deal on local clothing at a flea market. Don’t do it. Take photos of the vacation to retain those memories and skip the souvenirs. Send postcards to anyone you feel the need to bring something home for.

15. Sacrifice some of the luxuries. It’s tempting to go all-out with your vacation because it’s your getaway but the truth is that you don’t need to get an expensive massage at the local spa, test out the green at the best golf courses or see the hottest theatre performance that happens to be playing at your destination. Enjoy the little things on your trip and sacrifice some of those luxuries.

16. Invite others to join you to reduce your costs. Invite another individual, couple or family to come along with you to split the cost of a shared hotel room or the cost of the car ride to a nearby destination. Agree in advance about the activities you’ll be spending money on during the trip.

17. Rent out your home while you’re away. You can get some of your travel money back by getting an income from a short-term home rental. If you’re not going to be there anyway then you may as well be making some money off of the place. House swaps are another option for travelers.

18. Walk while you’re there. If you are getting to your destination by plane, train or bus then you should try to avoid the costs associated with also renting a car. Skip the car rental and figure out how to get around the area using bicycles, public transportation and your own two feet.

19. Work while you’re there. If you’re going to take an extended vacation this summer then consider picking up a part-time job during your stay so that you can offset the cost of travel. This may help you to meet new people, learn a new language and be able to afford the trip.

20. Set a budget and stick to it. If you simply don’t allow yourself to spend more on this vacation than what you can afford to spend then you’ll find a way to make the trip work within the confines of that budget. Set a limit, track your spending during the vacation and you should be fine.

Enjoy your summer vacation but save as much as you can while you’re enjoying it!

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