One of the biggest barriers to travel is cost. It can feel like most destinations are too expensive, and we are limited to a select few affordable options. This is just not true!

So many factors go into the cost of a trip, which opens up the possibilities for money-saving options. Here are some of my favorite ways to make travel more affordable.

I cannot stress this enough, book early! Even when you’re not sure if the dates or the cost will work, just book. But always book flexible or refundable options, particularly for hotels, flights, and cruises.

There are two main reasons for this. First, it establishes a baseline price that cannot increase. Once that price is set, as long as you chose a refundable or flexible booking, you can always make any changes or cancel as needed. Secondly, it can help prepare you for the cost. After you’ve booked, you will have any idea of what you will need to save up to make that trip happen. The earliest you have that price, the better.

I have truly saved thousands of dollars over the years by continuing to check prices even after I have booked travel. For flights, book directly through the airline with a main cabin fare that allows for changes. In the weeks or months leading up to your trip, see if the flight cost has gone down. If it has, you can usually change your flight to the lower price, which will give you a travel credit. This travel credit you can use to reduce the cost for a future trip!

Similarly with hotels, once you book your hotel, keep checking the price for any potential reduction, along with any other hotels you were previously considering. While hotels will often increase their prices as they start to fill, they will also decrease their prices when they haven’t filled the hotel enough. When you see a lower price, if you’ve booked a fully-refundable reservation, cancel that reservation and book at the lower price.

Some of the more popular days to fly are Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays. These will often be more expensive. If you are able to move your trip, leaving on a Wednesday and returning on a Tuesday for example, you will often see a reduction in the flight cost.

Hotels are more expensive on Fridays and Saturdays. If you were planning a quick trip and not flying, look to stay in a hotel Sunday through Thursday, instead of those more expensive weekend days.

Off-season pricing can be dramatically different than peak season. This is especially true for popular destinations, like Disney World, Paris, Hawaii or Las Vegas. Summer is usually going to be the most popular time, followed by Christmas.

Shoulder season for most places is Spring and Fall. These months can be ideal for milder temperatures, lower crowds and more affordable flights and hotels.

January and February can often be the most affordable months for travel, but there will be other factors to consider in those months. Depending on the destination, you many be faced with harsher weather or closed attractions.

Some of the best things to do in any location can be free. Going for a hike in Hawaii or swimming in the ocean in the Carribbean can be the most rewarding parts of your trip. In cities, look for a beautiful park to spend the afternoon or a free museum.

Getting the most out of your trip does not mean spending a lot of money. Smaller theaters will have shows with a lower cost and give that local neighborhood feel. In Europe, take a train to a nearby town and explore a little off the beaten path.

One of the main reasons I travel to any destination is for the food. Eating traditional food of a city or country can help to better understand the culture and history of its people. Local small restaurants, markets and food halls can be some of the greatest spots for food.

Want your restaurant check to be half off? Share an entree. Now, this is all dependent on your eating habits. But I personally love to eat all throughout the day, in order to experience as much as I can. Going to a nice steakhouse at the end of a long day can absolutely be a highlight. But sharing a large steak and a couple of sides will easily free up some spending allowance for other areas.

Sometimes the closest airport is not the cheapest. Taking an extra hour to get to the airport, or an extra train ride when you get to your destination can be a big cost savings.

Be sure to take all costs into account though, including the parking cost or train cost.

A vacation to me can feel much more like an escape when I’m able to go car-free. Dealing with a rental company, traffic, navigation, and parking can feel like a chore and an unnecessary expense.

Be creative with ways to get around. Most cities are best explored on foot. Public transportation is often a great option or a local tour company.

Picture this: You could wait in line to spend $200 on tickets for your party of 4 to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, then spend another $200-$300 on dinner. OR you could pop into a local market to pick up some wine, meats, cheeses, baguettes and desserts. Pick a spot on the open lawn just below the tower to enjoy the light show and an easy meal.

This scenario is one of countless in any spot that is just as iconic of an experience at a much more afforable price point.

Everyone has their own priorities of what is most important on a trip. The pictures we take are always my favorite souvenir, and free.

We also try to find a local piece of art from every destination, whether it’s a hand carved mask from Alaska or a sketch from an artist in Montmartre. Choose something special and meaningful that you can treasure for years to come.

Seems obvious, but setting a budget can really make a difference. Start with creating a rough itinerary for each day of the trip. This will give you an idea of daily costs. From there you can add or omit things from your itinerary based on the amount you have set aside.

Your trip isn’t the only place you can save. Going back to booking early, if you have a trip already set look for ways you can cut back on daily spending at home.

Make more meals at home in the weeks leading up to your trip or movie nights at home. Knowing you have a trip coming up can help with motivation to save.

Taking a day trip will save you a flight and hotel. Even just choosing destinations you can drive to will often be cost-savers.

Explore your own back yard in between those bucket-list trips.

Don’t wait to travel until you can afford that two-week trip to Rome. Look for destinations you can easily experience in a shorter timeline that are more affordable. If you have time available during peak season, do some digging to find a destination that is within your budget.

Travel can absolutely be affordable. When you take time to prioritize cost vs value and plan ahead, you can save significant amounts of money.

Have more questions? Set up a consultation with me. I can walk through any planning struggles you may be having or setup an itinerary that works for your family. Happy travels!