Hey everybody! Since we decided to take a sweet vacation this week, we thought we would leave you with this awesome guest post about saving on travel from our friend Kendal Perez. Please give her a warm welcome and be sure to check out her site as well. If you are interested in guest posting, please see our guest posting guidelines. Enjoy!
As a bargain shopper and avid money-saver, I put a lot of effort into finding ways to cut travel costs. My pursuit of savings is getting increasingly more challenging, however, as the travel industry becomes more expensive. New airline fees are announced nearly every day, and road trips are tough to afford with gas prices soaring over $3.50 per gallon.
Despite my efforts, some things I’ve done to save money have backfired on both my budget and my travel experience. To help you avoid the same pitfalls, I’ve come up with a few do’s and don’ts for saving money on travel.
Photo by Kendal Perez via Flickr
DO Shop Strategically for Flights Airfare is one of the biggest travel expenses next to hotels, so it pays to be strategic when researching flights. Be sure to factor in the cost of checked bags when comparing prices, and be prepared to book when a good deal presents itself. I’ve always had luck finding the best fares on Tuesday afternoon. I’ve also scored some good prices during moments of insomnia – apparently not many people book flights at 2:00 a.m.
DON’T Stay in Cheap Hotels I’ve stayed in some nasty places. Our room in Florida was subject to a scary, late-night teenage prank; our hotel room in Tucson featured a broken lamp, complete with upended lamp shade; and the place in Steamboat was previously occupied by a heavy smokers. Take it from someone who knows: Hotels are an important part of your vacation. While five-star accommodations aren’t necessary, it’s better to be safe and tetanus-free.
DO Scope Out B&Bs Bed and breakfasts are my new thing in vacation accommodations. In addition to being more comfortable than chain hotels (in my opinion), innkeepers are the premier resource for the best local eateries and attractions. A great way to save on B&Bs is by purchasing a discount gift card to BedandBreakfast.com through GiftCardGranny. By using the gift card to pay for your room, you’ll save up to 18-percent instantly.
DON’T Overlook Nearby Attractions When I visited San Francisco a couple years ago, I booked an incredible wine country tour for just $99. Similarly, I found time to tour Valley Forge while in Philadelphia for a fairly intense three-day wedding. Ultimately, it’s good to scope out attractions near your main destination since you might not find yourself in that area again.
DO Make a Budget for Food Like Holly, I forget my frugal food-buying habits when on vacation. A $90 bar tab? Absolutely! A $50 dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf containing imitation crab? Sure, why not? Despite these indiscretions, I’ve learned a careful balance between dining out and dining in is the key to staying on-budget. I like to try local eateries once per day, and stay satisfied during sightseeing with snacks from the supermarket. If your hotel (or B&B!) offers a complimentary breakfast, snag some fruit or dried cereal for easy munching on-the-go.
DON’T Plan Every Moment Ever need a vacation from your vacation? This happens when you over-plan your time off into a series of back-to-back activities that wreak havoc on both your budget and your mental stability. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, so don’t let the excitement of planning overshadow your need for actual R&R. Plus, you’ll want to leave room in your schedule for spontaneous events, like taking in a local concert or milling about the community’s farmer’s market.
DO Enjoy the Journey My yoga instructor always reminds us to value the journey toward a posture as much as arriving at the posture itself. The same principle can be applied to traveling. While I don’t expect you to be all Zen when your flight gets delayed and your kids become back-talking balls of energy, you should try to find some pleasure in the interim of arriving at your destination. For example, one of my favorite moments from a particularly hectic trip to the East Coast last year was calmly taking in the scenery as it whipped by my Amtrak window.
DON’T Pack the Kitchen Sink Disclaimer: I don’t have kids, so the luxury of packing light is available to me. I get that parents need to pack anything and everything to keep their kiddos occupied, entertained and otherwise well-behaved during travel. If you’re currently enjoying single or DINK status, avoid the “but I want options!” mentality and pack sparingly; you’ll dodge baggage fees or keep room in your car for the all-important seat recline.
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Kendal Perez is a frugal fashionista and bargain shopper who helps fellow shopaholics find hassle-free ways to save money. As the marketing coordinator for Kinoli Inc., site manager for a family of money-saving websites, Kendal has the resources to be an extreme couponer but prefers a less complicated approach to staying in-budget. Kendal has been quoted in such media outlets as CNN Money, FOX, ABC, NPR and Kiplinger Personal Finance. For savings tips and more information, visit HassleFreeSavings.com or follow her on Twitter.
Packing light is a real delight when traveling, and you can buy anything should the need arise. I don’t have kids either but Leo at Zen Habits does and he recently took 5 of them to Europe with a small backpack each, it can be done!
Pauline recently posted..The cost of freedom
We try to pack light, but we always bring too much stuff:)
This always hapens to us. Even more so now that we have kids. Somehow we end up packing for every possible scenario, but seem to forget the important things, like flip-flops and underwear! OOPS!
Jacob @ iheartbudgets recently posted..It’s Time To Cut The Cable and Home Phone
Have you tried NOT bringing next time what you didn’t use on that vacation? I downsized my clothing a lot using that technique.
Pauline recently posted..Damages finale and the rat race
I’ve heard that rates for flights change depending on when you buy them (as you noted). I never looked into how much the difference was? I have seen them change month-over-month quite drastically, but I’m wondering if booking at 2am makes a significant difference vs. booking at 2pm.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..Would You Work Abroad?
That’s a great question. I’ve definitely seen the most consistent deals on Tuesday afternoons. The 2am deal is an example of a specific purchase I made to LAX from Denver a couple years ago. The flights had been over $200 every time I looked, but when I searched during that off hour, I got them for $160.
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
Good advice on the flights! I always seem to never get lucky on these types of deals. I can vouch for staying away from cheap hotels. Nothing ruins a trip quite like staying at the Bates Motel (… from the movie Psycho for those who don’t get that reference).
My Money Design recently posted..Practicing Entrepreneurship the Fraidy-Cat Way – Using Your Job
Yeah, we stay far away from creepy hotels now that we have kids. We used to try a few of them before, just for the experience though.
Don’t forget to get off the beaten path! In so many places there are great places to eat and visit off the well-worn tourist paths that are way cheaper than the more frequented places!
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..How We Bought A $50K Duplex – Part 1
I agree! I love finding local places — we ate at the most amazing restaurant in St. Petersburg, FL. It was this tiny place with a scrumptious menu, and the chef came out and asked every table about their meal. So good!!
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
We learned to not plan a lot at all when we go on vacation. We’ll plan 1 big thing a day and then just go with the flow. As a kid I remember how packed my mom made our schedule and it made vacation seem like a nightmare. You had to run around every second and were exhausted by the end of the day.
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The fewer plans, the better in my book…at least when you are on a beach vacay. If you’re on a sightseeing tour, then you can’t help but plan, I suppose.
Absolutely agree on purchasing flights on Tuesday. I’ve read that you can also get good deals on Wednesday, but Tuesday truly is the best in my own experience of watching prices day in and day out.
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The don’t plan every moment part is so important – I’ve had to learn that the hard way. The other thing is -see what is free out there. I’ve visited beautiful parks and museums for free, and seen free shows – it just takes some planning and research!
Cat (aka mycanuckbuck) recently posted..Figuring out your big financial picture
Definitely! Finding free things to do is a great way to explore a new city. This site is a good resource for free things to do in specific areas – http://www.mrfreestuff.com/category/free-things-to-do-in/
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
Completely agree on the cheap hotels! Sure, you may save some money…but is it really worth the hassles you’ll probably encounter as a result? Lodging is one of the things I’m willing to spend more on (while not staying at The Ritz) because you generally get what you pay for. This, generally, allows you to enjoy your vacation much more.
Agreed. I get so caught up in paying the cheapest rates that I forget how important quality accommodations are. I think that’s also why I’m loving B&Bs right now — they’re usually cheaper than big hotel chains and they have so much charm!
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
Great point about opting for a better hotel or B&B. Since that is such a major part of your vacation, it’s just not worth trying to save too much money there. In addition to the room possibly not being as nice, you would also probably end up in a worse neighborhood. I’ve also learned that you shouldn’t be too spontaneous with not planning anything concrete with your vacation. Then you might end up wasting too much of your time trying to plan things on the fly and miss out on potential savings..
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That’s a good point about not planning enough activities. I think there’s definitely a balance between planning in advance for events so you’re not paying last-minute premiums, but also enjoying all the free things that can be experienced in the location you’re visiting, like museums or street shows.
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
We learned the hard way when younger not to save money on bad lodgings. Don’t stay offsite at Disney World — there’s a mountain of info out there on working around the high costs at the park.
We’re way past overscheduling — Frankie says relax. We just got back from the Caribbean and had more fun talking with the Jamaican cab driver and pool bartender than on any crowded costly excursion.
We always go to the islands in the low (read hot and hurricane season, usually late August) — it’s half price and you have the place to yourself. We watch the weather right up to last cancellation day and study the hurricane track charts on the internet.
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Great tips. Travelling with kids can be a PITA. Packing light is usually not an option. But most airlines will let you use your stroller/carseat with you to the terminal and then put it under the plane until you land. Free of charge.
femmefrugality recently posted..Is Your Money in the Stars?
You can save a lot on last-minute flights. Sometimes when airlines have unfilled seats they will price them at half-value or less just to fill them. I know a friend who got an international flight ticket for $500 with original value of $1400
Veronica @ Pelican on Money recently posted..5 Ways to Make Real Money Online with Pros and Cons
That’s awesome! I’m afraid I’m too much of a planner to try last-minute flight deals, though a friend of mine often travels to Hawaii using that method.
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
Great tips! I really enjoy scoping out new bed and breakfasts to stay in. I agree – don’t stay in a cheap hotel. Since you’re going to be spending such a big amount of time there, you want it to be nice (it is your vacation, after all). Plus, B&Bs offer you a piece of local history you definitely wouldn’t get at a cheap hotel. Also, you can chat with the people who work there to find great places to eat and sight-see that might be a bit off the beaten path, but are definitely worth checking out.
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I completely agree. My mom and I stayed at this darling B&B near Philly a couple years ago. We had to switch to a chain hotel midway through because the B&B booked a wedding party. The difference in service, atmosphere and charm was immediately felt by both of us — the chain hotel was fine, but definitely not as special.
Kendal recently posted..Not That I’m Excited…
We’re going to a bed and breakfast (maybe 2) on our honeymoon next year (knock on wood!). We ultimatley decided on a closer to home hm due to stress of money but we’ve been loving what we’ve found. And part of it may because I can bring leftover wedding cake as it’s just a car ride away…..
bogofdebt recently posted..Spending Recap 9/2-9/9
I agree, don’t go cheap and stay in cheap hotels. That has ruined a vacation of mine before!
Michelle recently posted..Spending, Life, Income and Food Updates…
We have stayed cheap, but it was usually on the way to our final destination. I don’t think we would ever stay cheaply at our main spot.
Wow. Nice tips. Thank you very much. This post is very much appreciated. Hope you’ll give us some more tips on other things.
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