Ways to Save Money While Traveling

Last week, we talked about how to save money before your vacation, and how to find the cheap tickets in order to save more for your vacation.  Well, what about how to save money WHILE on vacation?  Just because you are on vacation, doesn't mean you have to spend every nickel and dime, and have to break your bank.  Here are a few things you can do, to save money while on vacation.

First, travel in OFF SEASONS…don't travel during holidays.  This is the biggest mistake people can make while traveling.  If you don't have kids, you have to remember when Spring break is, because traveling to Florida or Disneyland during Spring Break, is not the most economical choice for your budget.  You can save a lot of money, because high travel places will increase their restaurant prices and their souvenir shops, as people will pay the money. 

Try not to buy your drinks at the bar or the restaurant.  I know this can silly at first, but sometimes parks or places allow drinking  in public.  Go to the corner mart and buy a six pack of beer for the same price as one at the bar!  This will help save quite a bit of money during vacation.  Drinking before you go out as well can help save the budget too, this way you feel good but not spending as much during the night.  If you have to buy a drink at the bar, buy one and drink it over a couple of hours. 

Plan a daily budget for each person in your travel group.  Plan out each day and where you will be going and who needs how much (adults might need a bigger budget than kids).  This includes tickets to parks, or museums and for food if you plan on eating out.  I have done this for each trip I take and it helps me budge significantly.  If I have extra money from one day, then I can add it on to my next day, and so on.  I usually end up coming home with money this way.  It's easy to stick to a goal that is right in front of you. 

Minimize buying things.  It is as simple as that.  Instead of buying souvenirs and things to pack your suitcase with, bring home memories and pictures.  If you have to buy that one thing, buy something small, something unique that you will have room for in your suitcase that won't weigh it down. 

If you can, don't rent a car!  Walk or take as much public transportation as you can.  Getting a hotel more in the center of the town you are visiting might be a little bit more, but you could save more in transportation by being able to walk everywhere you need.  If you do have to rent a car, rent a car for only the days that you might need, plan your trip to have the farther things align with your car rental.

There are many ways to save money while traveling and before you travel.  A common misconception is that traveling is very expensive but it really doesn't have to be.  You have to save (of course) but you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars even during your trip.  Remember, traveling can be fun AND in your budget!

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