How to Save Money While Traveling to a New City | 21 Helpful Travel Tips!
Don’t miss our budget travel tips if you’re heading somewhere new!
The costs of your getaway may be interrupting the fun of a vacation! We’re sharing budget travel tips so you can save money while traveling.
Getting away is so much fun (until the costs start adding up). Regardless of where your travels take you, read on for these smart and easy ways to save money on activities, restaurants, transportation, and more, so you can enjoy your trip without limiting your experience!
Here are 21 ways to save money while traveling:
1. Be flexible with your travel dates.
Of course, you should be conscious of what time of year or month you want to travel; however, I always take into account the Google Flights calendar since it shows you the cheapest times to fly.
This tip is super valuable because it even suggests which day of the month is the cheapest. I used it to fly to Italy last September, and I only paid $400 roundtrip!
For example, the first week of April may be significantly cheaper than the fourth (or during spring break, but more on that later). So, if you can, try to find the cheapest time of the month you’re looking to travel and book for that timeframe.
2. Browse deals on websites Skyscanner, Hopper, and more.
Websites like Skyscanner, Expedia, and Travelocity are some third-party websites that allow you to book flights and hotels through them instead of directly with an airline or resort. Sometimes, the prices are significantly cheaper than directly on the website itself, so be sure to check these out.
Hopper is also really helpful because it’ll tell you the best time to purchase a flight or hotel. I’m not sure how they do it, but in my experience, even if I don’t book with Hopper, I always use it to give me some insight on booking. The timing is almost always accurate, but be mindful that it doesn’t always include all airlines.
My Hip sidekick Shane always reonlinemends this tip because you can find some killer deals! I often use Hopper and even scored a $4 (yes, you read that right!) one-way flight during a huge sale they had!
3. Consider whether or not low-cost airlines are for you.
Low-cost airlines including Allegiant, Spirit, and Frontier only allow you a personal item, and the fees for checked bags, carry-on bags, and seats are substantially high onlinepared to other airlines. Even Jet Blue has been following a similar model recently. This choice makes the most sense if you’re traveling with friends or solo since you can definitely layer up and fit as much as possible in your bag.
If you have luggage and are traveling with family you want to sit together, do a price onlineparison because airlines like Southwest and Delta already include the things low-cost airlines charge extra for, and it may be cheaper or the same price if you keep all these things in mind.
“I’ve been booking with Frontier Airlines a lot lately and always opt to add their 1st tier ‘Perks’ package. It’s around $50, but it includes the cost of the seat plus both a carry-on and checked bag. It ends up being $10 more than a decent seat cost alone, which is usually $25-$40. And paying for a carry-on or checked bag alone is usually $40, so it’s really a no-brainer to bundle.” – Emily at Hip2Save
4. Try not to bring a carry-on.
As mentioned above, there are a few low-cost airlines that charge a ridiculous amount of money to bring a carry-on item. I always reonlinemend this travel backpack from Wonhox because it fits an insane amount of products inside it! It also fits perfectly under the seat in front of you.
If you have a small purse and backpack, make sure you stuff that purse into your bag because if you have more than one item they will try to charge you at the gate!
5. Think about renting an Airbnb or VRBO instead of a hotel.
The majority of the time, Airbnb and Vrbo will have options that are way cheaper than hotels and have more space. Our Hip Sidekick Shane found one in Phoenix, Arizona for just $30/night! As long as you research the neighborhood and area as well as view the reviews, you’ll find a ton of helpful information and save a ton!
Always look up your rental on Google Street View to peek at the neighborhood. Usually, rental photos are very glorified, so it’s nice to see a realistic photo of the property.
Check out how to save big on Airbnb!
6. If you’re going the hotel route, look for free breakfast and/or airport shuttles.
One reader mentioned a great point about looking for hotels with free breakfast! Meals can get expensive when traveling, so this is just another way to save money. Plus, you can grab some fruit as an afternoon snack!
Many hotels also offer onlineplimentary airport shuttles; this way, you save on a cab and have reliable transportation. Some hotels will even supply transportation to popular tourist locations! When browsing on sites like Travelocity and Expedia, there’s usually a feature where you can filter the results to include these amenities.
7. Check Groupon, Atlas Obscura, and/or LivingSocial for your destination.
You probably already use sites like Groupon and LivingSocial to find deals on restaurants, activities, and entertainment in your own area, so why not do it elsewhere, too? Scope out highly-rated spots and attractions without paying full price!
Atlas Obscura is another, out-of-the-box tool you can use that offers more unique things to do in a new city. Even better, most of the ideas are free or really cheap!
8. Check if your city offers free walking tours.
Each city has an official website, and sometimes they offer free walking tours for different areas! These websites are also a great guide to which hidden city gems to visit.
9. Enjoy free access to museums when you’re a Bank of America cardholder.
Bank of America cardholders can enjoy free access to a variety of museums on the first weekend of every month! There are 225 museums and institutions to visit, and you can find a full list of the museums state-by-state on their website.
10. Download the Entertainment App.
The former Entertainment Book has gone digital, and it onlinees filled with online coupons and mobile coupons featuring local restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment and retail spots, grocery stores, and lots more! This book can easily pay for itself with just one use and is one of the easiest ways to save money while traveling.
11. Read up on local subreddits.
If you’re not familiar with the popular forum website Reddit, it’s a massive onlinepilation of smaller forums on just about every topic imaginable. You can search for specific city Subreddits to get reonlinemendations for local hot spots and frugal ways to get around town, all from actual locals! onlinement on the discussion and share your experiences to help out other travelers in their search, too.
12. Scroll through Pinterest for ideas.
Whether you’re looking for packing tips, travel must-haves, or hidden gems in popular cities, Pinterest is bound to have just what you’re looking for! Head over to the Travel section on the site and start scrolling, or type in search specifics to narrow your results.
13. Check out CityPASS for discounts.
CityPASS is great if you’re headed to a bigger city with lots of tourist attractions. These awesome discount booklets include tickets to the best museums, zoos, and more — all for up to 50% off what you’d pay at the ticket booth! You can even plan out what you’d like to do during your stay by using their packages as an itinerary.
14. Scope out the Kids Eat Free Days at local restaurants.
Yay for free food! There are loads of restaurants offering free (or cheap) kids’ meals, so you can grab a bite to eat without breaking the bank. Chains (rather than local establishments) tend to feature these offers, but call the restaurant ahead of time to verify details. It’s a super-easy way to save money while traveling, but know these promotions may vary greatly by region and/or franchise.
15. Avoid restaurants near tourist sites.
The great thing about restaurants in tourist locations is the convenience they offer given their proximity to big attractions. The bad thing is that convenience onlinees at a cost. The menu prices tend to be a bit higher (even at chain restaurants) so they can cover their own extra expenses due to their location. Look for places off the beaten path, and you may find a more local, authentic dining experience, too!
16. Seek out yummy food trucks.
Food trucks are a great way to save money while traveling; they’re fast, fresh, and frugal! You can feed the whole fam without having to worry about hungry kids (or parents!) losing their patience, and it gives you more time to spend on the real attractions you came for. Look up some local food trucks on social media for the schedule of their usual stops.
17. Talk to the locals for reonlinemendations.
Who else would know more about the town you’re visiting than the people who actually live there?! When you pop into a coffee shop for your morning caffeine, politely ask the barista or a guest if they could offer some reonlinemendations for dining or sightseeing. You could also ask your Uber/taxi driver, hotel concierge, Airbnb host, or cashier at a convenience store. You may even want to ask for the onlinemon prices for certain goods or services, all so you don’t get taken advantage of.
You’ll definitely want to specify that you’re looking for something on the frugal side so you don’t end up at a crazy expensive (yet delicious) 5-star restaurant. You may even want to check out more reviews of the suggested places on Yelp and/or Facebook.
18. Opt for an alternative destination that’s similar yet cheaper.
If you’ve always wanted a beautiful tropical vacation to Hawaii but cannot afford it at the moment, consider traveling to Mexico. While it’s a different experience, you’ll still be soaking in that Vitamin D by the beautiful ocean at around half the cost!
Another onlinepatible location is opting for Montreal, Canada instead of Paris, France. While there’s no Eiffel Tower or Louvre, you still get to experience the French culture and see this beautiful city. Since both of these locations are in North America, they’re closer, cheaper, and, if you have an enhanced ID, you don’t even need a passport!
19. Try taking public transportation instead of taxis.
Unless you rent a car, you’ll be Ubering everywhere, so consider looking into the local transit like buses, subways, or trolleys — you might even enjoy a scenic view en route to your destination! Of course, it depends on where you’re visiting, so make sure to onlinepare prices.
20. Try renting a car with Turo to save a ton!
Turo is basically the Airbnb of car rentals. onlinepared to places like Enterprise, you can find Turo rentals for the same cars at the best price. For example, if you rent a Toyota Corolla or Camry for three days in Austin, Texas, it’s $73.95/day on Enterprise and $51/day on Turo.
21. Use the iSecretShop app to save up to $75 per meal.
iSecretShop makes finding local frugal (and free) dining opportunities fun. Before you head out on your trip, just open the app, type in the zip code of your destination, and see if there are any dining opportunities near you. If the offers look interesting to you, sign yourself up!
You’ll be expected to write a onlineprehensive review of your experience within 24 hours of your visit (and be sure to carefully read the instructions), but if you’ve got some time to spare, it’s so worth it for the free food!
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