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Editor’s Note
This is a recurring article that is updated regularly with new information.
“How can I travel without breaking the bank?” is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive at TPG.
There’s no question that travel is expensive right now, as prices have risen dramatically over the past few years and inflation continues to strain the pocketbook.
Demand has been through the roof. Inflation and correspondingly high hotel, rental car and airline ticket costs have many would-be travelers throwing up their hands in frustration. Dynamic pricing and fees for things that used to be free (hello, resort fees) don’t help.
However, there are still many ways to save. In addition to utilizing points and miles from their accounts to book hotels and airfare, TPGers have numerous <a ll be surprised how often moving the dates can save you big bucks. I love using Google Flights to find the cheapest days to travel.
Here’s an example from Google Flights for a search from New York to San Francisco. As you can see from the date grid, the price difference can be in the hundreds by tweaking the dates.
Fly on weekdays
Flexibility on which days you fly is one of the keys to securing the best airfare prices. Leisure travelers most commonly book flights on Fridays or weekends, while many business travelers fly on Fridays, Sundays or Mondays. So, the midweek days — Tuesday and Wednesday — typically have lower demand and are often the best days to travel for lower prices.
Book vacation packages
Airlines that bundle airfare and hotels as vacation packages can offer better deals thanks to their vast buying power and inventory. These bundles can offer savings of up to 40% off. Savings on business-class plane tickets and high-end hotels can offer some of the best deals.
Also, purchasing directly from the airline gives you a one-stop shopping experience. You can even add a car and activities to your trip at the same time. Plus, you’ll often be able to take advantage of special sales and offers for bonus points and miles.
Use a price monitoring tool
Airline fare-monitoring sites, such as Google Flights, send notifications when the best and lowest prices for your trip become available. Set up as many combinations as you’re considering, including different departure and return dates, so that you can get alerts for all possible fare reductions.
Be flexible on the destination
If you’re not locked into a vacation location (like you would be for a destination wedding or family reunion), try an alternative to find better prices. For example, consider subbing Quebec City in for Paris if you want old-world charm. For scuba diving enthusiasts, skip the expensive long-haul flight to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef and instead head to the second-largest barrier reef in the world in easy-to-access Belize.
To that end, you can also use Google Flights Explore, which lets you plug in your home airport and then use an interactive map to see where you can fly for the lowest price. It’s a fun way to find a good deal if you don’t have a location in mind.
Hold your deal
If you see a great deal but are not yet ready to book, hold it.
For example, Hopper’s Price Freeze allows you to lock in the price of a flight for up to seven days, giving you more time to finalize plans before booking. Know, though, that Hopper does charge a service fee for this feature.
Some airlines will also let you hold flights for a small fee. (Remember that all U.S. airlines, by law, allow you to hold and cancel a flight booking within 24 hours without penalty as long as you book more than seven days in advance.)
<a s a handy feature when using either cash or points and miles.
Reprice your flights and hotels
As long as you’ve booked a hotel, car or flight that can be canceled without penalty, you should make it part of your weekly routine to check for price drops. If you find a lower price, rebook your trip or receive a trip credit from the airline. Just be aware that this may not work for basic economy tickets.
You can apply these same rebooking strategies with points to make dynamic pricing work in your favor for hotel stays, allowing you to save on award nights.
Consider alternative airports
With prices high, now is the time to be flexible and check all nearby airports for the best deals. For example, Houston and Chicago have two airports, while the New York City area has three, including Newark Liberty <a t the best redemption in the world, it was better than shelling out all that cash. Most of those SkyMiles came from credit card spending on my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
There are many strategies for getting the most out of your credit card. You’ll generally get the most value when redeeming for premium cabin flights or <a s not the only membership that offers these discounts: If you're a member of AAA, have a Costco membership, are a veteran or work for a large company with a car rental discount code, it doesn't hurt to check if these are available to you. You might be eligible for discount codes you didn't even know about.
Check credit card merchant offers
Before booking your trip, review the special merchant offers on your credit cards. Multiple issuers offer this option (although American Express is a leader in the category).
Every program works similarly: Log in to your card account online or through your banking app, review the offers available to you, add the ones you want and make a qualifying purchase using the card for which the offer is registered.
There are no promo codes to enter at online checkout or coupons to print for use at the register. There are likely offers you can activate that will provide discounts on dining, gas and entertainment.
Take advantage of free days at national parks
Every year, the U.S. National Park Service sets aside several days when entry is completely free; options include Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, the first day of National Park Week in April, National Public Lands Day in September and Veterans Day in November.
Visiting a national park on one of the NPS’ free-entry days can save you up to $35 per vehicle at some of the <a t pay for it with points.
However, just beyond the park, there’s probably a hotel you can book with points. For example, you could stay at the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone in Montana using IHG One Rewards points; the SpringHill Suites just outside Zion National Park is a great property if you have Marriott Bonvoy points to spend.
Get discounted gas at Shell through the Fuel Rewards app
At TPG, we love to stack savings. The Shell Fuel Rewards app is a great way to stack up the discounts.
You can link it to other loyalty programs — including American Airlines AAdvantage, Giant Choice Rewards, Stop & Shop Go Rewards, Advance Auto Parts Advance Rewards and more — to receive extra discounts. Also, if you purchase through Fuel Rewards, link to partner retailers such as Petco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Office Depot/OfficeMax and many others to save even more.
Don’t forget to use a credit card that gives bonus points or discounts at gas stations for even more savings. TPG recommends the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which offers 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at amazon.com checkout).
Save on theater tickets in New York and London
Check TodayTix for cheap Broadway and West End tickets if traveling to New York City or London.
The TodayTix app offers discounted tickets to various shows. Prices vary, but most of the top shows currently playing are available on the site and the app.
While not all shows are hugely discounted, TodayTix often runs no-fee promotions. Keep in mind that for some shows, you won’t be able to choose your precise ticket location. Instead, you will pick a section you’d like to sit in.
Save on entrance fees with Bank of America
Bank of America cardholders can enjoy free general admission to more than 225 cultural institutions in dozens of U.S. cities on the first weekend of every month just by showing their cards. Another way to obtain free museum admission is through a library “lending ticket” program that allows libraries to lend museum passes for a set period.
Also, check if your local museum’s membership includes ROAM (a reciprocity program available across North America). It’s an easy way to get maximum value from a regional (and usually less expensive) membership.
Take a free walking tour
Look online for options before traveling, and sign up in advance if necessary. Then, simply show up with comfortable shoes and enjoy your complimentary tour.
Although tipping is suggested, you’ll spend much less, even after generously tipping your guide, than you would with a standard tour option. You will likely also meet other like-minded travelers, which can be welcome if you’re traveling alone or looking to make new friends.
If you’re interested in seeing what’s available on your next trip, Google the city you’ll visit and the phrase “free walking tour” to see what comes up.
Bottom line
Spending a small amount of time researching the best ways to travel on a budget can easily make a dream trip, such as a Paris vacation, more attainable.
It’s possible to take an excellent vacation on a budget. You just need to put in the time to plan your trip, budget your expenses, download a virtual wallet of money-saving apps and consider using points and miles to decrease your out-of-pocket costs.
Some of our top budget travel tips include shopping around, signing up for deal alerts through websites like TPG and using points and miles. Opening a credit card or two for the welcome bonus, once or twice every few years, could make your trips even more affordable. And don’t forget to sign up for our daily newsletter, where we teach you how to travel better for less.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities