5 easy tips to help you actually save money for travel

In 2016, I took my first international trip as an adult to Thailand and it was the most eye-opening experience. I heard how expensive the flights to Thailand were, but once you landed that the area was cheaper. I found flights for $700 round-trip, which everyone was shocked. After that trip, I went to over 10 plus countries and dozens of local trips and travel is affordable. We have this image in our heads that luxury travel is out of reach and unattainable.

In this article, I will be talking about how you can save money to travel.

The number one question I used to get was how much do you make though. I was making about $60,000 a year before taxes when I took my first international trip. I think the most important thing about travel is deciding it’s a priority for you. You have to make the decision that you want to give up the daily coffee and go a couple of times a week.

Here are a couple of things that have helped me save money through the years:

Budget

Would this article be about money if we didn’t talk about the elephant in the room? Yes, you want to budget and dedicate money to want you want to do. Remember a budget does not limit you, but instead, it helps you allocate your funds. Budgeting allows you to know how your money is working for you.

Eat at home

In 2018 when Robin and I started budgeting monthly, we went through our statement and we spent over $1,000 eating out. We could book flights for something we were throwing down the toilet. Don’t get me wrong because I love spending money on experiences. Rather than going out all the time, we decided we would do it once a week. This allowed us to create at-home dates, come up with new recipes and most importantly, we could save that extra cash to spoil ourselves on vacation. This includes your pumpkin spice latte sis.

Travel off-season

It’s much more expensive to travel mid-summer than right before fall or early fall. Traveling off-season has multiple perks! The accommodations will be cheaper and you’ll be able to see the sights without worrying about everyone in your photos. The best way to do this is to arrive the week before the slow season, so you can experience some seasonal events or restaurants. You can even research the area and find when the slower season is.

Research

Saving money for travel will take research time. You’ll have to look up multiple different things to ensure you get the best deal. Here are a couple of apps to check out:

• Hopper: to see flight estimates
• Airbnb: vacation rentals may be alternative to hotels. I would highly suggest these if you’re traveling to Europe
• Expedia: you can earn points, compare flights, & bundle travel

Group Trip

In the last couple of years, I’ve been able to stay in villas because I got a couple of friends together to go on the trip. This is a great option because you can also save money by cooking some of your meals. Of course, group trips take a bit more organization, but you can split private excursions & housing. You’ll have to put your organized friend on this!