With the world returning to normal, it’s time for you and your family to get that summer vacation in. But, like most, money is tight and many families are looking for new ways to save money while traveling. Here are some of the best and newest ways to save money while traveling that you probably haven’t thought of.
Be Flexible
Perhaps one of the best money-saving tips while traveling on vacation is simply being flexible. It’s not always easy, especially with a large family, but try to be willing to travel at different times and be willing to change a plan if need be. For example, you may want to travel to your destination at the end of July, but if you are willing to be flexible you could find a better travel deal at the beginning of August since most kids are going back to school and summer is beginning to die down. So, be willing to check out plane tickets, or other transportation needs on different dates to find the most affordable option. This also applies to other things like accommodations as well since vacation rentals will be much more expensive during peak times and only fractions of the cost during slow periods. Believe it or not, but slow periods can be just weeks after “peak times”.
Transportation
When traveling without your car another big money sink is in transportation. Most families simply choose the simplest yet one of the most expensive options which is renting a car from a car rental agency. However, there are other ways to travel without spending so much on a car rental. The next best thing is a car share. Not to be confused with carpooling, a car share is when you rent a car from an individual for a few hours or a couple of days at a time. Although you might be thinking to yourself “share my car, no way”, it can actually save people a lot of money. This can seriously save you money because you won’t have to pay for any necessary security deposits, and you won’t need to rent for days at a time. Instead, you can rent virtually any kind of car for a reasonable price and for just a few hours if needed.
Accommodation
Another major area where you can either spend a lot or save a lot is in accommodation of where you sleep for the night. Believe it or not, but Airbnb is no longer the cheapest option in most places. Airbnb has become so popular that most super hosts and popular spots can charge more than hotels in the same area. However, there are other platforms that are still cheaper than hotels and Airbnb. For instance, some platforms find you hosts that offer camping spots on private property with the most amenities you could ever need. Some will find hostels for you to stay in or even tiny homes that are often cheaper per night than most Airbnb’s or hotels. Another more radical option to consider is something like couch surfing or even working on a farm in exchange for free food and a place to sleep for the night. Most of the time small-time organic farms only require a few hours of work per day and will have a lot of knowledge about the local area.
Think Locally
Speaking of the locals, thinking locally is also one of the best ways to save money and avoid blowing out your wallet. If you’re in a popular vacation spot, try to talk with locals who know where cost-effective restaurants and destinations are. Don’t get tricked into paying tourist prices when there may be options just around the corner that are a fraction of the price and probably better anyway.
If you are planning to travel to Atlanta for instance, don’t forget to check out local listings or recommendations of the most beautiful and best hotels in Atlanta.
