Traveling can feel like a luxury that is beyond your budget, but there are some travel hacks that will help you get out of town without spending too much. If you are willing to do some research and be flexible with your plans, then you may be able to enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating trip. Keep reading for tips on how to travel cheap.
- Timing is everything. When it comes to flights and hotel bookings, there are peak travel days during the week and the year. Be willing to leave on a Wednesday instead of Friday after work and you can potentially save hundreds on plane tickets. The same goes for traveling during off-peak seasons. You could avoid high prices by traveling a week after spring break or New Year's Day. You can still enjoy popular destinations without paying top price for all your travel needs.
- Rent a whole home, apartment, or a room in someone’s home for lodging.If you haven't taken advantage of home rental sites yet, then you are missing out on a great way to travel cheap while possibly enjoying better accommodations than some budget hotels can provide. You will be amazed at how cheaply you can rent certain rooms or entire homes. In addition, if you opt for a place with a kitchen, you can potentially save money on eating out by cooking more of your own meals as you travel.
- Rent out your own home. Why not put your own home to good use while you are away and list it on a rental site? With self-check-in and hosting services that will help if your guest runs into any problems, you can cover some of the cost of your own travels and provide a fellow traveler with a nice place to stay. Everyone wins.
- Carpool. Another great tip for how to travel cheap is to make use of other sharing services. If you are traveling overseas, there are apps that let you catch a ride with drivers and carpool to destinations. It could potentially be cheaper than hiring a taxi or renting a vehicle. This type of travel also allows you to get travel & sightseeing tips from locals, and it doesn't hurt that carpooling is also environmentally friendly.
- Become a house sitter. There are people around the world who will offer you accommodations in exchange for looking after their house. You could save on housing and just have to worry about taking care of pets and watering a few plants. Plus, you get the benefit of having an entire house to yourself.
- Sign up for email alerts. Instead of spending time each day scouring travel sites and checking to see if prices have changed, automate the process and sign up for email alerts. There are multiple websites that will notify you when preferred flights become cheaper. You could take the worry out of wondering if you got the best deal.
Take advantage of these tips on traveling for less and make the most out of your budget. With so many opportunities to share lodging and services, you might even end up helping someone else out along the way. Do your research and get creative and you will be surprised to see just how inexpensively you are able to travel.
