My husband and I both love to travel. But now that our family has grown to five, we’ve found that hotels, restaurants, and museums add up to a lot of value. very Quickly. I know I’m not the only one who wants to explore cool places without spending my entire paycheck. That’s it! We asked experienced travelers for their best budget tips…
transportation
Photo credit: Joanna Goddard
“One of the biggest ways I’ve saved money on travel is by planning around the flight rather than the destination. If you’re flexible about where you go, you can find flights hundreds of dollars cheaper, freeing up more space in your budget for experiences.” — sophia lopez
“Visiting a place, in front One of their big holidays. For example, instead of visiting Mexico City for the Day of the Dead, go a week or two in advance. That way, flights, hotels, and restaurants will be cheaper and less crowded. ” — samantha clarke
“When you arrive at your destination, try to walk as much as possible. Not only will you save money on transportation, but I’ve found some of my favorite cafes, observation decks, and neighborhoods just by walking around instead of taking a taxi or subway.” — sophia lopez
Eating and drinking
photo credit ali label
“My road trip essentials are: giant stanley flask. I make my coffee before I leave the house, which prevents me from buying an expensive cappuccino. The thermos works so well that the coffee is still warm the next day. ” — diana moss
“The best restaurant leks, especially the ones that don’t cost an arm and a leg, often come from locals. So when I’m at a wine bar, vintage shop, or bookstore, I try to strike up a conversation with the people who work there. I want to know the neighborhood places they love, not the fancy, expensive Instagram spots you see in travel guides.” ali label
“If you’re staying in a vacation rental for a week, create a lunch routine by saying your lunch will be the same thing every day, like a sandwich, chips, or fruit. This will save you money on three fronts. This classic onion headlinecooking effort (even a second grader can make a sandwich), and of course money. ” — miranda featherstone
activity
photo credit Janelle Sanchez
“If you’re traveling with young kids, check out your local library’s calendar. Many offer fun activities throughout the week, plus free snacks, clean bathrooms, and air conditioning. Libraries are also a great place to chat with local parents and find out about other cool (and free) parks and places worth visiting.” — Janelle Sanchez
stay
photo of lena’s house Written by Joanna
Joanna’s house photos by Lena
“My family and I love finding places to stay. home exchange (Yes, like in the movies) holiday). We booked a luxury apartment in San Francisco. At our cozy home in Bend, Oregon, we took care of the cats and watered the garden. All sunny homes in Santa Barbara are also free. There’s a $235 annual fee, but given modern hotel and Airbnb prices, it pays for itself in one night’s stay in a home swap. ” — Marian Schembari
“Except with friends, we take the approach of exchanging same houses. Sometimes we exchange at the same time, but not always. For example: my friend lena’s My family lives in a nice house (with chickens in the backyard!) in San Francisco, and my dad and I were staying there this New Year while visiting relatives. Then a few weeks ago, we were upstate and Lena and her family were staying at a house in Brooklyn. The accommodations were cozy, comfortable, and enjoyable on both occasions. The total amount was…zero dollars. ” — joanna goddard
camp
“One of the best ways to travel cheap is to camp for free on public land. I use the following tools to find spots. Bureau of Land Management and free campsite. Some of my favorite places I’ve been to are places where you can camp for free. ” — Elaina Jindra
What would you add? I’d love to hear more ideas!
PS A genius way to choose a vacation rental when traveling with kids and 6 tips for planning the best vacation.
(Top photo samantha clarkeby Ryan Kelman. )
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
