For people who love to travel, budgeting is a constant necessity. Making sure you can fit in all the adventure and excitement that you’re seeking is worth taking the time to figure out what the best techniques are to travel in a cost effective way. Here is some advice on how to get the most for your money when traveling.
Flights
The New York Times’ expert budget travel writer, Elaine Glusac gave some of her top tips as the resident “Frugal Traveler” in a recent podcast. Let’s break it down.
For those looking for a pre-end-of-year vacation, Gluscac advises traveling in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Airports are quieter, and flights are slightly more affordable, plus it’s off-season for many destinations, so grab your winter coat and pack your carry-on! Glusac advises booking flights at least six weeks prior to your trip, and that booking early is always a good practice. Glusac also reveals she never books a ticket that isn’t refundable or can’t be exchanged for booking credits. That way if she books early and prices drop down the line, she can cancel her flight and rebook using credits.
NYT recommends Google Flights to track flight deals, and for those who have more flexible schedules, to play around with their itinerary. Does leaving a day earlier or later offer you a cheaper flight? Also recommended is Going.com, a site that documents deals at your favorite airports.
Glusac says today airfare pricing is “way more dynamic and sophisticated than it used to be,” so keeping different flight search tools under your belt is best practice.
Accommodations
Glusac says booking accommodations mid-week and off-season offers the lowest prices. But if you’re still looking to book during busier travel seasons, she recommends signing up for hotel and resort newsletters to get access to special deals. For Airbnb and Vrbo, reaching out to hosts and negotiating a discount can work wonders.
Other tips
Frequent travelers often rely on travel agents to get them special perks during their trips. Whether it be an upgraded room or special experience, travel agents often work on commission and don’t always require fees to get you elevated services during your stays.
Pack light: don’t pay the extra fees for checked luggage. By bringing only essential clothes that you can mix and match, and fit into a carry on bag, you’ll also be able to get in an out of the airport faster.
Conde Nast Traveler, along with many travel experts, advise that budget travelers talk to locals for recommendations and experiences that are more affordable. While many travelers can get wrapped up in their checklist itineraries, some of a destination’s true gems can be discovered without breaking the bank. Ask your waiter, taxi driver, or a hotel employee about the best places to eat, drink, and hang out in their hometown.
Bon Voyage!
