Traveling is fun, but it’s a lot more fun when you know how to travel hack the system. Knowing little ways to save money, time, or how to extend your travel time is priceless. To help you get more out of your travel here are some great travel hacks for 2019 and 2020 worth using.
Top Hacks For Traveling In 2019 and 2020
1. Get A Travel Card
If you plan on doing any kind of traveling, you should be considering getting a travel credit card if you don’t already have one. Although you may already have a credit card, having a travel credit card can possibly save you even more money.
With a travel card, you can save money anytime you book flights if your card is associated with an airline. Travel cards also allow you to earn points you can later redeem for things like airline tickets or even cash. On top of earning points, there are times when you are even given discounts on purchases like rental cars.
2. Use Your Weekends
Often anytime we think of travel we picture some tropical island getaway. In reality, it only takes a couple days to feel refreshed so consider taking a more local trip over the weekend.
By taking a weekend trip you won’t have to take as many days off from work. Plus by taking a three-day vacation, you’ll be able to travel more while saving money.
3. Travel Off-Season
One of the best ways to save money when traveling is by travel on the off-season. By traveling during the off-season you won’t have to put up with the crowds of other tourists. Plus, you’ll be able to save a lot more money on lodging when you book in the slow season.
Traveling in the off-season can also get you more personalized service. With fewer people making demands, you’ll be able to get the attention and service that you expect.
4. Skip The Hotel
If you really want to save money, then consider ditching the hotel for a more affordable room with Airbnb. Booking with Airbnb will give you a lot more options for sleeping arraignments than a traditional hotel.
You have the option of shopping around and finding that perfect location for staying while you travel. If you need more room like a suite, Airbnb lets you rent entire homes, so you’ll have plenty of space.
5. Piggyback Off Holidays
When holidays come around we often get some time off from our jobs to celebrate. A great way to extend your time off so you can travel is by taking off time around holidays.
Sometimes you can extend your time off a lot further when the holidays are near a weekend. You can extend that time off by using your vacation time either before or after the holiday.
6. Public Transportation
If you need to get around there are a few ways to do so and save money in the process. Whenever possible you should try to use the available public transportation. Not only will you learn more about the area and the culture but it usually pretty cheap.
Taking the bus, subway, or tram is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area. Plus you’ll get to experience more of what it’s like to be a local.
7. Extended Stopovers
The next time that you book a round-trip flight, consider booking one with an extended stopover. You can stop in a new area along the way towards your destination for an extended time with a few airlines. This can allow you to explore a whole different area other than your destination.
There are a few airlines that offer a stopover program at no additional charge. There are even programs that let you layover for up to seven days. This is a great travel hack to consider if you have the time.
8. Priority Pass
If you plan to fly or are a serious traveler and don’t already have a Priority Pass it’s not too late. There are several travel credit cards that come with the Priority Pass access. With the Priority Pass, you’ll have access to airport lounges where you can rest and get away from the crowds.
Credits: Priority PassThe benefits are good in most airports internationally, however, there are some exceptions. It’s always a good idea to check your benefits with the airports that you plan on traveling to. This way you can make sure the benefits will work for you when you travel.
9. Book Early
It may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning that you should book your tickets at least three weeks in advance. Ticket prices will go up as you get closer to the departure date. It also makes a difference on what days you book your tickets. Online studies have shown the best day to book a flight is on a Tuesday at around 3 pm for the lowest prices.
You will want to remember to also be flexible in booking your flights. If you are willing to choose some different dates and times for your flights, you can end up saving hundreds. Another option is to book two one way tickets instead of a round-trip ticket. You can even book with different airlines if it means it’s saving you money on booking your trip.
10. Eat Inexpensively
When it comes to traveling a large portion of the costs end up going to food and eating out. You can actually save a good amount of money if you know how to eat when traveling. If at all possible, cook your own food that you buy from a local farmers market to save money. Not only are you saving money but you are helping support the locals in the area.
If you do choose to eat out, do so for breakfast and lunch and avoid eating out for dinner. Traditionally breakfast is fairly inexpensive at most eateries, so this should be your big meal of the day. For lunch, you can often find nice restaurants offering lunch specials. A lot of times the lunch specials are the same items on the dinner menu just a slightly smaller portion. The lunch special is usually a lot less expensive than the dinner-sized portion. Then for dinner, you can either order a lunch special to-go for later or go by a farmers market. If you plan on eating out, by following these tips you can really stretch your travel budget.
