12 Travel Tips to Save Money: Real Advice from Fellow Travelers
Are you looking to make your travel budget stretch further? Discover a wealth of money-saving strategies gathered from seasoned globetrotters and industry experts. This article presents practical, field-tested advice to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing costs.
- Opt for Apartment Rentals Over Hotels
- Use Google Flights Explore for Deals
- Fly Midweek to Slash Business Travel Costs
- Book Long Layovers for City Exploration
- Leverage ChatGPT for Flight Comparisons
- Negotiate Accommodation Rates and Volunteer
- Visit Galápagos During Shoulder Season
- Set Alerts to Rebook Discounted Flights
- Cook Local or Eat Street Food
- Book Early for Long-Stay Discounts
- Use Public Transportation to Save Money
- Book Local Providers for Luxury Services
Opt for Apartment Rentals Over Hotels
One of my best travel hacks? Never book a hotel without checking for apartment-style listings on trusted short-stay platforms—especially if I’ll be somewhere for more than three nights. On a recent trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, I was looking at paying nearly $300 per night for a decent hotel. Instead, I found a furnished one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, laundry, and lake view for under $150 per night. Not only did it save me over $1,000 across the trip, but I also saved on food by cooking half my meals. More comfort, more autonomy, less cost. It’s an easy win I now default to every time I travel. If you’re used to hotels, this switch is game-changing. It turns travel into something that feels more like living—without the premium price tag.
John Mac
Serial Entrepreneur, UNIBATT
Use Google Flights Explore for Deals
One of my favorite travel tips is to use the “Explore” feature on Google Flights, especially if you’re flexible about where you want to go. This tool lets you see a map of destinations with the lowest fares from your departure city, making it easy to spot great deals. You can set filters for dates, budget, and type of trip, like nature or city escapes. I’ve found incredible deals—like round-trip flights to Europe and Asia—simply by choosing the cheapest option that looked interesting. If you’re not picky about your destination, this is a smart way to travel more while spending less.
Evan McCarthy
President and CEO, SportingSmiles
Fly Midweek to Slash Business Travel Costs
Flying midweek has saved us thousands in business travel expenses over the years, and it’s a strategy I recommend to anyone looking to cut costs, whether for work or vacation. Airlines tend to lower fares early in the week, with Tuesday and especially Wednesday offering the best deals. By simply shifting our departure and return dates away from peak travel days like Monday and Friday, we’ve consistently reduced ticket prices across our team.
This tactic became even more practical as remote and hybrid work became the norm. Most clients and colleagues are now more flexible with scheduling, so there’s less pressure to stick to traditional travel timelines. The savings multiply quickly when you’re booking multiple team members, and the quieter midweek airports make for a faster, less stressful travel experience.
It’s a simple adjustment that’s had a major impact on our travel budget, and one that’s easy for any business or family to implement.
Ben Lamarche
General Manager, Lock Search Group
Book Long Layovers for City Exploration
As we have offices in different countries, I travel quite a bit, and one money-saving tip that has paid off for me is booking flights with long layovers.
Instead of aiming for the quickest route, I look for connections that offer an 8-12 hour stop in a city I’ve always wanted to see. I usually pick layovers that allow me to explore for a few hours without needing a hotel.
This strategy has saved me hundreds, sometimes even a thousand dollars or more, on a single round trip compared to direct flights or those with short connections.
For example, on a recent trip to our London office from India, booking a flight with a 10-hour layover in Istanbul cost me about $400 less than the direct option. I got to explore a new city, grab some local food, and stretch my legs, all without the added expense of an extra flight or a hotel room.
Shantanu Pandey
Founder & CEO, Tenet
Leverage ChatGPT for Flight Comparisons
One travel tip that’s saved me a good chunk of change? Using ChatGPT to help search for flights out of Panama City (ECP). I started doing this when I was planning a trip and didn’t have time to dig through every travel site.
Instead of bouncing between tabs for Google Flights, Hopper, Kayak, and all the rest, I just asked ChatGPT to compare options for me, including nearby airports and flexible dates. It pulled together the cheapest routes, layover times, and even let me know which days were best to fly.
On one trip, I saved over $250 by shifting my departure by just two days and flying out of Pensacola instead of ECP—something I probably wouldn’t have caught on my own.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Especially if you’re short on time or trying to plan around family schedules. Just make sure you give it clear information: dates, flexibility, departure city, and budget. It’s not booking it for you, but it’s like having a super fast travel buddy who can scan the whole internet in seconds.
Christopher Farley
Owner, Flippin’ Awesome Adventures
Negotiate Accommodation Rates and Volunteer
Being a low-cost backpacker means that I’m always looking for ways to save money. Where I have saved the most has always been in accommodation. There are two main ways to save lots of money:
1. Don’t book a hotel for the total of your stay; book one or maximum two nights and then extend your stay once there. In many countries in the world, guesthouses and hostels are managed by the owners, so you can negotiate up to 50% off the prices shown online.
2. Do some volunteering! This has the added advantage of having an immersive cultural experience, and you will end up with friendships and memories for life. I’ve written about my experiences and my tips to find the best volunteering opportunities here: https://planetofadventures.com/backpacking-on-a-budget-how-to-find-a-workaway/
Contributed by Juan from planetofadventures.com
Juan Castells
Travel Blogger, Planet of Adventures
Visit Galápagos During Shoulder Season
One travel tip that has consistently saved me money is booking Galápagos cruises during the shoulder seasons, like late April or early November. Prices tend to drop, and you still get excellent wildlife sightings and fewer crowds.
On average, I’ve seen savings of up to $800 per traveler compared to peak season rates. I always recommend this to our clients at Voyagers Travel Company because it’s a smart way to experience the same luxury and adventure without the high-season price tag. It also gives you more flexibility with availability and a more relaxed onboard experience.
Andre Robles
Manager, Voyagers Travel Company
Set Alerts to Rebook Discounted Flights
A simple but powerful travel tip is setting automatic price alerts after booking a flight, then rebooking when fares drop. Recently, using this method for a round-trip ticket from NYC to Los Angeles resulted in an airline credit of $230 when the fare dropped a week after booking. Over multiple trips, this strategy has consistently saved between $50-$350 per trip. It’s effortless (especially if you use a tool like JetBack that automates the whole process), making it an easy way to save money if you’re someone who books flights regularly.
Bryan Dubno
Founder, JetBack
Cook Local or Eat Street Food
Cooking my own meals or eating local street food instead of dining at touristy restaurants.
When I was traveling around Portugal and Spain, I easily saved over €100 in just two weeks by purchasing groceries and preparing simple meals at my Airbnb—or visiting local bakeries and markets for quick, authentic bites.
Not only is it more cost-effective, but it also gives you a genuine taste of how locals eat (literally). Plus, nothing beats a beach picnic with €3 wine and fresh bread. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Adrian Ghantous
Founder, chaseawave
Book Early for Long-Stay Discounts
Book your accommodations a year in advance before the new year, and always aim for stays of 3+ days to unlock long-stay discounts.
I’ve found this strategy can save anywhere from 20-40% on accommodation costs. Hotels and booking platforms often raise their rates in January as part of their annual pricing adjustments, so securing bookings in November or December for the following year locks in the previous year’s rates. Additionally, most properties offer discounts for extended stays – typically starting at 3 nights, with even better rates for weekly bookings.
For example, on a recent trip to Europe, booking a 5-night stay in Italy in December 2023 for travel in July 2024 saved me approximately $300 compared to booking just 3 months in advance. The combination of pre-New Year rates and the 5-night discount brought a $200/night property down to about $140/night. That’s a saving of $300 that paid for some nice evenings out.
The key is being organized enough to plan far ahead and having flexibility with your exact dates.
The only caveat is ensuring you have flexible cancellation policies in case your plans change, but most bookings allow free cancellation up to 24-48 hours before arrival, making this a low-risk, high-reward strategy.
Maddison Ryan
Owner, The Digital Hub
Use Public Transportation to Save Money
It may seem really simple, but utilizing public transportation has helped me save a ton of money while traveling. For example, when I fly to New York, instead of taking an Uber or Lyft from LaGuardia Airport into the city, which can cost upwards of $60-80, I take public transportation and spend just a few bucks. Sometimes when you are traveling with a lot of luggage, it’s not as easy to navigate public transportation, but I really recommend it if you can.
Steve Schwab
CEO, Casago
Book Local Providers for Luxury Services
One of my most effective travel money-saving tips—especially relevant for luxury or last-minute trips—is booking private transfers or tours directly with local providers instead of through hotel concierges or international booking platforms.
For example, in Mexico City, I run MexicoHelicopter.com and Mexico-City-Private-Driver.com, where travelers save 20% to 35% compared to booking similar services through hotel staff or large OTAs like Viator. One client recently saved over $300 USD on a round-trip helicopter transfer and city tour simply by booking directly—same aircraft, same pilot, just no intermediary markup.
Beyond my own businesses, I apply this principle whenever I travel: I research local operators, read verified reviews, and reach out directly. Not only is it more affordable, but it often results in better customization and more authentic experiences.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just verify credentials and insurance if you’re dealing with high-end services like aviation or ground transport. In many countries, local operators will appreciate the direct business—and you’ll get more value for your money.
Martin Weidemann
Owner, MexicoHelicopter.com
