🔎 Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. Money Vice is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented on this site are opinions and are presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. Book Flights When Prices Are Low
You know that feeling when you check flight prices one day, and the next day they’ve tripled? Yeah, that’s the travel gods messing with you.
Here’s the truth. Prices go up and down more than Miami’s weather moods.
You can actually save hundreds just by booking your flight on the right day of the week.
Studies show that flights are cheaper when you book between Tuesday and Thursday, and traveling midweek often costs less too.
So stop playing roulette with flight prices and use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner to track drops like a hawk.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set up free price alerts on Google Flights and get an email when your dream ticket drops in price.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Use Travel Points or Miles to Cut Costs
If you’re not using points or miles, you’re basically leaving free flights on the table.
You don’t even have to be some corporate jet-setter to rack them up.
Most credit cards give welcome bonuses big enough for at least one free trip. And FYI, some even cover hotel stays.
Just pay your regular expenses through those cards, and boom. Free miles.
Think of it as your travel fund disguised as a credit card (just don’t carry a balance, please).
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Get a no-fee travel rewards card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, use it for bills you already pay, and redeem miles for your next flight.
3. Pack Light to Skip Baggage Fees
Every pound you pack is money you might as well hand over to the airline.
Seriously, those checked bag fees add up faster than you can say “carry-on only.”
If you can fit your stuff into one backpack or roller bag, you’ll save both cash and stress.
And if you’re thinking, “But what if I need options?”. You don’t. You’ll wear the same three outfits anyway.
Light packing also means no waiting at baggage claim, so you can head straight for the beach or the bar when you land.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a compact carry-on like the Samsonite Winfield 2 from Amazon and pack clothes that mix and match easily.
Bonus Tip: Keep Tabs on Every Dollar Without Losing Your Mind
You know that feeling when you think you’ve been good with money… until your card declines at the airport snack shop? Yeah, not fun.
After you’ve booked your flights, packed light, and planned your stay, the real challenge begins. Keeping track of what you spend without going full accountant mode.
Most people give up halfway through a trip because tracking every coffee, cab, and churro sounds like a nightmare.
That’s where Rocket Money quietly saves the day. It’s an app that automatically tracks your spending, flags subscriptions you forgot about, and shows you exactly where your travel cash is going. So you don’t come home broke and confused.
It’s like having a travel buddy who whispers, “Hey, maybe not that fourth souvenir hat,” and somehow makes you laugh while doing it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download Rocket Money, link your cards before your trip, and let it track everything for you so your vacation stays stress-free and your wallet stays thick.
4. Stay in Affordable Places with Great Reviews
Hotels love to charge like they’re renting ocean views on Mars.
But here’s the hack. Budget stays can be just as cozy, especially when you check reviews instead of ratings.
You’ll find gems on Booking.com, Airbnb, or even Hostelworld that give you comfort without crushing your wallet.
Sometimes, locals even rent rooms with free breakfast, and trust me, free food abroad is the best food.
Just make sure your place isn’t three miles from civilization unless you’re into long walks with your luggage.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Sort Airbnb listings by “Price” and “Rating 4.8+,” and you’ll land safe, clean, and affordable stays every time.
5. Eat Local Food Instead of Expensive Restaurants
You didn’t fly across the world to eat the same overpriced pasta you can get back home.
Local food isn’t just cheaper. It’s where the real culture lives.
Street food, small diners, or hole-in-the-wall spots usually taste better than fancy restaurants trying to impress tourists.
You’ll pay a fraction of the price and get stories that make your Instagram captions sound poetic.
Plus, you might find your new favorite meal for under ten bucks. No tips required.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Ask locals or use Google Maps to find spots labeled “Popular with locals”. That’s where the flavor and savings meet.
6. Find Free Things to Do in Every City
You don’t need to drop cash on every attraction to have fun.
Almost every city has free walking tours, street shows, parks, and local festivals that don’t cost a dime.
Sometimes those free experiences are way better than the pricey ones everyone brags about online.
You’ll see the real culture, meet real people, and save your wallet from a mini heart attack.
And the best part? Free adventures make the best stories.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Google “free things to do in [city name]” before your trip and bookmark a few spots to explore each day.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
7. Use Public Transportation Instead of Taxis
Unless you love watching your money disappear meter by meter, skip the taxi.
Buses, trains, and metro lines are often 10x cheaper and just as quick once you figure out the route.
Plus, they give you a front-row seat to the local life you’d never see stuck in a cab.
Some cities even offer unlimited day passes that save you a fortune if you’re hopping around a lot.
And hey, you’ll feel like a local when you master the bus system. Kind of a bragging right, right?
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download Moovit or Google Maps Transit, plug in your destination, and let it guide you like a pro navigator.
8. Travel During the Off-Season for Cheaper Deals
Ever noticed how everything suddenly costs double during holidays? Yeah, that’s tourist season. AKA “wallet massacre season.”
When you travel off-season, flights, hotels, and activities all price drop, and the crowds vanish, too.
You get more space, better service, and sometimes free upgrades because fewer people are around.
Imagine having a beach mostly to yourself and paying half the price for it. That’s the off-season magic.
It’s not about skipping fun; it’s about timing it smarter.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Search your destination on Google Travel and check the “Best Time to Visit” section to see the cheapest months to go.
9. Share Costs by Traveling with Friends
Solo trips are great until you realize you’re paying for everything alone.
Traveling with friends splits the bills, doubles the fun, and sometimes leads to unforgettable chaos (the good kind).
You’ll save on hotel rooms, rides, meals, and even those random excursions everyone swears are “once-in-a-lifetime.”
Group deals are a real thing, too. Airlines and tour sites often discount bookings for two or more.
So yeah, your best travel hack might just be a group chat away.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use Splitwise to track and divide costs easily with your travel buddies without awkward money talks.
10. Keep Track of What You Spend Each Day
It’s easy to lose track of spending when you’re living your best vacation life.
But those “it’s just five dollars” moments add up faster than sunburn in Miami.
Keeping tabs on your expenses helps you avoid overspending and post-trip regret.
You don’t need spreadsheets. Just a good app that tracks your spending automatically.
Because nothing ruins a good trip faster than realizing you blew next month’s rent on souvenirs.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download Rocket Money, set a daily limit, and let the app ping you if you’re going over budget.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
