Browse through our tips on how to get the most bang for your buck as you travel.
Air Travel
When to Book: Use online resources like Kayak’s Explore feature to determine a good price and then set up email alerts.
Frequent Flyer Membership: Make sure all travelers (even children) join the frequent flyer program of the airline (or alliance) you are flying. Membership is free and eventually you may even earn a free flight. In most cases, there is little reason to join the program of more than one airline in an alliance, as you will often earn miles when flying partner airlines (but check the restrictions). When using frequent flyer miles to book flights, plan far ahead to use the least amount of miles necessary. Most airlines will let you book 330 days in advance.
Open Jaws: Many travelers fail to realize that often it does not cost much more to fly into one city in a region and return via a different city. For example, if you want to go to London and Paris, it will not normally cost much more to buy a ticket arriving in London and departing from Paris than it would to buy a roundtrip ticket to either city. If you decide to fly between your vacation destinations (for example, from London to Paris—rather than taking a ferry or the Chunnel), you should check the price for all three flights at the same time using a multiple-city search. Booking an open jaw or multi-city ticket saves you time as you don’t need to return to your arrival airport.
Baggage: There are few times when you should check a bag. Especially if you will be moving from city to city, consider taking only a carry-on as your bags may never catch up with you if they are mishandled. Remember that on most airlines, each traveler (even kids) gets a carry-on and a personal item. If you need a little more space, you can put a few things in a bag belonging to someone else in the family (kids’ clothes don’t take up near as much space as adults’).
Frequent Flyer Membership: Make sure all travelers (even children) join the frequent flyer program of the airline (or alliance) you are flying. Membership is free and eventually you may even earn a free flight. In most cases, there is little reason to join the program of more than one airline in an alliance, as you will often earn miles when flying partner airlines (but check the restrictions). When using frequent flyer miles to book flights, plan far ahead to use the least amount of miles necessary. Most airlines will let you book 330 days in advance.
Open Jaws: Many travelers fail to realize that often it does not cost much more to fly into one city in a region and return via a different city. For example, if you want to go to London and Paris, it will not normally cost much more to buy a ticket arriving in London and departing from Paris than it would to buy a roundtrip ticket to either city. If you decide to fly between your vacation destinations (for example, from London to Paris—rather than taking a ferry or the Chunnel), you should check the price for all three flights at the same time using a multiple-city search. Booking an open jaw or multi-city ticket saves you time as you don’t need to return to your arrival airport.
Baggage: There are few times when you should check a bag. Especially if you will be moving from city to city, consider taking only a carry-on as your bags may never catch up with you if they are mishandled. Remember that on most airlines, each traveler (even kids) gets a carry-on and a personal item. If you need a little more space, you can put a few things in a bag belonging to someone else in the family (kids’ clothes don’t take up near as much space as adults’).
Rental Cars
Booking: Book early for best prices but check back from time to time. Sometimes the particular type of car may not be available when you arrive at your destination even though you have a reservation. If you need a particular class of vehicle (SUV, minivan, etc.), consider making no-fee cancellable reservations at more than one vendor (after you secure your vehicle please do advise the other vendor that you no longer need the reservation).
Memberships: Waiting in line at the rental counter is for suckers as most rental car companies now offer a free membership program which allows members to skip the line at pickup.
Memberships: Waiting in line at the rental counter is for suckers as most rental car companies now offer a free membership program which allows members to skip the line at pickup.
Hotel
Price: Book early at a cancellable rate and then check again closer to your date of departure for better rates.
Breakfast: With a family, a free breakfast can save you some real money.
Discounts: If you can’t get 10% off the price, you may not be trying hard enough. Chain hotels routinely give AAA, corporate, senior, and internet rates that usually offer a 10% discount. Government rates are sometimes even better. Check all of your options but be prepared to prove you qualify.
Hostels: Don’t be afraid of the name, there are many wonderful places with private rooms. Always do your online research in advance and make sure to pick one with good reviews.
Breakfast: With a family, a free breakfast can save you some real money.
Discounts: If you can’t get 10% off the price, you may not be trying hard enough. Chain hotels routinely give AAA, corporate, senior, and internet rates that usually offer a 10% discount. Government rates are sometimes even better. Check all of your options but be prepared to prove you qualify.
Hostels: Don’t be afraid of the name, there are many wonderful places with private rooms. Always do your online research in advance and make sure to pick one with good reviews.
Dining
Breakfast: If you chose the right hotel, breakfast is free.
Lunch: On a hot day and with enough time and money, a relaxed lunch in an air conditioned, modest restaurant can be a good choice. Most of the time, however, you can’t waste prime sightseeing time on a long lunch. Get something filling, inexpensive, and—most importantly— fast.
Dinner: On most evenings, the sights are all closed, and you now have the time for a nice meal that you didn’t have earlier in the day. If you did the first two meals right, you should have plenty of money left for a reasonably priced restaurant. When choosing a restaurant, consider local cuisine, which is usually cheaper and allows you to sample what the locals eat.
Lunch: On a hot day and with enough time and money, a relaxed lunch in an air conditioned, modest restaurant can be a good choice. Most of the time, however, you can’t waste prime sightseeing time on a long lunch. Get something filling, inexpensive, and—most importantly— fast.
Dinner: On most evenings, the sights are all closed, and you now have the time for a nice meal that you didn’t have earlier in the day. If you did the first two meals right, you should have plenty of money left for a reasonably priced restaurant. When choosing a restaurant, consider local cuisine, which is usually cheaper and allows you to sample what the locals eat.
Money
Credit cards: Bring cards that have no foreign transaction fees and always carry a back-up card. Make sure to call your credit card company before you leave home and advise them where you will be traveling so your card doesn’t get placed on a fraud hold.
Cash: Skip the long lines at the currency exchange and visit the ATM where the exchange rate is better and the fees are lower.
Cash: Skip the long lines at the currency exchange and visit the ATM where the exchange rate is better and the fees are lower.
Souvenirs
The best souvenirs are often the cheapest (photos, ticket stubs from favorite attractions, etc.).
Attractions
Check details to get the cheapest price, which may be during certain times of the day (mornings or evenings) or days of the week, and then make your plans around the discounted times. Always ask what discounts there may be for children, families, AAA memberships, etc.
Transportation
Traveling like the locals can save money. A taxi may be cost effective for large groups, but often it is an expensive option. Most subway systems will save money and aren’t too hard to figure out. When traveling between cities, a rental car is usually cheaper for larger groups, but it can be very cost effective and relaxing to take overnight trains and ferries where you get transportation to your destination as well as your room for the night.