11 Creative Ways to Save Money on Travel: 2023 Edition

Looking for some creative ways to save money on travel? Welcome to the right place! When I first started traveling, I didn’t want to stop. I was bitten by the travel bug and wanted to see as much as possible but I obviously didn’t have an unlimited budget. I had to be smart about my money, so it would stretch as long as possible. And thanks to my passion for travel, I learned a lot over the past few years on techniques and tricks to save money; even if it was only a couple dollars at a time! Trust me, it all adds up in the end.

If you are committed to traveling and seeing the world, then take a look at these creative ways to save money on travel:

1. Choose Your Destination Wisely

Listen, I know how tempting it is to pick some of the most popular spots in the world to travel, like Hawaii, the Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Dubai, etc. But before you book, do some research into other destinations that won’t break the bank. For example, the Islands of Naxos and Antiparos are quieter, cheaper and less crowded alternatives to Santorini. If you want to visit the Amalfi Coast, take a trip a little further South to the Cilento Coast. Here you’ll find crystal clear waters, incredible food and tons of history.

So think about the place(s) you want to visit and do some research into more affordable nearby alternatives. You’ll still get to see some incredible sights, without spending a ton of money.

2. Just Say ‘No’

This is one that took me a while to get used to. But I had to learn to say no to spending money on unnecessary things. Before I had the desire to travel the world, I would spend too much money on going out, online shopping, and other things. When I started thinking in terms of, “This $50 shirt is the same price as a few nights in Mexico”, I began to have an easier time forgoing random purchases.

The hardest times to say ‘no’ are when friends invite me out to eat or grab drinks or want to do something that costs a hefty amount of money (concerts, amusement parks, ya know…). So instead of skipping out every single time a friend wants to go out, I just limit the amount of times I say ‘yes’. I also have a monthly budget which has really helped me decide what to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ to.

3. Use Skyscanner to Compare Flights

Let’s face it, if you’re traveling internationally, flights aren’t cheap. Of course, this isn’t always the case depending on booking dates and where you are going, but in my experience, flying from America tends to be my biggest expense.

I used to be a Google Flights girl but then I began using Skyscanner based on the recommendation from some traveler friends. Now I don’t use anything else to book my flights. I have found consistently lower priced flights through Skyscanner compared to Google.

4. Learn How to Cook and Eat In

One of my favorite creative ways to save money on travel is… cooking! Eating out is universally loved but it can really add up, especially if you are going out every single day. Going to a market and buying some fresh ingredients is a fun way to experience the local culture and also a great way to get creative in the kitchen. If you don’t know how to cook, what better way to learn than in a new place! And all the money you save by cooking can be put towards an excursion or another trip!

5. Use Public Transport

Okay, I don’t know how “creative” this one is because it’s been said many times before, but it’s super important for any one who wants to save money on travel. It’s actually insane how much money you can save by taking a train or a bus to your destination rather than taxi. It’s also a great alternative to flying. My bus from Budapest to Prague cost about $40 round trip and a bus from Palenque to San Cristobal in Mexico only cost $10. If taking public transpo is a bit outside of your comfort zone, just look up tips and tricks for the destination you are planning on visiting. The internet is very generous in offering awesome advice so you’ll be traveling like a local in no time!

6. Opt For Creative Accomodation Choices

Chances are if you’re a budget traveler, or at least have the desire to be a budget traveler, you know that staying in hostels is much more affordable than hotels or home rentals. Seriously, you’ve probably heard it hundreds of times, “hostels are a great way to meet people and save money!”

All true of course, but hostels aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative, Couchsurfing is a social media platform that connects (typically solo) travelers with like minded locals. Travelers can stay for free in locals’ homes and experience travel in a unique and connectional way.

Even consider staying with friends and families. You can reach out to people you know and go somewhere you maybe weren’t expecting.

7. Open a Separate Travel Savings Account

Create a separate savings account for travel to really help you save money. Even if you only add a little at a time, it’s still something! A rule I like to follow is whenever I save money somewhere, I’ll add that amount to my travel account. For example, let’s say I received a discount at my grocery store and saved $30, I’ll then deposit $30 to my travel savings account.

You’ll be less likely to dip into this account and you can easily monitor the progress of your savings. For me, it’s actually pretty motivating watching my savings grow!

8. Sell Things You Don’t Need Anymore

One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure! There are so many apps and sites out there to sell things you don’t want or need anymore. So do some deep cleaning throughout your home and make a pile of things you want to get rid of. Then consider which of these items you could sell. You can sell your clothes on Depop, Thredup, or at a local thrift store. I’ve sold many items I never used on Facebook Marketplace (be careful though, it seems recently there are more scammers on Facebook) but I would also look into OfferUp.

9. Get a Travel Credit Card

This one has to be my favorite creative way to save money on travel. I truly think many travel enthusiasts are sleeping on travel credit cards. I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and, GIRL, let me tell you… the points I have gotten from using this card are going to cover my round trip flights to Europe this summer and I’ll still have some left over points for a few nights at local hotel chains. You can also redeem travel credit card points for car rentals, cruises, travel packages, and free travel upgrades depending on the card and bank you choose.

Some other amazing travel credit cards I recommend are the Capital One Venture card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, and the Platinum card from American Express.

Please note: Be sure you have the means and discipline before you apply for a new credit card. By this I mean make sure you are not overspending and you have enough money to pay off your credit card balances every month. The last thing you want is a terrible credit score and unwelcome debt, because you opened a credit card when you weren’t financially prepared.

10. Grab a Local SIM Card for Your Phone

Another creative way to save money on travel is one that was hidden in plain sight for me for a longggg time! Getting a local SIM card for your phone is a MUST if you are traveling for an extended time or looking to save money on your phone bill. For example, my local phone carrier offers a $10 a day international plan, but I have a tendency to extend my trips and tend to forget about my phone bill. Unfortunately, I was stuck paying more than $700 total for my phone bill while abroad.

Now, no matter where I go, I make sure to get a local SIM card for my phone. They are actually easier than you might think to figure out! If you are interested in learning more about SIM cards abroad check out my guide here!

11. Share the Expenses

This is a fun one: share the expenses with friends! I totally get it if you love the solo traveler life, but sometimes it’s fun to travel with friends (or meet new ones)! Either plan a trip with friends or meet up with them on your travels and share travel expenses. Sometimes when I solo travel, I’ll go out of my way to meet friends I’ve met all across the world. It’s truly offered some amazing experiences in addition to saving money!

If your friends haven’t been bitten by the travel bug yet, a great way to meet like minded people to travel with is through Facebook groups. I am in a number of female travel groups and have met and talked to some incredible people through Facebook.

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