How to Save Money on Trips in 2024: 11 Easy Travel Hacks

Traveling can be a rewarding option for experiencing different cultures or relaxing beyond your routine. Whether you prefer big cities or national parks, beaches, or mountains, learning to optimize travel opportunities for less can mean more fun within your spending limits. Learn how to save money on vacation and give yourself more time to lounge by the pool, climb a new mountain, catch the latest Broadway show, or anything in between. 

How to Save Money on Vacation: 11 Travel Tips

Travel hacking sounds like you need ninja-level skills, but it comes down to eliminating big costs or trimming expenses in several ways. The basics of saving money on vacation are easy for anyone to implement with a clear plan. Below, you'll find tips from the best places to exchange money in foreign countries to the best credit cards for travel rewards to make it easier to save money on vacation while still having the time of your life.

1. Travel Off-Season

Most major tourist destinations have a season. For example, Europe's high season is from June through August. Travel in late May or September, and you'll get better prices on accommodations and flights along with smaller crowds. 

The same goes for ski destinations, beach resorts and big cities. The high season for most locations (except ski resorts) is the summer plus holiday times like Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring break or winter break. Check off-seasons or shoulder season for your desired location if you can be flexible and travel at other times. You can save money on everything from airline tickets and rental cars to accommodations while also accessing popular attractions with fewer lines or wait times. 

2. Eat Out Less

If you're staying at an Airbnb or other rental property with a kitchen, consider cooking most of your meals at home or having quick basics like salads and sandwiches on hand. Even without a kitchen, you can often pick up inexpensive sandwiches, salads or food you don't need to cook at a grocery store. Then, you can eat out a few times for special restaurants or occasions without overdoing your food budget.

Alternatively, consider eating out at lunch, when most restaurants serve similar menus with lower prices. You'll save on the same experience and, in many cases, miss the crowds. And as always, get beyond the tourist-trap restaurants to find where the locals eat. You'll save more on food and get an authentic experience.  

3. Stay With Family or Friends

After flights, housing is one of the biggest travel expenses. If you have family or friends near destinations you want to travel, consider staying with them. Or, you can stop in a few nights with friends and splurge on just a few nights at the destination. That way, you'll cut total costs and connect with loved ones without overstaying your welcome. 

4. Join a House Swap

House-swapping websites are a brilliant modern way to stay anywhere for free (or nearly free). While systems vary between sites, the basic concept is the same: you'll list your house or apartment for other guests to stay in with the dates you'll be away. Then, you can choose another house to stay in. You don't have to swap with the people staying in your home; you can choose any available property. 

If you don't have a house to swap or prefer not to list your home, you could consider becoming a housesitter. Check out sites like TrustedHousesitters and get the opportunity to stay in beautiful places for free. 

5. Setup Flight Alerts

Major flight search sites, including Google Flights, Hopper and AirfareWatchDog, allow you to easily set flight alerts for certain destinations. You can also check less popular booking sites like Going, Vayama and CheapOair, which may have better rates for certain destinations. 

If you can be flexible with travel dates, setting flight alerts can be a way to save a lot. For example, with a flight alert, you might find a roundtrip ticket from the U.S. to Europe in the August high season for $400. Even if you can't find such an incredible deal, you could save $100 or more by setting an alert and waiting. 

On the other hand, if your dates are set but your destination is flexible, you can use the Google Explore feature to find affordable flights when you can travel. Just set your home airport and look on the map to see what is available. 

6. Travel Carry-On Only

Most U.S. airlines now charge for a checked bag. Traveling with a carry-on only can save you $25 to $50 per bag in each direction of the trip. That could be enough for a nice meal out or a couple days of a rental car. You can find simple tips on Instagram, TikTok or blogs on packing more efficiently. 

Or, follow these simple packing basics:

• Travel in your heaviest shoes or boots and bring a maximum of one other pair (plus flats or flip-flops)
• Use packing cubes to organize your clothes and toiletries
• Plan outfits and pack clothes that can be re-worn in several outfits
• Depending on the length of your trip, plan to do laundry so you don't need as many clothes
• Bring travel-sized toiletries or plan to use what the hotel provides (if you're staying in a hotel). 

7. Use Public Transportation

If you're traveling to a city or location with good public transportation, skip the rental car, which can cost upward of $50 a day and well over $100 in high-demand destinations. Instead, get to know locals while you use buses, trains, trams, subways or bikes. If you need to get somewhere quickly, you can always take an Uber or taxi, but it will cost you significantly more. 

Many major cities have implemented low-cost bike rental systems in addition to standard public transportation options. You can rent a bike for an hour to 24 hours or longer. In bike-friendly cities, this is a great way to see the destination while saving on transportation. 

8. Consider Credit Card Points

No money-saving travel list is complete without a discussion of credit card points. When you sign up for travel credit cards and meet a minimum spend, you can earn points worth $500 to $800+ for premium cards. 

Depending on the credit card, you can use the points for flights, hotels or rental cars. When you use the credit card issuer's booking portal, you can potentially make those points go even further. Some travel rewards credit cards come with additional perks that can save costs while making your trip more fun. 

In addition to the points, common perks to look for include:

• Free airport lounge access
• Free breakfast at certain hotels
• Free hotel room upgrades
• Reimbursement for TSA Precheck costs
• A free annual companion pass for a second airline ticket

There are so many excellent credit cards to choose from these days that it can feel overwhelming. To help you find the best options for your needs, Benzinga rounded up the best cards to save on your next trip by category. 

Here are the top opinions:

• Best airline credit cards
• Best credit cards for travel
• Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
• Best credit cards for rewards
• Best credit cards for travel insurance

9. Get Outside

Nature is almost always free or low-cost. Consider exploring parks and recreational facilities at your destination. Swim; hike; play in parks; or rent bikes, paddle boards, or kayaks to explore independently. You can picnic in a park, visit a local nature education center or download a free walking guide for your destination.

10. Check Museum Passes

If you want to visit multiple museums, many major cities have museum passes that cost less than individual entry tickets. The structure of each pass varies. Some cities, including New York, Chicago and Barcelona, give you a pass to all or some museums and major attractions, including a pass to skip long lines. 

11. Find Free Activities

Most cities offer a variety of free activities throughout the year, from Shakespeare in the park or summer concerts to free museum days or children's fairs. You can check local websites at your destination for free events and activities you could join. 

If you start searching for activity options ahead of time, you can take advantage of discounts or free days. 

More Tips to Save Money on Vacation

Vacation is about relaxing and trying new things. Whether you love to do and see as much as possible or just want a lounge chair and a good book, saving more on vacation is possible. Plan ahead, research options and be flexible, and you can find amazing deals, new experiences and rewarding ways to travel more. 

While finding ways to save money on vacation is great, saving up a cushion in your budget before traveling makes a huge difference. Then you can relax and enjoy your destination. Find ideas to save money fast, stop spending, create a budget or cut expenses. You can also check out the best budgeting apps to automate your vacation savings.