La Quinta hotel

Not all travel has to be expensive. There are plenty of fun ways to travel without going overboard. I have compiled a list of ways to save during your next vacation. One of the best ways to save money is by taking a staycation – be a tourist in your own city for a few days! There are probably plenty of attractions that you have never checked out (libraries often offer discounted passes to local cultural attractions). By staying home you will save on both transportation and hotel costs, leaving you extra money to spend on attractions. However, if do want to explore a new city or area of the country, there are plenty of ways to budget.

I love to travel, however, I do not like to spend thousands of dollars to do so. First off, I prefer roadtrips to flights as driving is so much cheaper. Second, I prefer to travel more during the fall and winter season when hotel rates are cheaper and crowds are basically non existent. Crowds plus heat is really my worst nightmare, and if I can actually save money by visiting a popular destination during the off season, this is a win-win for me!

In my guide, I will go over a few of my best tips after many years of road trips, flights, expensive attractions and food. Pre-planning really makes all the difference!

How to score cheap flights

Southwest flying picture

I prefer roadtrips to flights as you can save a lot of money, see a lot of the country, and bring as many bags as you want without extra fees. Flights are just so expensive and stressful – I try to avoid them at all costs. However, sometimes the destination is just too far and this is not possible. Finding affordable airfare rates is much easier than you think. I have found that planning ahead makes all the difference. After many years of traveling, I have compiled my best tips to help you save on your next flight.

Check travel comparison sites like Kayak for the best rates. Kayak lets you compare rates from several different sources at the same time. This is also saves you some valuable time as opposed to searching individual websites.

Fly midweek – rates are typically cheaper during the week, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Avoid Saturday flights which are typically the most expensive.

Book your flight at least 3 weeks in advance for the best rates. Use the flexible rate calendar to conveniently compare rates. I use this calendar all the time; it conveniently shows prices for the entire month so you do not have to type in each date separately. Sometimes just changing the date by a day or 2 can save you so much money.

Check individual airline homepages for special deals. For example, Southwest often advertises special deals on their homepage. I often see deals advertised to cities I would never have thought of traveling to. Sometimes, it gets me looking into the destination more.

Follow airlines and travel websites on Twitter for last minute deals. This is a bit inconvenient if you like packing and getting everything setting up in advance, but may be worth it to save a few bucks.

Be flexible with your destination – fares can vary drastically from city to city. For example, when traveling to Boston, I always look into flights arriving in Providence too, which is usually much cheaper. On the downside, sometimes this means you need to book a car which can often be pricier than flying into the more expensive airport! Check different airlines as well – for example, I typically fly into Midway in Chicago instead of O’Hare which is always pricier.

Sign up for fare alerts on Airfare Watchdog. You can sign up for several different alerts including deals pertaining to a specific city, or an “anywhere that’s cheap” alert which gives you a list of cheap round-trip airfares to non specific cities.

Search Last Minute Travel for last-minute deals on airfare. This is inconvenient as you will not have much time to plan in advance, especially for those who cannot request time off work on a whim. For those with a more flexible schedule, this tactic might work.

Consider booking a hotel plus airfare package on a site like Expedia. Oftentimes, you can save a few hundred bucks by booking the 2 major expenses together so it might be worth checking.

Check Groupon Getaways for destination getaways that include hotel and airfare at a heavily discounted rate. The only problem here is that many dates are usually blocked out, so you have to be really flexible.

Plan trips during the off season. Airfare tickets will be cheaper when the least amount of tourists are visiting the area. I have found that rates are usually cheapest in January. For example, summer hotspots like Orlando and Vegas are going to be so much cheaper during the fall and winter months. Do not book popular destinations when kids are off school unless you really want to pay!

Don’t book flights around the holidays – this is when airfare is typically at its highest! Flying around Christmas and New Year’s is not a good idea! Avoid 4th of July, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Labor day, especially in popular beach destinations. I lived in Tampa Bay for years and you would not believe the crowds and insane parking fees during these holiday periods! It is not worth the stress or extra fees to travel at these times!

Bid on Priceline – Use Priceline’s “Name Your Own Price” feature to bid on flights. Just be prepared to accept any strange departure time if your bid is accepted! Also be prepared for the possibility of several stops.

Be flexible with travel dates – when I book a flight I always search 2 days before and after my desired date. Sometimes just switching around a few dates can save you a lot of money. Check the low fare calendar for the best deals. If you have a flexible schedule, using the low rate calendar is definitely the way to go.

Be aware of all extra fees such as baggage check fees. I like Southwest because you can check 2 bags for free! This really adds up if you are traveling as a large group! Some airlines offer cheaper flights but then charge the most insane baggage fees. One company I was researching charged more than 50 bucks! That’s crazy! Update: Southwest started charging for bags in May of 2025. This stinks, but they still offer the best deals! Rapid Rewards members still get one checked bag free.

Gas savings: How to save money when gas prices are sky high

Prius

I usually prefer roadtrips to flying because I can pack as much luggage as I want and also check out oddball attractions that I would never see otherwise. However, the prices are so high today that the difference in cost is often negligible especially if you add in several hotel stays and dining stops on a long drive.

Keep in mind that gas prices can vary in your own town too, sometimes by as much as 20-30 cents per gallon. Luckily I drive a Prius which gets over 50 mpg or I would be in trouble. I love Gas Buddy – you can type in your zip code and find the cheapest and most expensive stations in your town. You can also find state and city averages as well as use a trip cost calculator, which estimates total trip fuel costs and lists stations to stop at along your route to save money.

Check out my tips which will help you improve your fuel economy! Any little bit helps, right?

Use cruise control. Using the cruise control option will keep you from changing your speed, which wastes gas. Keeping your speed at the same level without slowing or speeding up will make your gas last longer. In addition, it also gives your feet a break on those long drives.

Keep tires filled properly. Having flat tires will negatively affect your gas mileage. Maintaining the proper level of air in your tires will ensure that you are getting the best mileage possible. Check your air pressure frequently; I keep a small mini pump in the car. This saves me the money and frustration of finding a gas station with an air pump. Tip: Discount Tires offers a free air check.

Keep windows rolled up. You get much better gas mileage when your windows are rolled up, especially while driving on the highway or when it is windy out. If you have a convertible, it is more cost efficient to keep the top up (not to mention healthier for your skin!).

Put the cap back in place after getting gas. I always see people on the road that have forgotten to place the cap back on and it bothers me because it wastes gas! Always check before driving away from the station.

Pay in cash. Some stations will give you a discount if you pay in cash instead of by credit card. It is less convenient than swiping your card outside, but may be worth the extra effort if you have a long trip and need a full tank of gas.

Consider purchasing a hybrid for your next vehicle. Hybrids are more efficient than other types of vehicles. Most are also surprisingly attractive and affordable. I bought a Prius Plug In this year and am very pleased with the vehicle. Right now Toyota is offering several rebates on Prius models, in addition to a large tax rebate. The plug in model gets about 50-60mpg, and also 10-15 miles running in electric only mode, when you drive on a full charge (about 3 hours). Update: My Prius is going on 10+ years with 200,000 miles and it still runs great!

Take a longer country route over driving in the city. The stop and go traffic in the city kills your gas mileage. Not to mention the extra frustration and time you waste sitting idle in your car. Your car gets much better mileage outside of the city. You may end of saving yourself time by taking the “longer” route as opposed to sitting backed up in traffic.

Don’t leave your car running while waiting for someone. It seems like it would be cheaper to keep your car running over turning it off and starting it back up again. However, it does not take up that much gas. Turn it off if you will be waiting longer than a few minutes.

Avoid driving during rush hour, if possible. Driving during rush hour is a hassle which costs you both extra time and money. I use to drive into work an hour early to use the gym. At this time, there was no one else using the gym, and I avoided the morning rush hour traffic completely. You will save yourself money and frustration by avoiding peak rush hour times.

Keep your trunk empty. It may not seem like a big deal, but any extra weight in your trunk will reduce your gas mileage. Keep your trunk light to maximize gas mileage. Remember to bring in any bulky purchases right away when you get home to keep your trunk from piling up.

Don’t get gas right off the highway. Gas stations located right off the highway tend to be much pricier than those found in town.A good idea is to fill up your tank all the way before leaving so you don’t need to stop. If you are going on a really long trip and need to make frequent fill ups, then I recommend driving a bit further into town to find cheaper gas (but don’t go too far out of your way).

Use a GPS. A GPS will tell you the estimated cost of getting to a particular location, and you can also set it up to give you the lowest cost route. Plus, using this device means fewer chances for getting lost, which translates into lower gas costs. Just make sure to update your maps each year so you don’t waste time driving to stores and restaurants that no longer exist.

Drive slower. You will save gas by driving slower. You lose money every mile that you go above 65MPH. With the gas prices as high as they are today, I would rather take my time getting somewhere and in return save on the gas. Getting somewhere a few minutes earlier is not worth the increased fuel cost or risk to your safety.

Research fun activities near you. Staycations are much cheaper in comparison to vacations where you have to drive a far distance.Not only will you save on traveling costs, you will also save on lodging and hotels. Planning a day trip to cultural attractions in your area makes for a great budget-friendly vacation.

Replace the air filter as needed. Make sure to do it yourself instead of paying a mechanic for this easy task. Air filter replacements can be purchased at any auto store. If you don’t know how to replace either ask a friend or family member for help or check an online how-to video.

Carpool to work and split the cost. Carpooling is a good option to save on gas expenses, especially if you commute into the city. Some cities, such as Los Angeles have special HOV (High occupancy vehicle) lanes, which can only be used by people driving with at least one other person in the car. Another benefit of purchasing a Prius is receiving a special sticker to drive in the HOV lanes even if you are driving alone.

Be prepared for different terrains. Driving through areas of certain topography requires more gas than others. For example, going up a lot of hills is a major gas eater. Take an alternate route if possible. If not, plan ahead for the extra cost of gas so you are prepared.

Use the air conditioner sparingly. I recommend only turning on the air conditioner on really hot days. Try to park your car in a shaded area; you will be less tempted to turn on the air if the car has been sitting out of the hot sun.

Do most of your grocery shopping one day per month. Stocking up on your canned and boxed grocery items will save you the extra trips and associated gas mileage. A few years ago I lived on an island and could only get to a grocery store once a month. I learned how to stock up and buy items in bulk. In addition to the gas savings, it was also nice having extra quantities of product available for immediate use.

Don’t use premium gas. This is usually an unnecessary expense. The majority of cars run just fine on regular gas. There is a pretty big price difference between the different types of gas. Only purchase premium gas if your owner’s manual requires it (the case for some luxury vehicles).

Avoid the unnecessary use of your brakes. Hitting on your brakes all the time reduces your fuel efficiency. Try to plan your driving routes around as few stoplights as possible. This will allow you to get better gas mileage.

Use public transportation instead of driving your car. Public transportation is cheaper than driving your own car. You are saving not only gas, but also mileage on your vehicle. You also pay one price no matter how many stoplights and other factors reduce your gas efficiency. Make sure to check and see if any discounted fares or monthly passes are available. Monthly passes are great for those of you who work in the city and will be taking public transit every day.

How to score the best hotel room deals

Room at the Kimpton Gray in Chicago
Basic, clean, modern rooms

Traveling today is just so expensive. Along with pricier airfare and food, hotel fees are often outrageous. I remember when you could book a basic La Quinta or Comfort Inn for 5-60 bucks and today these same hotels run well over $100.

Check online discount sites such as kayak.com and hotels.com. Hotels.com gives you one free night after you book 10 nights with them. Kayak is another great site which allows you to compare hotel costs from multiple sites at the same time.  Both sites allow you to sort search results by price or amenities.

Book through Priceline. Priceline allows you to save 60% on hotels by bidding. You pick the star level of the hotel and then “name your own price.” As the major drawback, you will not know the name of the hotel until your bid is accepted. If you feel like being spontaneous, give it a shot.

Check the hotel website for deals. See if the hotel offers any special packages or promotions. Many times hotels will offer breakfast, parking, or spa packages.

Book a hotel with a free breakfast. Use the search feature on hotels.com or kayak.com to sort by hotels which include free breakfast. Many of the standard chains like Comfort Inn, La Quinta, and Hampton Inn, Days Inn include a free buffet. It’s not spectacular, but I usually find enough to hold me over until lunch. Typically, you’ll find toast, instant oatmeal, muffins or mini pastries, juices, cereal, and sometimes hot food like eggs, potatoes, and biscuits.

Book hotels with kitchenettes, especially if you are staying for more than a few days. This will save you some money on restaurants by enabling you to prepare snacks or meals in your room. As dining out is easily one of the top trip expenses, a kitchen could possibly save you hundreds of dollars. On our first Orlando vacation, we booked a condo and cooked breakfast each morning. This easily held us over to lunch so we saved on at least one meal for the day.

Skip the suites. Don’t waste extra money paying for rooms and amenities that you aren’t going to use. Concentrate on attractions around your destination instead of relying on a fancy room for your entertainment. I know some people who pay a lot for fancy Vegas rooms. For me, I would rather walk around The Strip and enjoy all the free shows and entertainment – basically spend as much time outside of the room as possible to see things I can’t see at home.

Check for coupon codes on Retailmenot.com. You can easily save money on your hotel by entering a promo code. This is a great way to save some money with putting in virtually no effort.

If you are traveling with pets consider staying at a La Quinta Inn. Most La Quinta locations accepts pets with no added charge. There are locations all over the country and they have a great breakfast buffet. Update: They now charge $20-25 depending on the location. That being said, I’ve seen fancier hotels charge upwards of $75!

Book in advance for the best deals. Most hotels offer the best discounts if you book at least 2 weeks in advance, preferably more. While you can sometimes find last minute deals, the best prices usually come with advance booking.

Travel during the off season. It may not be the best time of the year for activities and entertainment, however, you will save big and deal with less crowds. This is especially true for popular destinations like Disney World, Universal Studios, and Las Vegas.

Vacation planning tips: Pre-planning saves money and time!

Incredible overlook along the Emerald Pools trail at Zion National Park

Research activities and events before your trip. This way you will be able to budget enough money in advance for everything that you want to do. Put aside money each month. I always make an itinerary before I leave as it is easier to stick to a budget this way.

Check museums and zoos for free dates. Many offer free admission on special dates throughout the year. Others are always free! Also, Bank of America cardholders get in free the first full weekend of each month to select museums as part of the Museums on Us promotion. I have visited so many wonderful museums across the US thanks to this promotion. Some of my favorites include: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh and The Warhol Museum, also in Pittsburgh. A bank card and photo ID proof for each person is required.

Sign up to receive Groupon deals in the area in which you will be vacationing. You could save up to 90% on restaurants and attractions. I’ve found so many great deals especially in touristy cities like Orlando. Recent deals I’ve found include: mini golf discounts, 2 for 1 movie theater tickets, and museum/attraction discounts.

See if the city you are visiting offers a Go City pass. This pass allows you to pay one price for multiple attractions. If you will be visiting more than one anyway, there is no reason not to purchase it.

Check the Chamber of Commerce site. Research free and low cost local events in the area you are vacationing to.

Buy tickets to theme parks in advance. Theme park discounts are almost always cheaper online than at the gate. Places like Disney and Universal often offer deals the more days you purchase. Summer specials are common too. We recently enjoyed a buy 2 days get 1 free at Universal Studios in Orlando. You can check out some of my tips for saving at Universal and the Disney parks for a great overview.

Book hotels through discount sites like hotels.com and kayak.com. Also, check the hotel’s website for special promotions and package deals.

Book trips around national park free dates. Visit the NPS website to find free park days near you. Typically, they offer free admission on the following holidays: President’s Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Veteran’s Day. Many national parks charge $20-30 so this is a fantastic time to get out there and explore.

Pick up a brochure for your attraction at the hotel. You will often find coupons on the back of the brochure, in addition to helpful directions and activity ideas. The first thing I do when I get to any hotel is check to see if they have any brochures on hand – I always find new activities that I want to plan for my next trip. Plus, it gives me something to read on the road.

Book hotels with free breakfasts. Starting your day with a complete complimentary breakfast saves you a lot of cash especially over several days. You can sort hotels by amenities on sites like hotels.com. For the basic chains, I find La Quinta, Drury Inn, and Hampton Inn usually serve decent breakfasts. Hotels with kitchenettes will also help cut down costs.

Book airfare at least 14 days in advance for the best deals. Also try to book on Wednesday as this is the cheapest day to fly.

Don’t pay for fancy suites and extras. How often are you really going to be in the room?

If traveling with pets, research your options. Hotels vary greatly in pet fees – trust me I have checked! La Quinta Inn always allows pets for free, is cleaner, and has a better breakfast than other hotels in the same price range. Update: La Quinta now charges, but is still one of the cheapest at around 20 bucks.

Pick up a “Room Saver” brochure at a travel plaza. There are hundreds of hotel coupons in one of these booklets. They are conveniently organized by city/state.

Be flexible to traveling at any time. Travel during the off season, play around with different arrival and departure dates, etc. Check the flexible rate airline calendar for the best deals.

Budgeting for your next big trip

Pass-a-Grille beach in Florida

I prefer taking many small trips over the course of the year as opposed to one big trip. Others save up for that big memorable trip that you can talk about for years afterwards. Regardless, trips are expensive, whether it is a summer roadtrip to a nearby city or an all out trip to Vegas or Disney. It is never too late to start saving for your summer vacation. Today, a weekend roadtrip can easily cost hundreds of dollars. Add in a flight and a few activities, and 1000+ for a simple weekend trip is not a rarity anymore.

A nice vacation can easily cost a few thousand, so it pays to start saving as early as possible. Here are a few of my best tips to help you save up for your next summer vacation. All it takes is a bit of researching, budgeting, saving, and possibly finding ways to earn more.

Figure out the estimated cost of your vacation and set up a budget plan – It is helpful to plan out all vacation expenses such as lodging, activities and restaurants in advance. This will help you estimate the overall total trip cost. Determine how much you need to save per month to give yourself a ballpark of what you need to cut out, earn, etc. Additionally, you can find a number of free apps for your phone.

Set up a separate bank account – Most banks such as Bank of America have an Automatic Savings Transfer. This system allows you to easily set up the date, time, and amount of money you want transferred each month. You are less likely to spend money that isn’t easily available.

Enroll in Bank of America’s Keep the Change – This program allows you to save money by rounding every purchase to the nearest dollar and putting the change into your savings account. Alternatively, you can throw all your loose change in a jar and cash it in the week before your trip.

Save your tax return refund – If you have a nice sized return, you can use it for your vacation. That way it doesn’t feel like you are taking away from your ordinary living expenses.

Cook at home – This is one of the best ways to save money fast. Dining out is expensive and can easily add up to hundreds of dollars per month. Plus, (more often than not) it is unhealthy! If you spend $100 each week dining out you can save $400 a month and $1600 in the next 4 months. Not bad!

Give up a few extra luxuries – Give up expensive entertainment such as movies out. Ever notice how much movie tickets have increased over the years?! Movies can now cost $12-15 per person! Save up your fun for your vacation instead. The same goes for bars, nightclubs, arcades, bowling, etc.

Cut out coffee and alcohol – Brew your own coffee at home. This simple tactic will easily save you hundreds of dollars in the next few months. A $4 coffee each day doesn’t seem like much until you realize just how much you are spending per month ($4 day * 7 days per week – you are looking at approx $30 per week or $120 per month!).

If you really like a fresh cup of coffee or fancy specialty coffees, purchase a Keurig brewer or espresso machine (I recommend Delonghi and Nespresso). Just make sure to buy a reusable K-Cup over the overpriced K-Cups. Alternatively, treat yourself to a coffee out just on weekends (this is my preferred method). Also, alcohol is nothing but an overpriced unhealthy, empty calorie habit. Cut it out for your health and watch your savings pile up even more for your trip.

Hold a garage/yard sale – You can easily make a few bucks by having a large sale. A yard sale is a great opportunity to clear out all your old junk while making some profit on the side. Put this money aside in your vacation savings account. Selling items on Ebay or Facebook Marketplace is another idea.

Take up a few odd jobs – See if anyone has any small projects you can complete to put away extra money in your savings. Anything helps and adds up in the long run. Walking the dog, painting a house or garage, etc.

Don’t take out any new debt – Taking out additional debt will just lower the amount of disposable money you have available each month. It may seem like you aren’t spending anything, however, you will be paying for those purchases for a long time and taking away from your available disposable income each month.

More random tips to help you save

Hiking at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Summer is a great time to plan a budget friendly hiking triop

Why not take a relaxing staycation? There are probably dozens of things to do in your own city that you have never gotten around to exploring. Be a tourist for the day (or several) in your own town and you’ll save on both travel and lodging expenses. Residents are often given discounts to local attractions.

Travel with other families/couples. You can split the costs of various bills such as the hotel and gas. Plus, it’s fun to have more people to interact with on a lengthy drive.

Check reviews of hotels and restaurants in advance. You are spending your hard earned money, don’t waste it! You can check a site like Trip Advisor, scan Google reviews, or even search Reddit or Citydata forums for feedback.

Keep plenty of snacks with you on the go. You won’t have to resort to overpriced attraction concessions. I always keep some snacks in the car and also in my purse so I don’t have to resort to a pricey vending machine or overpriced food stand.

Don’t overbuy souvenirs. Are you really going to use/display them all or will they end up in the attic? I have a hard time limiting myself in areas like Orlando where every ride leaves you into a fabulous gift shop.

Avoid taxis/ubers on your trip. This can really add up. I recommend walking or taking public transportation. Also some hotels offer free airport shuttles. I’ve even seen some that offer free shuttles within a 5-10 mile distance which is a nice perk.

If renting a car, do so in advance as rates will be cheaper. Also check the website for additional discount and weekly rates. Also, it’s best to rent a smaller car that is more gas efficient.

Engage in free and low cost activities on your trip. Exercise, nature walks, state parks, hiking, and biking are examples of fun, low cost activities. Check out my guide to some fun freebies you can pretty much enjoy on any trip to give you a few ideas.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for budgeting at popular tourist attractions:

Keep these budget travel tips in mind and you could save enough money for another trip! I would rather cut down some of my unnecessary expenses on my trip, like souvenirs and overpriced restaurants, and save the money for another vacation!