Family travel can be one of the most fun — and most expensive! — things we do all year. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to drain your bank account.
There are SO many ways to save money on travel, but it will differ by person and family, depending on your preferences for the type of travel, lodging, and vacations you enjoy — and that’s okay! Whether you’d rather camp under the stars, lounge at a beach resort, or load up the minivan and hit the road, there’s a money-saving strategy that will work for you.
Planning a family road trip, a weekend getaway, or a winter vacation? There are dozens of ways you can save a bit (or a bunch) here and there to really stretch your travel budget without sacrificing any fun memories. Those little savings add up fast and you might be surprised by how much more fun vacation feels when you know you got a good deal on your flights, hotels, food, and activities!
Budget Travel Tips: Creative Ways to Save Money on Your Next Family Vacation
If you’re planning a family vacation soon, don’t miss this comprehensive list of creative ways to travel for cheap! Be sure to bookmark it, pin it, or share it with your travel buddies because you’ll want to revisit this list as you continue planning.
As you’ll see in all of these ideas, if you really want to save as much money as possible on vacations, it helps to think outside the box and get creative. A little flexibility and a little planning ahead can go a LONG way!
Here are some of our best tips:
Cheap Ways to Travel: Save on Airfare
1. Drive instead of fly
Do the math on how much you’ll save to make sure it’s worth it, but more often than not, it saves quite a bit of money!
2. Choose a creative mode of travel like a train
Check out some great train travel savings tips here. (And sometimes Amtrak runs great BOGO deals!)
3. Plan flights for Tuesdays or Thursdays
This is when flights are usually the lowest, so shifting your travel days just a little can save you big.
4. Purchase domestic airfare 6-8 weeks before your travel date
This is prime time for the best ticket prices.
5. Look at ticket prices on Tuesday-Thursday
The prices for flights are usually higher on Monday, Friday, and weekends, so midweek is the best time to make this big purchase.
6. Take advantage of airfare sales!
Many airlines run seasonal sales throughout the year and it’s a great time to plan ahead and snag tickets at a discounted price. (We often post the best Southwest sales when they pop up!)
7. Do your research on flights
Don’t forget airfare search engines like Kayak or Expedia. Those can be valuable resources when comparing airfare costs.
8. Travel during off-season times
Airfare is much lower during the less popular times of year to travel. Avoid holidays if you can, because airfare is often 3-4 times higher than a regular ticket price during those times.
9. Sign up for airline rewards programs
Many airlines offer free loyalty programs that do NOT require a credit card! You’ll earn points for your travel over time and can cash them in for free flights.
How to Travel for Cheap: Save on Lodging
10. Try camping
Camping allows you to savor time in nature and enjoy free or very reduced nightly lodging fees.
11. Use Priceline to find a last-minute Express deal on a hotel.
More info on this super helpful tip HERE. (I’ve done this many times, including when Kaitlynn and I went to NYC recently, and it’s worked beautifully!)
12. Stay with family or friends
If you have family or friends in the area you’re visiting, free lodging with them will always save you tons of money, plus you can spend extra time with loved ones while you’re visiting.
13. Plan a staycation
Sleeping and eating at home and enjoying local attractions during the day as hometown tourists will save a lot of money and still offer fun memories.
14. Go in with family or friends on a bigger Airbnb or VRBO house.
Most of the time, splitting a big place like this results in a much lower cost per night for lodging expenses. Plus, most of the time you’ll also save on food because bigger places have a kitchen that will prevent you from eating out so much while on vacation.
15. Search multiple hotel travel sites to find the best price.
Read more about how to get hotel discounts HERE.
See our recent travel deals here.
16. Don’t forget about coupon codes and cash back sites!
These can both save you a lot of money on hotel purchases. (Our favorite cashback sites are Rakuten, TopCashBack, and Swagbucks.)
Cheapest Way to Travel: Saving on Food
17. Stay at a place with a kitchen
Then you can cook at home and save on eating out. Buying groceries and cooking yourself will almost always be less expensive than eating out for every meal while on vacation.
18. Take advantage of complimentary breakfast.
Many hotels and bed & breakfasts offer complimentary breakfast each morning. Getting one free meal each day is a huge savings!
19. Pack your own snacks when possible
Whether it’s for the car on a road trip, the airplane while traveling, or the destination itself, consider packing your own snacks to avoid over-priced ones while on vacation.
20. Only eat two meals per day.
If you’re eating really big meals on vacation, you might be able to get away with just two meals — brunch and dinner!
21. Take your own water bottles
Refill them throughout the day and save. Paying to purchase water bottles or drinks can add up quickly.
22. Buy restaurant gift cards at Kroger
You’ll get 4x points — which you can then use to save on gas!
23. Place a grocery pickup order
Find a store near your ending destination that offers online ordering, so you can simply pick it up and not give in to impulse purchases.
24. Pack a picnic lunch and eat at a state rest stop
While you’re there, you can check if they have coupons for other local restaurants or attractions.
25. Take advantage of deals on local restaurants and attractions
Use apps like Local Flavor or Groupon to find bargains on local favorites.
26. Prepare freezer meals
Put your prepared meals in a zip-top bag and take a slow cooker or instant pot along to reheat them.
Save with These Budget Travel Tips!
27. Find creative ways to fund your travel budget
If travel is super important to you and you don’t have wiggle room in the budget, find ways to earn extra money for vacations. Some examples might include selling items, taking surveys, or using rewards apps like Swagbucks. (Swagbucks offers gift cards for all kinds of restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and airlines.)
28. Travel in the off-season when prices are cheaper
We already mentioned airfare is a lot cheaper during the off-season, but so are lodging costs, resort fees, cruise prices, and entertainment expenses.
29. Scout out free activities at your destination before you travel
You can even post a question to your social media about free/frugal things to do in the area you plan to travel to.
30. Walk instead of drive
If you’re vacationing in a walkable area, consider walking instead of renting a car or taking an Uber each day. (Looking for ways to save on rental cars? Check out these tips!)
Want to Earn Money for Travel?
If you dream of traveling more than your current budget allows, side hustles can be an amazing way to grow your travel budget. But, for most women, adding one more thing to your plate might feel nearly impossible. That’s why I made this FREE product — 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women. In it, you’ll find ten flexible, totally doable, outside-the-box ideas — even if you’re short on time, energy, or experience!
Inside this FREE guide, you’ll discover:
- 10 creative, LOW-PRESSURE side hustles you’ve likely never heard of — perfect for busy women juggling a full plate
- How to START EARNING extra income without a business plan, a big online following, or a fancy resume
- Real-life ideas that help you use what you already know, love, and do — in a way that actually fits your lifestyle
- A fresh perspective that breaks the myth that you need more time, money, or experience to start earning on the side
You don’t need to be “more qualified.” You don’t need to wait until life slows down. You just need the right ideas — and a willingness to begin!
And, honestly, I think earning extra money specifically for vacation is one of the most fun and motivating goals!
Head here to get this free printable list!
More Money-Saving Travel Tips!
Check out all these other great tips for saving money on travel and vacations:
- 8 Tips to Plan a Memorable Vacation Without Spending a Fortune
- 5 Ways to Save Money on Food During Family Vacations
- 9 Money-Saving Vacation Tips
- How to Save Money on Meals While on Vacation
- How We’re “Selling” Our Way to Vacation
- How We Save in Order to Spend More on Travel
- 10 Ways to Save on Spring Break Travel
- 5 Ways to Save on Family Train Travel
- Get a Bang for Your Buck on Travel Expenses
- How to Get the Best Hotel Discounts
- 4 Creative Ways to Fund Family Vacations
- The Complete Guide on How to Use Swagbucks
- How to Boost Your Vacation Budget With Groupon
- Our Experience Staying in an AirBnB in Rome
- How We Prepared For Our Very First Camping Trip
- My Master List of Things to Take On a Camping Trip
- 5 Important Lessons We Learned on Our First Camping Trip
- Frugal Ways to Occupy Kids While Traveling
- 12 Ways to Save on Car Rentals
- 10 Ways to Save on Visiting National Parks with Kids
- Recipes for a Crowd of 26 People While on Our Family Vacation
- Cheap Meals for Large Groups of 25+ People on Vacation
- Easy Meals for 20+ People on Vacation
Do you have any other tips for ways to save money on travel? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for ways to earn extra income?
These 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women are flexible, totally doable, outside-the-box ideas! 🙌
