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Dying to take a trip but don’t think affordable travel is possible?  Keep reading to learn some really smart ways to plan that cost way less than you may think.

So many people dream of traveling the world but never do it because they don’t think affordable travel is possible.  As someone who loves to travel and loves to save money, I can tell you that it is possible to do both.

This post will show you how to book affordable travel to save money on transportation, accommodations, tickets for attractions and tours, and more.

It’s a matter of knowing where to look, how to compare, and when to book.  Read on, and you’ll be on your way to your dream destination before you know it.

BOOKING AFFORDABLE TRAVEL

#1 Be Flexible with Dates

I realize that this can be difficult for some people because of work schedules, but be as flexible as possible with dates.  It is hard to find cheap fares on the exact dates you would like.  You will have a much better chance of booking affordable travel if you base your travel dates on when the cheap flights are available.

Go to Google Flights, and search using their Explore tool.  Enter a departing airport and then enter a broad destination like a country or continent.  Choose the flexible dates option, and it will show you the cheapest flights available between the two locations during the specified time frame you enter.

Related Posts:
How to Find Super Travel Flight Deals So You Can Book a Dream Vacation.

#2 Be Flexible with Airports

When searching for affordable travel destinations on Google Flights look at several airports in an area (continent, country, state) to fly out of and into.  Play with several combinations between airports.  Choose the least expensive route and plan your trip around that arrival airport.  Once you get to that airport, you can usually find an inexpensive way to get somewhere else if you choose to.  You could rent a car and drive to another location, or you could take a cheap flight or train to another location.  Europe and Asia both have airlines that are cheap and can get you to another place in a reasonable amount of time.  This can save tons of money AND allow you to see another place that you might never have thought to go!  Being flexible can be fun!

See the post on How to Find Super Travel Flight Deals So You Can Book a Dream Vacation.

#3 Search Often & Set Flight Alerts

If you’re looking for good flight prices, I recommend doing a quick search on Google Flights each day. The more often you look, the better your chances of finding a good one.

Another option is to set flight alerts on Google Flights. You will be notified when a price changes. When you get an alert, you have to jump on it quickly! The fares could change at any moment. If it looks like it will work for you, just book it. If you decide it won’t work, you can cancel on most booking sites within the first 24 hours. Check out my post on how to set alerts on Google Flights.

The sooner you begin your search, the better.  I recommend anywhere from one year to four months in advance.

#4 Book “Hidden Hotels”

When I’m looking for a nice but inexpensive hotel, and the chances are very unlikely that my plans will change, I look at what I call “hidden hotel” deals.  These are usually very nice hotels that are discounted significantly but are non-refundable.

I find them on Hotwire and Priceline.  Hotwire calls it “Hot Rates”, and Priceline calls it “Express Deals”. The catch is they won’t reveal the name of the hotel until you book it.  That may seem a little scary, but if you know how to filter the search you can almost always get a really great travel deal.  

Just select the area on the map you want to be in, select the minimum number of stars you’re willing to accept, and look at the review score. As long as the hotel meets this criteria, you should be good to go! Using this method, you can get really nice hotels at significantly reduced prices.

If you’re planning a trip that you aren’t comfortable with non-refundable deals contact me, and I can help.

#5 Book Attractions with Ticket Bundles

If you are visiting a large city, especially for the first time, you’ll probably want to see the most well-known attractions like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, or the Empire State Building in New York City.  In this case, it is sometimes more economical to buy a bundle of tickets.  You can purchase an unlimited number of attractions for a set number of days, or you can purchase a set number of attractions that you can see in a specific period of time.  You always have to compare the price of the bundle versus buying each ticket individually based on exactly what YOU want to see. Depending on your situation, it could save a significant amount of money.

It can be a little confusing, so contact me if you’d like help comparing and booking them.

#6 Don’t Pay for Checked Luggage

If you’ve flown at all in the last few years, you probably know that paying for checked luggage can be very expensive.  Learning to pack light to avoid checking your luggage can save you a ton of money, especially if you are traveling with several people.  

In many cases, 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, backpack, etc.) are included with the flight, but NOT always.  Always check your ticket to see what you are allowed to bring on the flight and what the weight and dimension requirements are.  Some tickets do not include a carry-on bag, but they always include a personal item.  

If a carry-on bag is included with your ticket (or you upgrade to include it), that’s great. If not, and you don’t want to pay to upgrade, there is another good option that is very doable. Click on these posts to learn all about it:
How to Pack a Travel Backpack for a 2-Week Vacation
How to Pack a Carry-On For A 2-Week Trip

Before you say that sounds crazy, I encourage you to read them.  It will probably sound a lot better than you think!  There are many advantages to packing this way.  We would never pack any other way.

Related Post:
13 Creative Tips for Packing Light for Travel

#7 Eat Like a Local

We love eating local foods everywhere we go!  Yes, cooking meals in your apartment or hotel will save a lot of money, and this is one good way to make affordable travel work for you if you choose.  We, however, choose to spend a little more in this area and eat in local restaurants.  But we still try to be smart with where and when we go and what we order to stay within our budget.  It is always less expensive to walk to restaurants a short distance from the main touristy areas.  Even a street or two away will be cheaper and usually more authentic.  We also look for happy hour specials, and sometimes, depending on the size of the entrees we split the meal and share.  It saves money AND calories!!