Traveling on a Budget
Alright, so it’s cold and miserable in Texas, and all I can think about is how much better life would be if I were skiing right now. Or maybe even tanning on a beach. Seriously, what’s the point of cold weather if you’re just stuck indoors?? I haven’t posted in a minute so I figured now, nearing the end of February, with Spring break around the corner and summer coming, we might all be starting to think about trips we want to plan. I know I’ve already got some ideas spinning!
I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel near and far to visit the most gorgeous places, eat the most heavenly food, and meet the kindest people. I truly don’t take that for granted for a second. However, people ask me all the time, “How can y’all afford to go on trips so often?” Guys…LET👏🏻ME👏🏻TELL👏🏻YOU. Throughout the past few years, I’ve learned so many tricks from family and friends, as well as discover some new tips myself that have saved us HUNDREDS, possibly even THOUSANDS when traveling. Seriously, our budget is small but our bucket list is huge. There are so many places we want to see, and I’m excited to share how we’re able to turn our dreams into reality more often than not. So, let’s get into it!
Typically, our little family travels by plane. It’s really just personal preference for us because we have a toddler and let’s be real…any car ride longer than maybe 45 minutes is absolute hell for everybody involved. (Just think puke everywhere, screaming, crying, same song on repeat because it’s the only one that keeps her happy, etc…not a good time.) I know so many people who avoid flights because they immediately think that airline costs are out of the question, but they don’t have to be! There are so many great apps and websites that can track airline costs for you and help you find the best deals. My personal favorites are Hopper and Scott’s Cheap Flights (thanks to my MIL for introducing me to all of those lol). I often get emails from Scott’s Cheap Flights for low prices on flights to different destinations that I’ve said I’m interested in. When I get the emails, I like that it shows me where I can go, how much of a discount I would get (usually a pretty substantial one), and what dates my trip would need to be on.
Hopper is my go-to, though. I have the app on my phone, so anytime we think about a trip we want to take, I can put in the destination, and it will show me a calendar with every date color coded by price. SO FREAKING COOL! You can also book hotels, car rentals, and other places to stay through the app. Hopper gives you the option to “watch” your trip, and it will alert you when prices will go down, go up, and when the best time is to purchase. Think of it like a fortune teller for airline prices haha. (Side note: this post isn’t sponsored but totally should be.)
Okay, so now the part that gets some people heated — we only pack in backpacks or carry-ons. Yeah, no checked bags here. Packing small and light saves money and A LOT of hassle. Lots of clothes can be re-worn, and you really don’t need as much as you think. When we go for longer trips or winter trips, I like to use compression packing cubes to help fit everything. Truly, everything you could need for a week or two in any weather condition can probably be packed in a carry-on.
When we look for things to do on our trips, I like to Google beforehand and find the places that sound the most interesting. I make a list of those to spread out throughout our trip so we know what we want to do before we go. If you’re visiting a big city, check to see if they have a CityPass. We got these when we went to NYC and they were a lifesaver. We got to pick how many attractions we wanted to see from their list, and we paid one DISCOUNTED price for all of our tickets (and I mean a good discount, y’all). It was so much cheaper to do a CityPass for our tickets than to buy tickets at each of the individual attractions. Check out the free things to do as well!
To save money on the cost of food, try visiting coffee shops or bakeries for breakfast instead of eating out at sit-down restaurants for all of your meals. If we have access to a kitchen, sometimes we buy a few groceries as well for lunch or dinner! Bringing your own snacks from home can also be more budget-friendly. Avoid chain restaurants that you have at home, and only eat out at places that are unique to the place you’re visiting. For instance, in England, you’ve obviously gotta try authentic fish and chips. In France get a real croissant, and pizza in New York and Chicago!
Another thing that people can’t get over is the cost of hotels. I think websites like Airbnb and VRBO are becoming more popular than hotels and for good reason. They’re often significantly cheaper because hotels can be so pricey. In Europe and other places (not as common in the USA), hostels are also a great option to save money. For those that don’t know what a hostel is, it’s a room with multiple beds or bunkbeds and you just pay for your bed. This means a shared bathroom and room, but it’s not as terrible as you might think. If you’re traveling with a larger group, you could even book an entire hostel room for your group to share instead of multiple hotel rooms — this can save so much money. Plus, you might make a new friend!
One last thing. During a trip, I’m a fan of spending my money on food or experiences rather than souvenirs. My husband is more of the souvenir type, but even he usually just sticks to maybe a t-shirt for himself. Do all your co-workers and friends really need a little gift from wherever it is you visited? Nah, probably not. You also probably don’t need to go on a shopping spree during your vacation…save that for when you’re home. Spend that money trying a new food or doing something fun instead! Those new experiences will stay with you, but the stuff you bought is just that — stuff.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this or found it somewhat helpful. I love sharing what I can and learning from others! Talk to ya soon. xx