Everyone would love to be on a beach in Bali, sipping fresh coconut water and enjoying the crystal clear water.
But how much money does it take to do such a thing? Well, if you’re not careful, it’s easy to drain your wallet and spend thousands of dollars—even for just a simple weekend.
However, there are some travel hacks that seasoned travelers use to find interesting deals and save hundreds on trips.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best ones and those that, in my opinion, are the easiest to put into practice.
Tuesday Bookings
As you probably already know, the time of year you book greatly affects the final price of your vacation.
For example, most airlines quietly slash their prices every Tuesday afternoon, typically between 2-4 PM EST.
Taking advantage of this little-known timing trick can save travelers up to 30% on flight costs.
It’s all a matter of price algorithms. Major carriers update their ones during this window, and that change triggers a chain reaction of competitive price drops across the industry.
The Layover Strategy
Sometimes, booking a flight with a layover in your actual destination city is cheaper than flying there directly.
For instance, instead of booking a $400 flight to Chicago, you might find a $250 flight to Milwaukee with a layover in Chicago.
Just hop off at the layover city and skip the final leg. Obviously, this hack only works with carry-on luggage since checked bags will continue to the final destination.
The Hotel Room Upgrade
Rather than booking an expensive room upfront, reserve a standard room and arrive at check-in between 4:30 and 6:00 PM.
This is when hotels have a clear picture of their vacancies and are more likely to offer free upgrades.
Politely mentioning a special occasion (even if it’s just “treating yourself”) while chatting with the front desk staff can increase your chances of scoring a better room without paying extra.
If you want to increase your chances even more, I also recommend you take a look at the article on why you should always refuse the first room you are given. You will find some interesting tips for getting an upgrade for free.
Credit Card Points Maximization
Most travelers use their travel rewards cards wrong. The secret is stacking multiple cards’ benefits.
Use one card for airline purchases, another for hotels, and a third for restaurants. This strategy can triple your points-earning speed.
This works because credit card companies offer higher rewards in certain categories to encourage spending. For example, a specific card can offer 3x points on hotel stays while another can provide double points for airline purchases.
Some savvy travelers have funded entire vacations using points earned from everyday purchases over just six months.
Local SIM Card
Always skip the expensive international phone plans from major carriers.
Local SIM cards usually cost under $20 and offer better coverage than international roaming.
I’ve recently been to Thailand and I paid about $8 for a week of unlimited data. My phone provider had asked me about $60 for an international plan (this is crazy!).
PRO TIP: If you travel a lot, opt for a dual sim phone or a virtual sim so that you can easily use a second sim simultaneously.
The “Opposite Season” Strategy
Another good strategy is to book winter destinations in summer and vice versa.
Hotels and airlines drastically reduce prices during off-peak seasons. Booking a ski resort in July for a December trip can save up to 40% compared to booking closer to winter.
Plus, many hotels offer free upgrades during their quiet seasons just to fill rooms.
The Flights Price Graph
Instead of picking travel dates first, use Google Flights’ price graph to find the cheapest weeks to fly.
Shifting your trip by just a few days can sometimes save hundreds of dollars.
The price graph reveals patterns in airline pricing that most booking sites hide, making it easier to spot deals that others miss.
Obviously, for this tip to work, you have to be flexible with the dates. Always remember that the more flexible you are, the more you can save.
Local Currency Booking
I don’t know if you already know this, but when booking accommodations online, try to switch the website to the local currency instead of using your home currency.
Many booking sites inflate exchange rates and using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and booking in the local currency can save 4-8% on accommodations.
When I went to Japan, I saved about €150 on a week-long stay just by booking in yen instead of euros
ADDITIONAL TIP
The last piece of advice I want to give you, if you want to save money, is to book the right destinations.
Some countries or cities (especially if they are very touristy) are much more expensive than others, and you may spend much more for a standard type of vacation.
In this regard, you can take a look at the 10 cities where you can vacation like royalty on a budget.
