Travel Experts Reveal Their Best Advice For Making Vacations More Affordable

Ready to travel but low on cash? Having a small budget shouldn’t prevent you from embarking on that vacation to Europe or beach getaway in the Caribbean.

Instead, you’ll just have to be more savvy with your planning, scouring the internet for good deals on flights and entertainment, traveling during off-peak times, and using simple hacks to cut down on costs.

We connected with travel experts who revealed how people can make the most of their vacations even while they’re on a budget.

Use Websites To Find Deals on Flights

Before you book an airline flight, check out Google Flights and Skyscanner. Set up alerts, so you can be notified when the price of your desired flight decreases.

“My besties are Google Flights alerts and Skyscanner multicity search. Google flags price drops the moment they happen, Skyscanner pulls up budget carriers and odd one-way hops,” said Georgia Fowkes, a travel advisor at Altezza Travel.

Booking your flight at least a month in advance and flying on certain days of the week could help reduce prices even more. According to Expedia, booking domestic flights one month (or up to three months) before departure can save travelers up to 25%.

“Additionally, flying on a Thursday instead of a Sunday can save travelers around 17%,” said Melanie Fish, a travel expert with Expedia.

Consider Traveling In The Offseason

Avoid the in-season crowds and high prices by traveling during the off-peak season.

“If you’re flexible with your dates, always travel during shoulder season. Not only will this help you save money while accommodations are cheaper, but you’ll also face fewer crowds, which can make your vacation significantly more enjoyable,” said Jennifer Yellin, a travel expert with Points Path.

Book Direct To Save on Affordable Accommodations

Booking directly can save you money on your travel accommodations. So cut out the middleman and save.

“If you find the hotel you want to stay at on an online booking site aggregator, usually, if you approach the hotel directly via their direct booking website, the price will be less, as they’re not paying any commission when you book directly with them,” said Daniel Green, co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance.

And if you’re considering staying in a vacation rental, like an Airbnb, booking directly is still an option.

“The same goes for vacation rentals. Many don’t know this, but on Airbnb, lots of rentals are managed by larger property management companies that also have their own direct booking websites. Again—book direct and you’ll likely knock 10% off your lodging costs,” Green says.

Pay For Hotels and Flights With Credit Card Rewards

Redeem credit card rewards. If you have a travel rewards credit card, now is the time to use all the points you’ve acquired.

“My number one trick when it comes to traveling for less is to use points earned from your credit card rewards. This can allow you to redeem points for free flights, hotel stays, or even car rentals,” said Yellin.

Study the different rewards programs carefully. For example, credit card companies typically have different travel partners, like hotel and airline loyalty programs, that you can transfer your rewards to. You should check out what the redemption values are with the various travel partners.

“I recommend putting in a little bit of effort to get to know your specific rewards program, because there might be ways to use even less points for the same exact travel booking—such as transferring your points to a partner loyalty program versus booking directly through the program’s own hotel chain,” Yellin said.

Utilize These Simple Hacks For Extra Savings On Travel Costs

Beyond taking advantage of credit cards and being strategic about when and where you travel, there are some easy ways to make your vacation more affordable once you’re at your destination.

“Some overall ways to cut costs include using public transportation over a taxi, finding a free walking tour, and looking into free days at a museum. And when it comes to meals, find out where the locals eat and avoid tourist-heavy areas,” Yellin said.

And while renting a car can be costly, you may be able to use it to save money on other key expenses.

“When traveling as a family, we find hiring a car is often a massive money saver,” said Jason Mills, a travel writer at Big Little Travels. “We recently visited Morocco and hired a car for the week. This meant we didn’t need to use local taxis that could be expensive, we could visit attractions directly rather than booking expensive tours, and we could visit the supermarket the locals use to stock up on food and drink, allowing us to save money on eating out three times each day.

You can also save money on food by making lunch your splurge meal of the day.

“Switch lunch and dinner. Because lunches are often less expensive than dinners, make lunch your main dining-out experience, and eat breakfast and dinner in your lodging, or outside as a picnic if possible,” Kilgore said.

Plus, if you want to still enjoy local restaurants without spending a fortune, consider using an app like Too Good To Go.

“The Too Good To Go app lets travelers grab discounted meals and groceries across Europe and North America,” said Tanya Turner, travel blogger at The T Word on Travel.

For entertainment, try the internet—sites like Groupon and Eventbrite can help you find events, classes, and activities in the area you’re travelling.

“Think miniature golf, zip lines, shows, sunset cruises, etc., in the location you’ll be visiting,” said Austin Kilgore, an analyst at the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights. “Search the web for activities or attractions you know you want to visit, along with the word ‘coupon.’ Many places offer two-for-one or percentage-off coupons online.”

The Bottom Line

Affordable travel in 2025 is within reach. You can save money on flights by using your credit card rewards and transferring them to an airline loyalty program. Also, consider using sites like Google Flights and Skyscanner to get notifications about price drops and find cheap flights.

And once you’re at your destination, save on food costs by making lunch the main meal of the day and making use of apps like Too Good To Go. When it comes to saving on attractions and activities, sites like Groupon can be useful for coupons.