10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (2024)

My family doesn’t take very many vacations but when we do you can be sure we pull every thrifty trick in the book to make sure we get the most bang for our vacation buck.

10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (1)

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1. Go Off Season

Going on vacation during the off season works for our family because we homeschool. I realize not all families can do this, but the 9 steps below will help those of you that can’t go off season.

2. Book Through Point Earning or Rebate Sites

All of the sites above offer either points or cash back when you go through their shop and earn links to the various well known discount travel sites like priceline and hotels.com . The offers change from time to time and vary from site to site so it pays to join each site and then compare sites to see who is currently offering the best deal. I have earned as much as a $50 Amazon gift card code when I have done this for our families one week vacations.

3. Use Daily Deal Sites

Daily deal sites like Groupon and Plum District offer travel packages to various destinations, I myself have not booked a vacation package this way but have had friends that have and they have had good results. I have however bought restaurant vouchers for the city we are visiting off Groupon with success. Simply add your travel destination to your email preferences in Groupon so that you get the daily updates for offers in that area.

4. Look For Coupon Books

Most people know that you can buy coupon books full of entertainment and food coupons for large cities but you can also get a lot of free coupons by stopping at the local tourist information booth as you enter the area you are going to be vacationing in. My family does this all the time and have saved 10 to 20 percent off our meals and local attraction tickets at no cost for the coupons.

5. Book A Place With A Kitchen

If you are going to be staying in one area for 5 to 7 nights or more chances are you can book a place with a full kitchen for the same price as an average hotel room (our family has done this 2 vacations in a row). Having our own kitchen has kept our costs for food low on our last two vacations.

6. Pack A Small Cooler

Our cooler comes in handy for more than just the road trip to our destination, each morning before we head out for the day we pack it with fresh snacks and drinks for the day. In between our days events we have snacks on hand that help tie us over to meal time at the hotel room.

7. Compare Cost Of Transportation

When our family went to Disney World a few years ago one of the first things we did when planning for the trip was to sit down and compare gas cost to flight cost and car rental. For a family our size (5) driving worked out to be much less expensive but this might not be true if you have a smaller family, and also depends on exactly where you are headed and what flight and car rental deals you can find.

8. Consider Camping

State parks are often offer very inexpensive campsites that come with more comforts of home than you might think like hot showers and flush toilets. Private campgrounds often have small cabins that can be rented for less per night than a hotel room. Of course if you are dragging a trailer behind your vehicle your gas mileage is going to go up so you need to factor that in.

9. Eat Out For Lunch Stay In For Dinner

In general many restaurants have lunch menus that are several dollars cheaper per person than dinner menus, which can add up when you are feeding a family (especially one of teenagers who eat as much as adults).

Even if you don’t book a hotel room with a full kitchen, most hotel rooms now come with fridge and microwave. Keep the makings for sandwiches in the fridge, and heat up some soup in the microwave for a simple and quick family meal. (make sure to pack a few simple cooking dishes is you do go this route since the hotel rooms won’t have them)

I once met a woman who brings her crock pot and electric skillet on vacation to use in a regular hotel room to feed her family. With a little bit of brain storming these two kitchen items certainly would increase the different meals you could make in a standard hotel room.

10. Cut Costs On Trinkets And Treats

When we arrived in Orlando as a family the first place we stopped was Walmart to pick up the food we would need for the week. We noticed right away that they had a great selection of Disney t-shirts, mugs and hats for inexpensive prices. When our daughter said she wanted something to remember Disney we brought her there.

As for how to not spend a fortune on treats such as ice cream and cookies and fancy slushy drinks, here is what works for our family, we stock the kitchen in the place where we are staying with treats that we normally rarely buy such as ice cream bars and bags of candy and chocolate and tell the children when we get back to the hotel room each day they can pick something from the stash. This plan has worked well for us for years.

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to load up your smartphone, or tablet with helpful travel Apps. I like gas buddy which helps us find the least expensive place to buy gas along the way.

Reduce The Costs Of Accommodations On Your Next Road Trip By Converting Your Vehicle Into A Camper

10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (2)

10 Essential Items For Turning The Family Minivan Into A Camper

10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (3)

How To Build A Truck Topper Camper In A Weekend

10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (4)

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10 Ways Thrifty People Save Money On Vacations - Snail Pace Transformations (2024)

FAQs

How do you handle money when traveling? ›

Whether you're taking the vacation of a lifetime or studying abroad, use these 7 tips to help you manage your money abroad.
  1. Make a travel budget. ...
  2. Keep track of your expenses. ...
  3. Understand the local currency and exchange rate. ...
  4. Get foreign cash. ...
  5. Notify your bank. ...
  6. Consider a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Sep 5, 2023

How do I save money fast? ›

See which of these suggestions could make the biggest financial impact on your bottom line.
  1. Cancel unnecessary subscription services and memberships. ...
  2. Automate your savings with an app. ...
  3. Set up automatic payments for bills if you make a steady salary. ...
  4. Switch banks. ...
  5. Open a short-term certificate of deposit (CD)
Feb 26, 2024

How to make vacation money? ›

How to make money while traveling:
  1. Freelancing online. Fancy adopting a 'digital nomad' lifestyle? ...
  2. Language tuition. ...
  3. Teach other people your skills. ...
  4. Make things to sell. ...
  5. Offer your services at hostels. ...
  6. Sell your photos. ...
  7. Street performances. ...
  8. Seasonal work.

How can I save 100 or more when traveling? ›

Traveling on a Budget: 10 Tips to Save Cash
  1. Plan ahead. ...
  2. Create a budget before the trip. ...
  3. Travel during off-peak seasons. ...
  4. Check Groupon and LivingSocial for savings. ...
  5. Avoid hotels when possible. ...
  6. Look for discounts before you go. ...
  7. Travel with a friend. ...
  8. Don't be afraid to haggle.

What is the safest way to carry money when travelling? ›

Guidelines/Tips for Traveling with Cash
  1. Carry as little currency as possible.
  2. Carry cash in a money belt that sits on your waist (under your clothes) or a money pouch that hangs around your neck.
  3. Keep cash concealed and close to your body at all times.

How can I be frugal when traveling? ›

But it doesn't have to be as costly as you might think with these 12 tips for saving money on travel.
  1. Pack light. ...
  2. Shop at local grocery stores. ...
  3. Pack snacks. ...
  4. Get yourself into the airport lounge. ...
  5. Arrive early. ...
  6. Get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership fees reimbursed. ...
  7. Take advantage of credit card free night certificates.
Jul 10, 2024

How can I save $1000 fast? ›

Financial expert Dave Ramsey has a lot of ideas on the subject, and here are some of the most practical ways to save your first $1,000 quickly.
  1. Cancel Subscriptions. ...
  2. Bring Your Own Lunch. ...
  3. Avoid Coffee Out. ...
  4. Re-Sell Old Items. ...
  5. Shop at Cheaper Grocery Stores With Rewards Programs. ...
  6. Buy Generic. ...
  7. Join a Carpool.
Dec 28, 2023

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How do I plan a vacation with little money? ›

8 Tips to vacation on a budget
  1. Start with a vacation budget. Inexpensive vacation ideas start with a clear vacation budget. ...
  2. Plan ahead of time. ...
  3. Choose budget-friendly vacation destinations. ...
  4. Choose budget-friendly accommodations. ...
  5. Meet people. ...
  6. Do your own driving. ...
  7. Consider inexpensive activities. ...
  8. Save for vacations over time.

How much does the average person save for vacation? ›

Average Vacation Costs in 2024: Transportation, Entertainment, and Budgeting Tips. Quick Answer: In the U.S., a one-week vacation for a solo traveler costs about $1,984, while a family of four can cost around $7,936. Inflation is on the rise, affecting how Americans choose to spend their money.

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