Your Guide to Traveling on a Budget This Summer

6 MIN. READ

 

 

Key takeaways:

  

• Summer travel can be affordable when you plan ahead and make smart choices on accommodations, food, flights, and activities.
• Small savings add up fast, and there are plenty of ways to have fun without overspending.
• A budget-friendly trip is about spending intentionally on the experiences that matter most.

Summer travel sounds exciting until you start adding up flights, hotels, meals, and activities.

The good news is that you can plan a fun getaway without draining your savings or going into debt, even as prices continue to rise.

Read on for practical summer travel tips that will help you make the most of the season while sticking to your summer travel budget.

How to Save on Accommodation and Lodging This Summer

Hotel prices can go up during the popular tourist season, and private rentals aren’t always cheaper.
 

Look for Accommodations Off the Beaten Path

There can be a huge price difference between a hotel with a view on the beach and a rental located a few minutes away from popular attractions.

Tools like Google Maps are great for exploring accommodations in a specific area, including the hotels, bed and breakfasts, and private rentals that are a little further away from the more popular spots.

Book Your Hotel or Rental Directly

If you look for hotels online, you’ll find lots of platforms that claim to offer good deals. The truth is that third-party booking platforms for hotels and rentals typically add their own fees.

You can usually get a better price if you book with the hotel or rental owner directly.
 

Stay With Friends or Family

Catching up with friends and family is fun, right? If they just so happen to live somewhere you want to visit, you can save a little money by staying with them. Financial benefit aside, staying with someone you know is also a fantastic way to get recommendations for the best local restaurants and attractions. And with all the money you save on lodging expenses, you can probably afford to take your hosts out for a nice meal while you’re in town.

How to Save on Food While Traveling

Food is an important part of traveling, and you’ll probably want to check out some popular restaurants or try some local specialties during your trip. You can do so without breaking the bank.
 

Look for What’s Popular With the Locals

Yelp, TripAdvisor, and local food blogs are great resources for finding restaurants, eateries, and even food trucks with great reviews.

Instead of heading to the places that are popular with tourists, do a little bit of research to find out where the locals are eating. You’ll get great food and an authentic experience for a fraction of the cost.
 

Book an Accommodation With a Kitchen

If you’re traveling on a budget, one of the easiest ways to save money is by cooking some of your own meals. You can still enjoy eating out now and then, but having a kitchen at your rental makes it much easier to prepare simple breakfasts, snacks, and a few meals on your own.

Tips for Saving on Transportation

Unless you’re driving to your destination, transportation can eat up a big portion of your vacation budget. Here’s how you can save.

Take Advantage of Public Transit and Hotel Shuttles

Depending on your destination, you may be able to skip the car rental entirely and rely on public transit. Research routes and schedules ahead of time to figure out where you’ll be able to go.

To add some variety to your trip, you can also book a car rental for half of it so you can drive to see more spots after you’ve explored everything there is to do in the area.

Be Smart About the Accommodation You Pick

Look for a hotel, bed and breakfast, or rental that is within walking distance of some fun activities and great restaurants. If that’s not an option, book lodging with access to bus or light rail routes so you can access more activities.

How to Save on Car Rentals

If you decide on renting a car, there are a few things you can do to keep the cost down:
 

• Book early and compare prices.
• Pick up your rental away from the airport if possible.
• Choose an economy or compact car.
• Look for membership, loyalty, or credit card discounts.
• Avoid extras you do not need, like prepaid fuel or additional drivers.
• Return the car with a full tank.
• Check your own insurance or credit card coverage before buying rental insurance.
• Rebook if prices drop after you book a car rental.

How to Spend Less on Flights

Flying doesn’t have to be expensive if you know when and how to book:
 

• Be flexible with your travel dates, since midweek flights and off-peak times are often cheaper.
• Set fare alerts and compare prices early so you can book when deals drop.
• Check flight search sites like Google Flights or Skyscanner to compare options quickly.
• Consider driving out to a smaller airport instead of flying out of a major one.

Tips for Saving on Activities During Summer Travel

With the money you’re saving on accommodation and transport, you can afford to do more activities. But there are ways to save on fun experiences:
 

• Plan activities ahead of time and book early when possible so you can lock in prices.
• Look for free or low-cost things to do, like public parks, hiking, beaches, free museums, or community events.
• Search for coupons and promo codes before booking activities.
• You can use deal sites and apps to save, like Groupon, Klook Travel, or Viator.
• Are there any activity passes for the area you’re visiting? For instance, you can get a Go City pass in most major U.S. cities, including Orlando.
• If possible, plan activities on weekdays to avoid higher weekend pricing.
• Sign up for newsletters for the activities you’re interested in so you can get alerts when prices drop.

Save by Traveling Smarter This Summer

Traveling on a budget is easier if you do some planning ahead of time and make sure your spending won’t throw off your usual monthly budget. Here’s what you should look for.

Take Advantage of Rewards and Miles

Do you have a credit card with points or miles? Take advantage of these perks by using points you have already earned to help pay for flights or hotels. Some credit cards have special offers, like extra cashback on car rental or hotel rooms, so check what kind of rewards you have access to.
 

Score Some Last-Minute Deals

Waiting until the last minute can be a good thing when it comes to travel planning. To help travelers just like you, the good folks at SmarterTravel.com managed to identify online resources that specialize in finding last-minute deals on hotels, flights, tours, cruises, and more!

Plan a Day Trip

Maybe you don’t have room in your budget for a weekend getaway or spending a few days with friends. That doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. Day trips are an excellent way to break out of your regular routine and save money while doing it. Take a look at a map. You can probably find an interesting destination within a two- or three-hour drive of your home. Do a little research and find a fun activity or two that you can enjoy while you’re there.

Head out early in the morning, spend the day creating spontaneous memories, and grab a good meal before heading back home.

Collect Experiences Instead of Stuff

Things and trinkets are fun for a little bit, but the joy they provide rarely sticks with you. Experiences, on the other hand, are not only enjoyable in the moment; they often get better with time. If you’re going to plan a last-minute summer getaway (and you definitely should), focus on creating memorable experiences rather than spending too much money on souvenirs you’ll probably lose anyway.
 

Plan Your Summer Travel With Power Financial Credit Union

Power Financial Credit Union can help you stay on track this summer with convenient mobile and online banking, surcharge-free access to a large ATM network, and savings accounts that make it easier to set money aside for summer travel. 

Visit one of our South Florida branches or contact us to learn more about becoming a member and building a travel fund for your next getaway.