Key points
- Travel will likely be expensive this summer, but you could spend less by visiting an affordable destination.
- You can also save money by traveling during the week or paying for airfare and accommodations with travel rewards.
- There are several other ways to save money on travel this summer, such as by finding low-cost activities at your destination and budgeting ahead of time for expenses.
Summer is a big travel season, but that also means it’s one of the most expensive times to travel. And this summer is shaping up to be particularly expensive, as demand has been soaring. Last month, the Delta Air Lines CEO even predicted record advance bookings for the summer.
That makes it harder to take a summer vacation if you don’t have much money saved, but it’s not impossible. To book a trip that works with your budget, here are the best cheap ways to travel this summer.
1. Pick an affordable destination
One of the easiest ways to save on travel is to visit cheaper places. Some cities are just plain expensive. If you want to visit Paris, New York City, or Dubai, to give a few examples, it’s going to be tough to stick to a tight budget.
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Fortunately, there are tons of affordable and fun-to-visit destinations. Here are some countries that have plenty of affordable cities to visit:
- Colombia
- Romania
- Spain
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Mexico
Those are just a few of many options. Try picking a region you want to visit first, such as Europe, and then looking for affordable options within that area.
2. Walk, bike, and use public transportation
Renting a car or using rideshares and taxis all the time can get expensive. When possible, look for alternative methods of transportation.
If where you’re going is within walking distance, going on foot is a great way to save and to explore the area. In many cities, you can rent a bike, either from local shops or through apps like Uber and Lyft.
There’s also public transportation, which can be both convenient and even fun to ride. For example, some parts of Colombia have a Metrocable system that takes you over the city in a cable car. The first time I visited, I rode one just because I wanted to check it out, and it was well worth it.
3. Travel during the week
Booking travel during the week instead of on weekends could help you get a better deal. Flights departing on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday are 12% cheaper than weekend departures, according to analysis by Google Flights. You can also sometimes get a lower price if you’re willing to take a red-eye flight.
4. Pay with travel rewards
The No. 1 way that I save on travel is by paying with points and miles as much as possible. You can earn these through airline and hotel loyalty programs, but if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s also a good idea to look into travel credit cards.
Most of these credit cards have benefits that can help you save money on your trips, such as spending credits on travel purchases or free checked baggage. They also allow you to earn rewards on all types of purchases, making it much easier to max out your rewards. I’ve saved thousands of dollars on airfare several times thanks to my travel cards, so they can definitely help you travel for much less money.
5. Go where the deals are
If you’re the adventurous type and down to go anywhere, pick a destination based on which place has the best flight deals from your home airport. Sites like Skyscanner and Kayak let you enter your home airport and perform an open-ended search, where you can check flight prices for different destinations. This is a useful way to compare options and see where you can go without spending too much.
6. Find low-cost activities
Travel expenses quickly add up if you’re spending lots of money on activities every day. But just about every city has lots of free and low-cost things to do. Here are some activities that don’t cost much, if anything:
- Visit parks and hiking trails
- Go to art galleries or museums
- Explore interesting neighborhoods on foot, or take a walking tour
- See a show at an independent theater
- Check out historic areas or local architecture
7. Make a budget and track your spending
If you want to be careful about how much you spend while traveling, it’s important to follow a travel budget. It’s easy to overspend when you haven’t set a spending limit and when you’re not tracking your expenses.
To make a travel budget, start by figuring out how much you want to spend on your trip, at most. You can then decide which activities fit into your budget and how much you can afford to spend per day. Make sure to keep track of your spending, too. Budgeting apps are a convenient way to do this.
Even though some people see travel as a costly activity, that depends on how you travel. If you don’t mind planning a budget-friendly trip, it’s entirely possible to travel on the cheap.
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