With summer up ahead and lots of vacations either planned or being discussed, I wanted to re-vist this blog that I wrote back in 2017. I’ve added, edited, and improved the travel tips that I share here in order to best help you travel as often as possible without breaking the bank!

TRANSPORTATION:

Driving

You can always drive instead of fly especially if it’s close enough. This will allow you to split the cost of fuel and or lodging if you have to stop along the way.  I used two sites to estimate the total cost of gas and tolls prior to driving to California. Click the links here for more information. http://beta.costtodrive.com  or gasprices.aaa.com

Flying

If you plan on flying, check Kayak.com first. That website populates all of the airlines options and lets you customize your travel itinerary in a way that’ll it show you various date options at the best prices. I don’t usually book my trips very far out, sometimes only a month in advance and 9.9/10 have never run into an issue. Sprit, Frontier, and Allegiant usually have new promotions running multiple times a month so if you don’t see a good price then hold off for a bit, prices change often! When it comes those airlines, everything is an extra fee–seat preference, back check, carry on bags, food etc. I don’t ever check a bag and almost always use a decent sized backpack as my personal item (which is covered). I will link a very similar one here since the question is always which one and how?!

Pro Tip: If you go into the airport and book your flight at the desk, you may find even MORE affordable tickets compared to the online sites. I’ve run into situations where if I was able to fly home the following day, I could’ve bought the flight for one penny. Insane right?

Ride Share Applications

Uber

Need a ride from the airport? Uber. Plan ahead of time so that everyone in your party has their Uber account setup and ready. Split the fare with your friends and you’ll be surprised at the savings. Traveling alone or with one other person? Uber pool it is then. This mean that you can split the cost of an Uber with another party traveling in the same direction. It’s a set price no matter if someone else joins your ride or not! Also, be patient when calling for an Uber. Prices fluctuate by the minute so if it seems outrageous then give it a few before you book it!

Turo

This app is a car sharing platform where you are renting real people’s cars in the area–similar concept to Airbnb but vehicles instead of homes. There are quiet a few rules but it makes sense due to the high liability. We used this app in Seattle when we wanted to travel two hours north to go whale watching. We had no issues and would happily do it again. There are various types and prices of cars from basic models to luxury vehicles!

Food and Drink:

My other tip while meandering through airports is to bring your own food and water bottles! Yes you can bring food into the airport! This is not a myth, a tall tale, or a fictional story, but one that is 100% fact. As for bottles, make sure they’re empty and  fill up at a water fountain after security

*Disclaimer* Having at least one alcoholic beverage at the airport is worth it  no matter the price. I can look at any airport bar that I’ve been to and tell you exactly who I was with, where I was going, and exactly how I was feeling, which makes every dollar worth it.

LODGING:

If you don’t know any locals in the area, Airbnb is the way to go. If you’re driving and not sure of your timeline, you can always book the day of! When I drove to California, the weather became super unpredictable the farther west we went, so I booked the room about 1-2 hours before arrival. There are legitimate spots to rent and a lot are close in proximity to all the hot spots in the area. The people you’re renting from also know the area really well and can offer recommendations and advice during your stay.  Most of the time these spots have full kitchens and even laundry which can help save money throughout the course of the trip.

ACTIVITIES: 

Outdoor adventures are usually free or can be on the cheaper side. For example, in LA, you can hike in various locations, head to the beach, rent bikes, or even walk the boardwalks. You can also check Groupon for awesome deals in the area that are either indoor or outdoor.

Those are my tips to really nip the extra costs in the butt, but if you’re someone who wants to pay for the extra leg room or buy the overpriced food then go for it. An affordable vacation is pointless if you can’t enjoy it!  Try some of these out the next time you travel and let me know what you think! Adventure awaits!

Till next time my friends,