With the price of just about everything going up, finding room in your budget for travel can feel harder than ever. But don’t give up on that next getaway just yet! With a little strategy and some savvy planning, you can use travel hacking with miles and points to make your travel dreams more affordable. We’ll show you how to turn everyday spending and rewards into opportunities to save on flights, hotels, and more, so you can spend less on getting there and more on making memories.
1. Take Advantage of Travel Credit Cards.
One of the easiest ways to make your money work for you is to get rewards for money you’re already spending. If you use credit cards, consider using one that is geared more towards travel points rather than just cash back. The right card can help you earn free flights, hotel stays, airport perks, and other travel benefits without completely changing your spending habits. Here are four ways we make the most of our travel credit cards!
Use the card portal to book flights with points. If you use a Chase or Capital One card, use their travel portal to find deals and book the flights with your points. You can also transfer points to eligible airline and hotel partners, sometimes getting even more value in the process. For example, Chase has offered transfer bonuses with hotel partners like IHG. Because we already had an IHG Rewards account, we were able to take advantage of a 2x transfer bonus, turning our Chase points into enough hotel points to cover our stay. Transfer bonuses change, so keep an eye out for promotions before booking!- Sign up during big bonuses to get additional points. Some cards will give you a welcome bonus like a bulk points award if you spend a certain amount within the first few months after opening. If the amount you need to spend to earn the points is within your normal spending range or you know you have big expenses coming up (i.e. wedding), timing a new card around that purchase can help you earn extra rewards. Just be sure you can meet the requirement through purchases you would make anyway, rather than overspending to chase points.
- Take advantage of the annual perks. Don’t overlook the extra benefits that come with your card! Depending on the card, you may have access to airport lounge visits, travel credits, rental car coverage, or reimbursement for trusted-traveler program application fees. For example, the Capital One Venture card offers a $120 statement credit every 4 years if you use the card to pay your TSA pre-check or global entry application fee.
- Specifically look into an airline or hotel you use often and get their credit card. Delta and United offer a free checked bag and other perks for card holders. Many hotels offer free rewards nights or upgrades for card holders.
2. Take Advantage of Free Attractions
Activities and excursions can add up quickly, sometimes becoming one of the most expensive parts of a trip. The good news? You don’t have to spend a bunch to experience the best a destination has to offer! From exploring local neighborhoods to enjoying the outdoors, there are plenty of ways to fill your itinerary with memorable, budget-friendly activities.
- Free Walking Tours – many cities offer free walking tours and some hotels/hostels organize complimentary activities for guests. These can be a great way to get a high level overview of the city, learn about the history and discover hidden gems you might otherwise have missed. We’ve taken advantage of many of these over the years, and they’ve been some of our favorite and most memorable experiences.*Note: while many tours are free, tipping your guide is customary, so make sure to bring a little cash*
- Public spaces – Some of a city’s most iconic activities are outdoors and don’t cost anything. Think Retiro Park in Madrid or Central Park in New York, where you can spend hours wandering around, people watching, enjoying a picnic or simply taking it all in. If you’re more of an adventurous traveler, look for nearby hiking trails, beaches, gardens or waterfront paths.
3. Accommodations
- Get the full cost, not just the nightly rate, before booking. There’s nothing worse than finding a place that looks like the perfect budget friendly accommodation only to find that it’s wildly more expensive once the fees are tacked on. Go through the full checkout process or make sure the price shown includes taxes/fees to get a true comparison before booking. In the past, Airbnb was not upfront with some of the hidden costs, so lodgings that appeared inexpensive initially, were not.
- Prioritize hotels that offer breakfast so a meal is covered or stay somewhere with a kitchen, so you have access to a fridge, microwave, etc. that will allow you to make things like breakfast or keep snacks and save a bit throughout the day.
4. Flights
- Use sites like Skyscanner to compare pricing and route options across a variety of airlines.
- Try to fly and return on a weekday for lower pricing or find days that budget airlines like Allegiant or Frontier have flights to your destination if your schedule is flexible.
Travel doesn’t have to break the bank, and with a little planning and a few smart travel hacks, you can make your next adventure more affordable than you think. Whether you’re earning points toward a free hotel stay or exploring a new city’s hidden gems for free, a little creativity can go a long way toward helping you see more of the world without stretching your budget.
About Sippin’ Sangria
Caroline and Lexa are a traveling duo who have visited several local, U.S., and international destinations together. Through these adventures, they’ve learned the ins and outs of traveling with friends and love connecting with other female travelers. When they’re not booking their next flight, Lexa and Caroline plan trips – honeymoons, girlfriend getaways, weekend trips, etc. Find them at www.sippinsangria.com.
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