10 Best Ways to Save Money on Your Spring Break
Spring is one of the best times to travel. The weather is good and there are plenty of tourist options for anyone heading for spring break. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep yourself entertained this season (or any other for that matter) with these ten budget travel tips.
10. Use your bonus miles
Forgotten your accumulated credit card bonuses and travel points? It’s an alternative form of currency and one of the best ways to pay for your trip (even your entire vacation ). If you are short on points or miles, you can buy them ; depending on how many miles you already have, this fee could give you a vacation that would not otherwise be available. Some people even open new credit cards just to earn bonus miles and rewards . Here are the best travel reward cards and a site to help you find the best award miles for your next flight .
9. Find available destinations
The hardest part of planning your spring break is choosing your destination. If you’re open to multiple locations and have flexible dates, check out the previously mentioned Fareness fares , Hopper Flight Explorer, and Google Flight Search . On your phone, add “vacation” or “destination” to your location search, and new Google destinations on Google will help you compare hotel and flight prices.
8. Get the best hotel rates
With so many hotels, it’s hard to know that you are getting the best deal. Previous research suggests that some hotel booking sites are better than others (especially TravelPony ), but it may be cheaper to book directly with a hotel . Consider booking each night separately for multiple nights as you may get a better rate. And of course there are Airbnb and other hotel alternatives. Compare hotels with these new options with All the Rooms .
7. Find cheaper flights
If you are flying, the plane ticket is one of your biggest expenses. Start looking for a flight on Tuesday when air fares tend to be lower during the week. You can also get big discounts on flights by viewing the fares of the “hidden city” or using a VPN on the booking site . Or perhaps get a cheap first or business class ticket with the ITA Matrix . Also, instead of flying out of a major airport, see if a regional airport saves you money . Here’s our frequent flyer guide to finding cheap flights .
6. Check last minute deals.
Sometimes you need to put things off until later. Cruises generally offer better deals if you book at the last minute , and airlines and hotels often share last-minute discounts on Twitter . Vacation rental owners may also be open to negotiation, especially if you book within 2 weeks of arrival.
5. Cut your food budget
We tend to spend more on food when we are on vacation, but we don’t have to. If your hotel, or the hotel you rent, has a kitchen, you can prepare home-cooked meals using small equipment . Even if your room doesn’t have a refrigerator or microwave, there are plenty of easy-to-pack items you can bring along , such as dry mix and instant oatmeal for breakfast. You may be able to cook using only the coffee maker .
But you also want to dine out, right? Consider using daily deals sites like Groupon or Living Social to find restaurant deals around your vacation destination . Lifehacker readers suggested several ways to enjoy a vacation on a tight budget , including trying street food and avoiding tourist trap restaurants, bringing your drink to your hotel room, and timing your meal times according to happy hour promotions. The principles of saving money while dining out are valid no matter where you are.
4. Save on events and experiences.
Some destinations are more economical than others. Lifehacker readers recommended New Orleans, Atlantic City, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia (assuming you can get a cheap flight there). Washington DC is stunning for all the free museums and other attractions , and spring is a great time to visit if you can catch cherry blossoms. Also, again, search the sites for daily deals discounts or use one of these tools to find fun things to do nearby .
3. Take a trip
Depending on where you are and where you are going, it can be cheaper to drive than to fly. If your trip is less than four hours, it is usually more economical to drive (but check this calculator just in case ). Plus, you can save on food by bringing your refrigerator and snacks with you. Traveling is an adventure in itself. Here’s how to plan your trip or follow these itineraries to visit all the best cities or attractions in the United States , visit 45 European cities in a 14-day drive , tour scenic spots during your trip, or visit the best US breweries. in one trip . Want to hit the road but don’t have a car? Get a free one-way ride .
2. Take day trips instead of long vacations
A short vacation is more memorable than a long vacation, which is usually less stressful and less costly. Instead of stretching your vacation to two weeks, consider a day or two nearby. Here is a tool to help you find family car travel deals in your area .
1. Try Staycation
Finally, the obvious way to save money on spring break is to stay at home. Seriously, there are probably tons of new things you can do right in your city. A good mix is to spend 60% of your vacation at home relaxing and 40% in the city . Treat your stay like a real vacation : spend money, take photos and go offline. Enjoy!
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