23+ creative ways to save money for travel

How to budget for vacation without hurting your savings

Taking a break from the daily grind is important. But your budget doesn’t get to go on vacation.

The key? A solid travel budget can help you keep your costs in check and make your trip more relaxing … When you know exactly how much money you can spend, you don’t have to stress about how you’ll pay for your getaway when you return!

So, what’s a realistic budget for a vacation? The short answer: It depends on where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone and your financial situation.

But these steps can help create your vacation budget:

|1| Research the costs

If you have a location in mind, estimate and total these costs:

• Transportation: Flights, train tickets or gas.
• Accommodations: Hotels, vacation rentals or alternative stays.
• Food: Dining out, groceries or a mix.
• Attractions: Tours, tickets and other activities.

Even if you don’t have a destination in mind yet, use these categories to research general travel costs and get a ballpark figure.

|2| Calculate your travel fund

The best way to pay for your trip is by saving for it ahead of time.

You can try our free savings budget calculator to find out how much you can put away each month based on your income and spending.

Want help digging into your budget? You can request a free Dupaco Money Makeover to get personalized guidance on how to find ways to save more toward your dream trip!

Calculate your vacation budget >

|3| Create your travel fund

Open a dedicated savings account to track your progress. A You-Name-It Savings account can help you stay motivated by visualizing what you’re working toward.

Hint: You can also set up automatic deposits to build your travel fund effortlessly!

Open my travel fund >

|4| Track your expenses

Once you reach your savings goal, you’ll want to track your expenses to help you stick to your travel budget.

When purchasing airline tickets, making reservations or purchasing other items for your trip, keep an eye on your expenses. If costs start creeping up, look for last-minute ways to cut back and stay on track.

How to save on travel costs

Want to make your vacation dollars go further? Here are some creative ways to save money on travel expenses.

Be flexible with your vacation date

Your travel dates have a strong impact on prices.

You can often find better prices by traveling during a destination’s off-season or shoulder season (spring and fall for many destinations). Plus, it usually means fewer crowds!

If your vacation dates are rigid, your flight and lodging choices will be limited. In fact, you may be paying an artificially inflated price just to travel during that time.

Airline tickets, hotel stays and other vacation costs are established according to:

• Input the locations for your departure and destination and provide the search engine with specific dates.
• Next, give the search tool a vague description of your travel dates with something like, “within the next three months” and see what you get.
• Compare your choices. How much could you save by being flexible with your travel dates?

Can’t be completely flexible? Try searching for flights and hotel stays during a specific season or even the last two weeks of your chosen month. You might still find discounted offers.

Just remember to be upfront with your workplace about your vacation search. Let them know that you want to go away sometime in a certain month or season, but you haven’t locked in the dates. Chances are, they’ll appreciate your transparency and be more willing to work with you.

Choose your destination wisely

One way to save on travel costs without compromising fun is by choosing the right destination. Spend some time thinking about what’s most important to you:

• Someplace with sunny beaches and clear blue waters?
• Somewhere that’s family-friendly?
• Or, are you open to visiting somewhere you haven’t considered?

List your priorities in order of most importance. And look for destinations that satisfy as many as possible.

Typically, the further you travel from home, the more you’ll pay to get there. You might be able to find fascinating attractions closer to home. Plus, you’ll save on travel time, giving you more time to enjoy your vacation.

Travel hacks to save money on flights

Airfare can be one of the biggest expenses if you do end up traveling further from home. But there are ways to save on flights:

• Be flexible: Yes, it comes back to flexibility! You could save hundreds on your airline tickets by choosing dates and destinations based on the best deals rather than locking in your plans first. Try this: Instead of searching for tickets to France during Independence Day weekend, look for tickets to landmark cities in Europe during July. You can see a big difference in prices when you’re willing to be open with your plans.
• Use the right tools: Use flight comparison sites like Kayak, Google Flights or Priceline to find the best prices and options available.
• Fly off-peak: Look for options to travel during the week, early in the morning or late at night to save on fare.
• Book early: While this can vary by season and destination, airfare generally tends to be lowest about six to eight weeks before domestic flights. For international flights, you might find the best deals three to six months ahead. Hint: If you’re traveling during peak times, you’ll want to start your ticket search even earlier.

What to consider when finding the best rewards card for your trip >

Save money on accommodations

Accommodations don’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some ways you can save on those costs too:

• Book direct: Some hotels offer discounts or perks like free breakfast, room upgrades or late checkout for booking directly with them.
• Join loyalty programs: Many hotel chains offer loyalty programs that earn you points to save on future stays. Signing up is usually free.
• Ask about discounts: Many hotels offer discounts for military personnel, seniors and AAA members.
• Book early: Last-minute stays can be more expensive. As soon as you have a timeframe in mind, start your search.
• Check the deal sites: After you’ve made a reservation, keep an eye out for last-minute deals—just in case. Platforms like HotelTonight and Hotels.com can sometimes offer steeply discounted last-minute hotel reservations. And since many hotels have generous cancellation policies, you could book your stay and cancel later if you find a better deal.
• Use the free amenities: Take advantage of any free amenities—like breakfast, a fitness center or pool—to save money on costs outside of the hotel.
• Check for hidden fees: Sneaky resort, parking and other costs can add up quickly.
• Consider a rental: You might be able to save on lodging through a vacation rental service. It may be harder to cancel, though. Just make sure to do your research to avoid travel scams.

Learn how to avoid travel scams >

• Try a home swap: If you have a friend or family member who lives somewhere you don’t visit often, consider swapping homes with them for your vacation. You’ll enjoy comfortable accommodations at no cost and get the scoop on the best places to visit!

Save money while traveling

Once you’re on your trip, these tips can help keep costs down to stick to your vacation budget.

Save on food

When you’re traveling on a budget, food expenses can take a big bite out of your carefully planned budget. Here are a few ways to save on vacation food costs:

• Research local eatery options: Look up local eateries and compare prices and ratings before you go so you can make the best decisions for your vacation and budget. Don’t forget to look up possible coupons and deals online!
• Pack snacks: Stock up on food and drinks for on-the-go snacking during your vacation. Buying these items in your own town could cost less.
• Cook some of your meals: Consider booking a place with a kitchen. If the thought of cooking while vacationing makes you rethink the entire trip, you can also prep meals at home and just reheat them while on vacation.

Save on transportation

Depending on where you go, you might be able to save on transportation costs too:

• Use public transportation: Research passes for buses or trains to save on getting around the area.
• Walk or bike: Exploring your destination on foot or by bicycle can offer a more immersive travel experience. You can rent a bike for your stay or opt for a daily rental as needed.
• Share rides: Explore shared ride options through services like Uber and Lyft so you can split the fare with other travelers heading the same direction.

Save on entertainment

There’s no need to bust your budget to pay for entertainment costs while on vacation, either. These hacks could help you save money on your vacation fun:

• Look for free events: Many cities host free concerts, outdoor movie screenings, art exhibitions and other festivals.
• Use city passes: Don’t pay full price for admission to attractions without first checking if you can bundle the cost with other destinations. Plus, city passes can come with extra perks, like fast-track entry or public transportation benefits.
• Go natural: Nature can offer the most awe-inspiring entertainment at no cost. If your destination has beaches, lakes or rivers, make the most of the water activities.
• Check for discounts and coupons: Look for online deals and coupons on destinations’ websites and places like Groupon. You might find discounted prices for booking early on museums, parks and more.