5 Ways to Reduce Travel Costs Without Losing Comfort

Everyone deserves to go on a vacation to relax and recharge. The main thing hindering many people is the cost of travel. In addition to airfare, you should also consider accommodation costs and additional expenses like bus or taxi fares. You can reduce travel costs, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise your comfort and experience. Here are some practical ways to keep your costs down while you travel.

Use a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Credit card companies want you to use your credit card as much as possible because they make money on the interest paid on the amount you spend. For this reason, they provide different perks and benefits to get you to sign up with them and use the credit card they provide.

One of the most common perks is rewards points for using their cards that you can redeem for air miles.

Some credit card companies provide up to 80,000 bonus miles when you sign up and additional air miles whenever you use their credit card.

Even in cases where they do not provide bonus miles, they still provide cash bonuses that can go toward paying for your next trip.

If you go with this option to reduce travel costs, understand that you need to qualify for a credit card in the first place. Typical requirements include having an excellent credit score and a demonstrated ability to pay back the amount you use on the credit card.

Find Cheap Flights on Google Flight

Google Flights is an incredible resource for those looking for cheap airline tickets and destinations. It collects data from airlines and online travel agencies like Expedia to give you up-to-date data on different ticket prices. Their online platform also has useful features and filters that help you narrow down the available options to find what you are looking for, or tickets that fit your budget.

The platform is so extensive that it can be overwhelming. Here is a guide from a top aggregator to help you navigate the platform and access features that many people do not know about; their Google Flights search engine guide shows you how to get the best deals, choose an affordable destination if your preferences are open, and know whether you are getting a good deal.

Book Everything in Advance

Always book your ticket and accommodation early if you go on a yearly trip or always know when your next trip will be. Ideally, you should book about a month and a half to three months before your trip. Doing it like this means you avoid the last-minute rush that increases ticket and accommodation demand, leading to a price increase.

Choose Cheaper Days to Fly

If you are flying or traveling with a family, you might not be able to fly on cheaper days because the activities you want to engage in might be happening over a weekend. However, if you have affordable accommodations arranged, you can fly on cheaper days.

For domestic flights in the United States, those are Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday are best for traveling internationally. If you do not have to be there early Saturday morning, you can book a ticket for a Saturday departure, as that helps you avoid the rush typically observed on Friday.

Set Price Alerts

Many flight booking and information platforms, including Google Flights, have price alerts. You will receive an alert when prices fall. You can search for different flights on the days you would like to travel, set the departure dates, and then wait for the price alerts.

You can then book a cheaper flight if the ticket price falls to affordable levels.

There are so many beautiful places, cultures, cuisines, views, and more you can enjoy. What stops many people from doing so is the cost of travel. The good news is that, with some planning and research, it is possible to travel affordably without the cost impacting your comfort, enjoyment, and experience.