Save Money on Travel Despite the Weak Economy

By Debbie Dragon   

It seems everywhere you go lately, people are complaining about the cost of gas, the quickly increasing price of groceries, and just the general difficulty of making ends meet financially. Unfortunately, one of the first things to be dropped from the family budget when things get tough are vacations. Instead of skipping travel completely, why not make the effort to save money on travel, and outsmart the weak economy? The quality time spent with your family is more important than taking an extravagant vacation — and with the use of the following tips, you can save enough money on your travel plans to make it possible for you to still go.

Let your credit cards save you money

There are numerous ways that credit cards can help you save money on travel expenses, both directly and indirectly. Some of the more obvious ways to cut the costs of travel with credit cards include using cards with airline miles and/or complimentary companion airfare, free or discounted car rentals, and cards offering free or discounted hotel stays. But did you also know that many credit cards (even those without travel reward programs) offer travel accident insurance coverage, car rental insurance coverage, and emergency roadside assistance? These extra credit card perks can save you substantial money over purchasing insurance coverage on your own, and you get the coverage for free when using a credit card that offers them to pay for your travel arrangements.

If you use a gas rebate credit card, you can minimize the expense of traveling by car. Every time you fill up, you'll get a percentage back in the form of cash back applied to your credit card or a check in the mail. Some of the best gas rewards offer a full 5% cash back.

Consider moving holiday dates

There's no law that says you must celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas on December 25. In fact, there is no reason you couldn't celebrate every holiday a few days before or after the actual day. The idea and purpose of the holiday can be celebrated on any day you choose, and the day will not lose its meaning or significance — but you may lose some of the expense!

The busiest travel holiday of the year is considered to be Thanksgiving. Everyone seems to want to fly one or two days before the holiday — and as a result, the price of airfare increases during that time. Celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family from afar the week before or the week after, and you can save a lot of money on plane tickets — $500 per ticket at times!

If you make a trip to visit out-of-state friends or family members every year, you can find some great hotel deals during the off-season. For instance, hotel rates in Chicago often drop during the winter, while West Coast hotels may offer bargain rates during the summer as temperatures start to climb. Use a hotel's website to compare prices for different travel times to find the lower rates — you'll probably be surprised at how much they fluctuate during different times of the year.

Save on food

Most people know that the cheapest meal to eat in a restaurant is breakfast. Lunch is also less expensive than meals eaten in restaurants during the traditional dinner hours. If you're planning to stay in a hotel, book one that offers free breakfast. Sometimes you can grab a few pieces of fruit for snacking throughout the day as well. Eat a late lunch in a restaurant, just before dinner begins, and you can easily save $30 per day, per couple, on your food expenses while traveling.

Another method used to save money on food expenses while traveling is to order an appetizer as your main course; or order one entree to split between you and your travel partner. The portion sizes that restaurants dish out are often are more than enough to share and still fill you up!

If you really want to be frugal, pick a hotel that offers a refrigerator and/or microwave, and bring along some groceries to make quick and easy meals in your hotel room. Typically, the cost of your own groceries to put together simple meals will be cheaper than going out to eat. Cereal, sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies, and cheese makes for inexpensive, easy, yet filling meals for travelers.

Check the school schedule

If you aren't bound by the school schedule, plan all of your traveling when school is in session — either early fall as the kids head back to school after summer break, or just before school lets out in the spring. Not only will you save money on travel costs, but tourist destinations will be less crowded, giving you a more enjoyable experience.

With a little planning and consideration, you can cut the costs of traveling, despite a weak economy, and still make it possible for you and your family to enjoy a vacation together.