6 Tricks Travel Influencers Don't Shut Up About
Want to travel more without ransacking every penny you’ve been able to add to your savings account? If you’ve been doomscrolling lately, you may be wondering just how travel influencers do it constantly, as if they’ve cracked the cheat code for vacationing on the cheap.
Outside of just packing light to dodge baggage fees or traveling during shoulder season, here are the top money-saving hacks people who travel for a living swear by.
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1. Leverage Travel Credit Cards for All the Perks
While it's not exactly the world's best-kept travel secret, Deryn Russell of Inside the Upgrade puts travel credit cards first on her list of hacks. In fact, she would shout it from the rooftops if she could.
"Even one of the basic travel rewards cards that costs less than $100 can help you book flights worth thousands of dollars," she said.
Most people know you can use points to book your flights or hotels, but you can also get free checked bags, perks for renting cars, and some airlines allow you to get free upgraded seats if they're available.
2. Book Your Flights 1-3 Months Out
Forget the old book as early as possible rule, as gone are the days when it’s cheaper to plan your trip a year in advance. Research now shows that for domestic flights, the sweet spot is one to three months in advance, with prices often hitting their lowest around 39 days out. Book too early and you'll actually overpay as airlines haven't released discounted inventory yet, according to Ordinary Traveler.
You can also save by savvily setting up price alerts. For example, Google Flights is the go-to for comparing routes and tracking price drops. You can pair that with your favorite discount flight platforms to set it and forget it until a deal lands in your inbox.
3. Buy Discounted Hotel Gift Cards and Lounge Passes
"Every once in a while, Amazon will sell Hotels.com gift cards on sale," said luxury travel blogger Mona Molayem. Sign up for Amazon Lightning Deals to get alerts about sales.
"Another option is to search websites where people sell their gift cards," Molayem said, suggesting giftcardgranny.com, cardcash.com and raise.com as sites to find discounted hotel, restaurant and airline gift cards.
If your credit card doesn't offer lounge access, consider picking up a pass on eBay. “If a pass is about to expire, sometimes the passes are on sale for as little as $1," she said.
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4. Pick a Hotel in the Middle of Attractions
When you're choosing the best hotel for your stay, Vanessa Gordon, publisher at East End Taste, advised booking a central location right in the middle of the attractions you want to see.
"You will save on potentially renting a car or using taxis," she said. "A centrally located hotel... puts you front and center near all the action, rather than spending time and money commuting to see a destination."
5. Shop Locally
Whether she's traveling domestically or internationally, Gordon stops at a local grocery store when she arrives at her destination.
"I like to stock up on one or two local snacks, maybe a bottle of wine, some local drinks, and a reusable water bottle," she said.
6. Don't Be Afraid To Spend Money on What Matters To You
When you focus on saving money on flights and hotels, you'll find you can stretch your budget for enhancements that matter. This is especially true of influencers who want to showcase an upscale travel lifestyle, but it applies to anyone who wants an exceptional travel experience.
"It isn't necessarily about cutting costs, but about making the most of my time, creating the most value and creating wholesome memories that are both seamless and convenient," Gordon said. "It may be worth purchasing a VIP private tour or an after-hours experience."
Dawn Allcot contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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