10 Sites to Save Money on Your Next Vacation

Vacation can quickly become an expensive endeavor when you start looking for lodging, transportation, and meals. To avoid breaking the bank when you travel, you might want to try these sites to save money on your next vacation. Whether you are looking to save money on food, lodging, or transportation, you can save money.
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Transportation

Planes, trains, or automobiles, one way another you need to be able to get around. This batch of sites and apps will help you save money on airfare and transportation.

Skyscanner

There are many different flight price comparison sites. Skyscanner is one of the best, although Google Flights or Kayak are also a worthy alternatives. You will be able to browse prices and location on an interactive map or search for flights to a particular destination. There are no hidden fees and you can book the flights directly from the airline by clicking on the links provided by Skyscanner.

Turo

While many people think of Uber or Lyft when it comes to “ride sharing,” Turo allows you to rent another person’s car. If you fly to your vacation destination, you might have to rent a car. Turo can be cheaper than going to the rental car agency and you can pick them up at the airport or have the vehicle delivered to you.

It is possible to save money on your standard rental type vehicles like a Chevy Malibu or Nissan Altima where you can get a daily rate for $35 for Turo compared to $40 at a local rental car agency.

The real cost-savings for Turo can be in the high-end vehicles. Many rental car agencies charge steeper fees or do not carry particular brands for liability reasons. With Turo, you can rent vehicles made by Tesla, BMW, and Range Rover for as little as $42.

Since the cars on Turo are privately owned, some cars can be a few years old (i.e. 2011 and 2012) or almost brand new.

Lodging

You will also need a place to sleep on your trip. While you can stay in a hotel, you often pay a lot of money for few amenities relatively speaking.

Airbnb

If you want to skip the hotel and want to reserve a private room at a house or the entire house, you might like Airbnb. It is possible to get a room for a cheaper rate than the local “roach motel” and you can have access to a kitchen if you want to save some additional money by cooking.

You can also use Airbnb to book experiences like touring a textile mill, a guided walking tour to the top of the Hollywood sign, or playing soccer (football) with locals.

VRBO

If you have a family, you might have more success with VRBO as you have the option to rent an entire house. This is also possible on Airbnb, but most listings there more geared for traveling singles or couples. By renting an individual house, you have more flexibility for the same price (or cheaper) as a hotel on a nightly basis. Plus, you can stay in neighborhoods away from the hustle and bustle of tourist districts.

HotelTonight

If you are waiting to the last minute to book your sleeping accommodations, HotelTonight can help you find discounts. HotelTonight originally started as a place to reserve same-day hotel stays from travelers at a discount. Now, you can book up to a week in advance.

You might also like HotelTonight if your travel plans get delayed and you need to stay overnight until you can start traveling again tomorrow.

Hotel Packages

If you do plan to stay at a hotel, see if they offer packages. Sometimes you can bundle your hotel reservation with museum tickets, frequent flier miles, or a rental car. These package deals aren’t always a lower price, but, it is a good place to start looking. And, you might earn more loyalty points that can be redeemed for future stays.

Dining

An expense that you might not put much thought into is dining. It’s real easy to only focus on how much it costs to get to where you are going and the cost to sleep with a roof over your head.

Restaurant.com

If you like trying new places to eat on vacation, Restaurant.com can give your gift certificates for up to 50% off. It’s usually very common to get a $25 certificate for $10 as one example. You won’t find gift certificates to chain restaurants here. Each restaurant is locally owned and there are user ratings for each restaurant too.

Raise

If you like to dine at your favorite chain restaurants (i.e. Applebee’s or Starbucks) you can buy discounted gift cards from Raise and a few other discount websites. By buying physical, printable, or electronic gift cards, you can save up to 15% at most restaurants.

This can be a good way to save money when you go out to eat during the work week too.

Sightseeing

One of the reasons you go on vacation is to visit new locations to learn their local history or enjoy new experiences. While some activities can be free, others come with a fee.

Groupon

Use Groupon to see if you can book a package to a museum or local attraction at a discount rate. Groupon can also save money for dining on vacation.

Even if you do not make a purchase, Groupon can be a good way to get ideas of what to do and to plan your vacation itinerary.

Foursquare

Foursquare is a free app that gathers tips from local residents on the best places to dine, visit, and shop for nearly every city in the world. If you like to “do as the Romans do,” this can be a fun option to find the best places to visit to maximize your spending.

Travel Credit Cards

Another way to save money on your next vacation is to use a travel rewards credit card. By redeeming points you earn through the year, you can get free plane tickets or hotel rooms. And, if you carry a co-branded credit card, like the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier, you even get one free night every year you own the card. Airline credit cards often include perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

Related: 5 Travel Credit Card Traps to Watch Out For

Summary

It is possible to save money on your next vacation. By visiting the sites above, you can find some deals that won’t appear on the regular travel websites. Plus, by booking packages or buying gift cards, you can also save a few dollars.

Related: Avoid the Top Destinations and Travel Somewhere Cheaper, but Similar