Pro Tips for Saving Money On TravelTravopoly

Pretty simple: Buy less stuff.

Generally I try not to buy many things I’d much rather have the time and money to travel, than work like crazy just to buy stuff.

Even when I see something I think I’d really love to own, I try to think about the places I’ve been able to travel and the memories I have, and that helps me put ‘value’ into perspective.

Consider Renting Out Your Place

It can help offset your travel costs and, depending on where you live and where you’re going, even turn you a profit. Several years ago, we did the Southeast Asia backpack circuit for a couple months, and rented out our NYC apartment while we were gone. Our travel costs were so low SE Asia is the trip for the budget-minded that we actually ended up making money. We found a renter via Craigslist, but you could also list your pad on a site like Airbnb or VRBO, or look into a house swap on Home Exchange.

Jump On The “Orbucks” Train

Of the booking sites, I’m a huge Orbitz fan because their rewards program is by far the most simple I’ve used. Immediately after you book, you receive ‘Orbucks,” which you can use on future bookings.

If you were visiting multiple cities in Europe, by the time you book your first hotel you already have cash to put towards the next hotel in the next city you plan on visiting! It’s as uncomplicated as can be.

Find A Home Away From Home

While we do love hotels, sometimes prices are through the roof—especially when you’re traveling as a group. That’s when a service such as Airbnb can save you money and give you more space and amenities.

To make sure you’ll get the best possible experience, select rentals hosted by Airbnb ‘Superhosts,’ those who have the highest ratings

Book Activities Ahead Of Time

One school of thought says that booking activities last minute on the ground will nab you a deal, but that’s not always the case. Take Europe. Europeans like to plan. This means you can get cheaper prices by helping them plan. Say you’re booking a raft trip in Slovenia or a tandem paraglide flight in the Alps, you’ll generally do better to book ahead online. You’ll find group-discount rates you can take advantage of even if you’re not traveling in a group.

Give WiFi-to-go a go

Little, rentable mobile routers nicknamed ‘pocket WiFi’ are becoming more available in places like Europe and Japan. Typically you reserve one, then pick it up at the airport or have it delivered to your hotel.

They cost a low per-day fee, and will save you from international roaming charges, paying for hotel WiFi if it’s not gratis, or having to buy a coffee every time you want to use a cafe’s WiFi but you realize that it’s password protected so you can’t ‘borrow’ it from outside.

Expand Your “Hotel” Horizons

Whether it’s a B&B, farm stay, or houseboat. Right now I’m based in Europe, and Europe’s best hotels aren’t actually hotels. They’re mountain huts, and you have to walk to get to them. From Austria to Avoriaz and beyond, the Alps are dotted with them.

Half hotel, half hostel, the huts can serve as a basecamp for serious climbers or as a lovely romantic getaway. While the more remote huts may take many hours to trek too, there are tons of options within a couple hour hike. One of my favorites is Rifugio Vicenza.