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One of the most expensive parts of travel is simply getting to your destination. The next-biggest expense? Finding a place to stay.
If your flight and hotel cost you a fortune, you’ve got less cash for meals out, city tours, and other activities. But if you can score a bargain on your transportation and accommodations, you’ve freed up money for more adventures.
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Get a Free Night Award on your account anniversary and 15 Elite Night Credits annually.
How To Save Money on Flights
Your flight is a big travel expense — usually the biggest! Thankfully, there are several ways to get the best deal on flights, so you can have more money to spend on other aspects of your trip.
Book at the right time
The date you purchase your ticket and the date you depart both matter when you’re trying to get the best price on airfare.
According to Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report, the best day to purchase your plane ticket is on a Sunday. The report says you could save up to 6% on domestic flights and 17% on international flights just by making a Sunday purchase.
Choosing a Thursday departure date is likely to be the cheapest choice, with fares reduced by up to 17%.
A Saturday departure can also save you money, especially compared to a Sunday departure, which is the most expensive day.
You also want to pay attention to how far in advance you make plans. Last-minute booking is likely to be more expensive than if you have a longer runway.
According to Expedia’s study, you should book domestic flights between one and three months in advance.
However, for an international flight, booking more than three months out could cost you. You might be able to save up to 17% by booking your international flight between 18 and 29 days before departure.
Use flight comparison websites and apps
There are lots of websites to help you compare airfare, like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak, and Expedia. They can help you figure out the best times to fly and provide you with alternative dates and routes.
You can also compare direct flights versus layovers. If you’re willing to spend more time getting to your destination, you could save money by agreeing to a layover.
Once you’ve checked prices on a comparison site, go directly to the airline’s website to see what they’re charging.
Most comparison sites let you book directly through them for a reduced rate, but you want to make sure there’s no sale or other offer on the airline’s website that you’re missing out on.
Be flexible with your dates
Having flexible travel plans can also help you save money on flights.
Some sites, like Google Flights and Expedia, show fares for different departure and return days. If you’re flexible about when you fly, you can flip through the calendar and choose dates with the cheapest fares.
Flexibility also includes the time of year. The Expedia report says August is the cheapest month to travel, while February and March are among the most expensive months.
Also, rather than traveling during peak travel times, consider shoulder season — typically April and October. Traveling during this time can cost a lot less than during holidays, spring break, or when school is out for the summer.
Be flexible with your destination
You can also consider flying from or into a nearby city. Bigger airports with lots of flight routes may be more affordable and will have more direct options.
For example, maybe you live in Philadelphia and dream of seeing Rome. If you wanted to save a couple hundred dollars, you could consider hopping the train over to New York City and flying from there instead of Philly.
If you’re really flexible and are open to traveling anywhere, you can use the Google Flights trick of leaving your destination empty. Just input your dates and you can see the lowest prices for destinations around the globe!
Or you could input a general region, like “Europe” or “Asia,” as your destination and see what’s affordable in that area.
Avoid unnecessary airline fees
Watch out for additional fees. Most airlines charge for a checked bag, so if you can, you may want to bring only a carry-on.
But confirm the rules and size requirements before you get to the airport. Different airlines have different policies, and discount airlines may still charge for carry-ons.
Seat selection is becoming a fee-based service as well.
When an airline asks you to choose seats at checkout, double-check to make sure you aren’t being charged. If you don’t mind waiting, you can typically choose your seat 48-24 hours before a flight for free.
Finally, joining an airline loyalty program or getting an airline credit card can help you avoid fees, since membership often includes perks like free seat selection and a checked bag.
For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express and The New United℠ Explorer Card can both help you avoid bag fees while super-charging your ability to earn loyalty points.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express
Rewards Rate
- 2x miles on Delta purchases
- 2x miles at U.S. grocery stores
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and on U.S. takeout and delivery
- 1x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year, then $150 (rates and fees)
. . .
The New United℠ Explorer Card
Rewards Rate
- 2x miles United purchases, dining and hotel stays
- 1x mile on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Annual Fee
$150 ($0 in your first year)
. . .
How To Save Money on Accommodations
Once you arrive at your destination, you need a place to stay. Accommodation prices vary wildly, from expensive 5-star resorts to cheap and cheerful hostels.
What you choose depends on your travel tastes and budget — and thankfully, there are plenty of ways to lay your head affordably!
Be flexible with your dates
As with airfare, you can save money by being willing to travel during “off” times. According to Hopper’s 2025 Travel Booking report, nightly rates are generally lower mid-week.
By comparison, checking in on a Friday or Saturday and staying through Sunday can result in paying up to 20% more.
You might also find that checking rates the day before or the day of check-in might yield lower prices as the hotel scrambles to fill empty rooms. However, this can be risky if you don’t find the necessary accommodations.
Look for budget-friendly hotels and hostels
You can check for budget-friendly accommodations through websites like Hostelworld and Booking.com.
But just like with airfare, check the accommodation’s own website before booking through a third-party platform. Sometimes you can get better deals when booking directly.
Consider alternative accommodations
Don’t forget about alternatives like Airbnb and VRBO. You might get whole apartments or homes for a lower per-night cost than staying in a hotel.
If you’re traveling with friends or family, you might be able to split the cost of alternatives, providing a break for your budget.
With Airbnb, you can also rent a single room in a shared space, making solo travel less expensive than booking a hotel room.
Other options include couchsurfing, house-sitting, or programs that let you work in exchange for housing, such as Workaway and Worldpackers. If you plan to be on a long trip and don’t mind working for a portion of the day, you can save on accommodations.
Just be sure to check your destination’s visa rules if you do any work while traveling. Most countries have strict laws about travelers working on a tourist visa.
Redeem points for free hotel stays
Don’t forget about loyalty and hotel credit card points!
If you have points amassed, you can use them to pay for your stay. And some hotels allow you to use points plus cash together — so even if you don’t have enough points for an entirely free stay, you can still get a room at a lower cost.
For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card comes with a Free Night Award on your card account anniversary and 15 Elite Night Credits every calendar year.
And the World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with a free night every year on your account anniversary, and an additional free night if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- Up to 17x points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 3x points at gas stations, grocery stores, and dining (first $6,000 spent combined)
- 2x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Plus, earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within 6 months of account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
. . .
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- Up to 9x points at Hyatt hotels
- 2x points at restaurants, flights booked direct with airlines, local transit and commuting, and fitness club and gym memberships
- 1x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points — 30,000 after you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months and up to 30,000 more by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent
Annual Fee
$95
. . .
Use Travel Rewards to Lower Costs
Rewards credit cards can be one of the best ways to reduce your travel costs.
With the right travel credit card, your regular spending can earn points, which you can then redeem for flights and hotels.
Depending on which card you have, you can redeem directly through your card issuer’s travel portal or transfer your points to a partner airline or hotel.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® get you access to Chase Travel℠ and transfer partners such as Air Canada, Air France KLM, Emirates, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Hyatt, and Marriott.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gets you access to Capital One Travel and 15+ partners, including Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, Choice Hotels, and Wyndham.
Consider co-branded credit cards as well. These credit cards, whether attached to airlines or hotels, often confer instant status, making you eligible for upgrades and other savings.
A cash rebate or rewards program can also help you stack more rewards. Sites like Swagbucks and Rakuten offer cashback or the ability to redeem points for gift cards, further helping your travel budget.
READ MORE: How To Travel for Free with Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Rate
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
. . .
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards Rate
- 10x points on hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Travel℠
- 10x points on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5x points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on restaurants and travel
- 1x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
. . .
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Annual Fee
$395
. . .
FAQs About Saving Money on Travel
How do I balance safety concerns with budget considerations when choosing accommodations?
Check the reviews and star ratings of accommodations to ensure you’re staying in a safe environment. In some cases, you might need to pay a little more to stay in a safer area. Look for mid-priced accommodations if you think the lowest-cost hotels and alternatives are unsafe.
Are last-minute hotel bookings cheaper or more expensive?
If the hotel has rooms available, last-minute bookings might be cheaper because the hotel would rather fill the room. However, on a busy day or during certain times of the year, last-minute hotel bookings can cost more.
How do I find budget accommodations in expensive cities?
Consider alternatives such as house-sitting and couchsurfing when staying in expensive cities. You can also consider booking a room through Airbnb instead of a whole house or apartment.
TL;DR: How To Save on Travel
Budget-friendly travel is possible when you’re smart about how you book.
Be flexible with your plans, compare prices across websites, use credit card rewards, and watch out for hidden fees to get the best deals!
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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
