21 Ways to Save Money on 2021 Summer Travel

Summer travel will be here before you know it, but will your travel fund be ready? If you're worried about being short on cash for the vacation of your dreams, it's not too late to plan ahead. The following tips can help you save money on travel so you can have some summer fun for a price you can afford.

While you may be able to save money by price shopping for travel on your own, you could save even more by using a travel agent. Remember that travel agents may have access to pricing you cannot find anywhere else, and they may even offer additional incentives like room credits or upgrades.

If you see a cheap flight deal for summer travel you may want to use, your best bet is booking now. After all, prices for airfare tend to go up the closer you get to your travel dates, and flights often surge when you're just a few weeks out. Lock in the price now, and you can start planning the rest of your trip.

Rumors abound that some international destinations (including most of Europe) will open to vaccinated travelers this summer. If you want plenty of destinations to choose from and compare, getting vaccinated will make price shopping much easier and protect your health as well as the health of others.

With travel mostly on pause in 2020, popular domestic destinations will likely be teeming with visitors this year. If your goal is saving money, look for less popular destinations that are off the beaten path and much cheaper as a result. This could mean staying in the suburbs of a major city, or in a beach or mountain destination that is geared to locals instead of tourists.

Road trips can be fun and affordable, but they also offer an excellent way to see the United States. You will save more money if you can drive your own car instead of renting one, and you can boost your savings by staying in cheap bed-n-breakfasts or roadside motels, or even camping along the way. Don't forget to pack snacks for the car!

Theme parks are known for being affordable, and many top theme parks and waterparks will be open to visitors during the summer of 2021. Many theme parks also offer camping options nearby, which can help you save money on lodging. You can also save on meals by cooking out each night after a day of theme park fun.

If you didn't get the chance to travel in 2020 but you still have airline miles to burn, consider cashing them in for your summer travel plans. Since airline miles and other travel rewards are constantly devalued, you should try to "earn and burn" as much as you can.

You can also consider opening a new travel rewards credit card with the goal of earning a big signup bonus. Many of the top travel credit cards offer bonuses worth $500 or more when you can meet a minimum spending requirement, and you can use these bonuses for flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel expenses you run into.

Google Flights is a free tool that can help you compare prices and save money when you shop for airfare. This tool compares fares across all the major airlines for your destination and dates, and you can even search for flights by region (i.e. Europe or the Caribbean) if you're flexible on where you go.

Renting a beach house with friends can be a lot of fun, but it can also lead to significant savings. Not only can you split the cost of the rental but having a house with a kitchen means you can cook some of your meals at home. Cocktails on your beachfront patio will also cost significantly less than they would at the local beachfront bar.

If you want to explore the country and camp this summer but you don't own a RV, consider renting one through a platform like RVShare or Outdoorsy. Both let you rent RVs you can use to explore the open road and camp along the way, and you can save more money by packing snacks and cooking all your own meals over a campfire or in your RV kitchen.

Airfare can be expensive already, but the cost of flying also multiplies based on your family size. If you want to save money and don't mind a road trip, consider driving to your destination. You'll not only skip the cost of airfare, but you won't have to pay for checked baggage or overpriced airport food.

Vacation packages to almost any destination can help you save on travel since they bundle your airfare, your hotel and sometimes more all for one price. You can search for cheap travel packages on websites like Expedia.com, but also on CheapCarribean.com or Kayak.com.

If you're looking for a cheap travel deal right now, you consider all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. These resorts are fairly cheap right now due to low occupancy rates and travel restrictions, yet you'll also save big since all your food, drink and entertainment is included in the nightly rate.

Most travel bookings rely on dynamic pricing, which means the cost of flights and hotel stays can be hard to predict. With this in mind, you'll save the most money on your travel plans if you're willing to consider multiple dates and be as flexible as you can for your trip. You may also save some cash if you're willing to fly on a weekday instead of a weekend.

Websites like TrustedHousesitters.com connect homeowners with individuals who may be willing to watch their home and pets in exchange for a free stay. This means your travel could easily be free, although you will be on the hook for airfare, food and activities.

The price of rental cars seems to be up this year, which means it is more important than ever to shop around. You can also use the website AutoSlash to check rates over time. This site lets you enter your booking information and receive updates any time the price of your rental goes down.

Regardless of whether you rent a beach home or you opt for a hotel or resort, you can save money by packing your own booze. Drinks are dramatically cheaper when you use your own ingredients, and you can avoid tipping to boot. At the very least, pack a case of beer in the trunk of your car just in case.

You will have the chance to save more on travel if you stay in the know about the best deals and promotions. You can do this by signing up for newsletters from popular airlines and cruise or resort brands. You may also want to follow your favorite travel brands on social media.

If you are traveling outside the United States, you'll want to pick up a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. If you don't, you'll be charged an average of 3% in additional fees for each purchase you make. Fortunately, many of the top rewards credit cards are free of these dreaded and unnecessary fees.

Finally, make sure you avoid airport food like the plague. Not only is it dramatically overpriced, but airport food is usually disappointing, too. Try to eat before you head to the airport and make sure you always have a few snacks in your bag. Signing up for a credit card with airport lounge access is another way you can save on food when you travel.