25 Ways to Save on Travel in 2020

by Alex Temblador
Last updated:: 12:00 PM ET, Wed January 15, 2020

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PHOTO: Young man signing a contract for a trip with agent sitting at the travel agency office. (photo via Getty Images)

PHOTO: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 taking off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. (photo via gk-6mt/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Woman walking on the beach in the Dominican Republic. (photo via valio84sl/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Shopping online with a tablet computer and credit card. (Photo via silverkblack / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

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Timeshare presentations can result in free travel perks. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / m44)

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The great American road trip isn't just for humans anymore. (Photo via Getty Images / mixetto)

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Searching for deals on airfare. (Photos via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Sinenkiy)

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Tourist family sightseeing in Italy. (Photo via Getty Images E+ / Imgorthand)

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PHOTO: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Washington, DC. (photo courtesy of amedved/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

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Diners at a street food market festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (photo via Aleksandr_Vorobev/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

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Travel savings. (Photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / surasaki)

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Save, Save, Save

1/26

With a new year on our hands, many are making a commitment to save more money. Even though you're aiming to be more budget-minded, that doesn't mean you can't travel. We've gathered the best travel savings advice for 2020 so you can explore the world without breaking the bank.

Use a travel agent

2/26

Travel agents make money through commissions, so you're not (usually) paying for the services of a travel agent. With their extensive network, they can find you the best deals on the market, occasionally getting you VIP experiences for free or at a fraction of the cost. Some will even allow for flexible payment plans allowing you to pay off your vacation in a way that fits your budget.

Points and Miles

3/26

Loyalty programs are available for hotels, airlines, and even rideshare companies like Uber. Earn points or miles by booking travel services through these programs, then use those points or miles for free or reduced trips and stays. Don't forget you can gain points through loyalty program affiliates such as by shopping in specific online portals, eating out at participating restaurants, or signing up for certain services like electricity or cell phone providers.

Off-season travel

4/26

Hotels, tour companies, and airlines jack up the prices of a destination during high-peak seasons, or times of the year when most tourists visit a destination. You can save money by traveling to a destination during its off-season, when there are far fewer tourists and travel companies offer reduced rates in the hopes of enticing travelers with flexible schedules.

Open a Travel Credit Card

5/26

Many travel credit cards provide large points/miles bonuses that can range from 40,000-70,000 points, just for opening a card and spending a certain amount within a few months. Some even offer 2x or 3x points/miles for every $1 you spend on the card, all of which can add up to free flights, trains, tours, and hotels. Read the fine print because some travel credit cards provide travel buddy passes, free checked luggage, discounts on tours or experiences, rental car insurance, refunds for Global Entry applications, and more.

Promo codes

6/26

Never book a tour experience, flight, accommodation, rental car, train ride, or any travel service without searching for a promo code. You'll be pleasantly surprised to discover how many discounts you can find with a quick Google search or by visiting the travel company's website or social media in search of specials.

Timeshare presentations

7/26

Sure, timeshare presentations can be cumbersome and take up a lot of time, but they can also offer major travel rewards like gift cards, free hotel stays, free vacations, show tickets, amusement park tickets, and hotel and casino credits. Remember, you're trying to save money on travel so don't get roped into purchasing a timeshare you can't afford.

Hopper

8/26

Get the best flight prices with Hopper. This app analyzes flight deals and prices, notifying users if the flight price to a certain destination will continue to drop or if the traveler is better off buying their flight immediately. Hopper advertises that it helps travelers save 40 percent on flights, making it a great tool for travel savings.

HotelTonight

9/26

HotelTonight is another cool travel app, but it focuses on finding awesome hotel deals for travelers who don't mind booking hotels last-minute (like the night they plan to stay -- hence, the name "HotelTonight"). Since hotels are trying whatever they can to sell off their remaining rooms, travelers can expect some amazing discounts and savings for hotels in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia on HotelTonight.

Referrals

10/26

You'd be surprised by how many travel companies and services will provide discounts, credits, and points and miles for referring family and friends to their services. Various cruise lines, airlines, travel credit cards, rideshares, vacation rental sites, booking sites, and even luggage companies will provide you with monetary incentives for referrals. Just make sure to use those incentives to reduce the cost of your next trip.

Turo

11/26

Turo is the Airbnb of cars. Instead of renting a car from a rental company on your next vacation, "rent" a car from a local in the area by using Turo. If you book a more budget-model vehicle, you could find it to be a cheaper alternative.

Travel with friends

12/26

The best thing about traveling with friends is that you can travel the world at half the cost. You can split meals, hotel rooms, and car rentals in half. If you're lucky, you'll have a friend with an airline Buddy Pass, which makes for an even cheaper flight.

Holiday travel sales

13/26

Keep an eye out for major travel savings during flash sales on booking sites, or airline, hotel, and tour company websites. These sales tend to occur around major holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday, Valentine's Day, July Fourth, and Christmas, helping you to save big on your next vacation.

Student/Teacher Discounts

14/26

Travel companies try to help those in education, such as teachers and students, travel at an affordable cost. An International Teacher or Student Identity Card offers discounts on flights, tours, tickets to shows, hostels, museums, and restaurants in cities around the world. In terms of students, StudentUniverse is a great website that helps students find travel deals. Amusement parks, airlines, hotels, and car rental companies offer teacher discounts that can be found on their website, by calling, or through membership in teaching organizations.

Free city offerings

15/26

Whatever city you visit, be sure to check their official tourism board or CVB to see if they offer discounted or free travel perks within that city. For instance, if you stay at a hotel in Basel, Switzerland, the city will provide you with a BaselCard which gives tourists free use of public transport, free Wi-Fi, and a 50 percent discount to some of the city's biggest attractions.

Alternative Accomodations

16/26

While there is a lot to love about hotels, they can sometimes be too pricey when compared to alternative accommodations like vacation rentals through Vrbo, or even private room bookings on Airbnb. Don't forget to look at the prices of hostels, glampsites, and even camp and RV sites in the area, all of which could be more budget-friendly.

Free activities

17/26

No matter where you go in the world, you can find free activities and tours with just a bit of research. Most museums will offer free entrance once a week or sometimes once a month. Many cities have free walking tours and free attractions like phenomenal parks, art walks, events, notable buildings, and historic sites.

Public transportation

18/26

Public transportation, like subways, buses, and trams, are always the cheapest option when traveling. Some cities will even offer free public transportation like Dallas' free D-Link bus with routes through neighborhoods like Downtown Dallas, Deep Ellum, and Bishop Arts. Kids, students, military, and the elderly may qualify for public transportation discounts.

Free accomodations

19/26

The cost of hotels can make any vacation expensive. Good thing there are websites that help you stay for free. Couchsurfing is the most well-known free accommodation service that connects travelers with "couches" in the homes of locals. Workaway is a great platform where hosts offer free stays in exchange for volunteer work such as on farms, in schools, or with a non-profit. Warm Showers helps cyclists find a free place to stay, while Horizon helps travelers stay with those living in the area whom they're already connected to via friends and family by utilizing their social media accounts.

Eat super local

20/26

Skip big restaurants in favor of small local joints and hole-in-the-walls. The food is sure to be spectacular and most likely cheaper. Ask locals to point you in the right direction. If this is too much trouble, find happy hour food deals or aim for a late lunch which will be cheaper than dinner and could last you through the evening.

Mistake Fares

21/26

We all make mistakes, but its when airlines make mistakes that you can find yourself with a major flight steal. Called "mistake fares," it's when airlines have the wrong price listed for airfare. If you can catch them in time, you can book your flight at the outrageously low cost. Sites like Airfare Watchdog, Secret Flying, Scott's Cheap Flights, and The Flight Deal all have notification settings for travelers looking for mistake fares.

Plan ahead

22/26

If you plan carefully before your trip, you can save quite a lot of money. Instead of wasting money on sodas or bottled water (especially at airports!), bring a re-usable water bottle and fill up on free water at your hotel, restaurants, and public water fountains. Pack cheap snacks in your bag to munch on during plane, train, or car rides. Use free Wi-Fi at hotels or coffee shops and forego expensive upgrades to cellphone service. And always, pack light and take advantage of free carry-ons with most airlines.

Track your spending

23/26

If you're nervous you'll overspend while traveling, keep yourself in check by tracking your daily spending. Apps like Tripcoin, Spent, Trail Wallet, and Splitwise can help you manage your daily travel budget. Some even have the capability to do so in local currency and allow you to split travel costs with your travel companions.

Best Days and Flights

24/26

Travelers will notice that airfare is usually cheaper when booking flights that depart on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Some would argue that Thursday is a cheap day to fly, too. Typically flights that take-off in the early morning like 4-6 a.m. or very late at night like after 10 p.m. will be cheaper.

GAFFL

25/26

If you're a solo traveler and wish you had a travel friend to split travel costs, don't worry, there's GAFFL. "Get a Friend for Life" or GAFFL is a platform that connects travelers (usually solo travelers) going in the same direction who can split costs using GAFFL's "Split" tool before, after, or during a trip.

Get bumped

26/26

No one likes to be bumped from a flight that's full, but if you play it right, getting bumped can pay off tremendously. Airlines are willing to pay travelers to get bumped, by providing them with airfare credit that's worth the same price of their ticket. Depending on how desperate they are, airlines could go as high as $1,000 for an airfare credit. Play it right, and you could essentially negotiate with airline employees for a free airfare ticket or two that you can use on your next trip.

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