The Most Effective Money Saving Travel Tips

If you're part of an airline loyalty program, don't forget to cash in your miles when booking. Miles earned on previous flights can reduce your overall airfare or pay for upgrades or in-flight meals. However, you'll have to be a frequent flier to accumulate enough miles to make a dent. Fortunately, there is another way to earn miles every day.

Travel credit cards let you transfer earned miles to airline loyalty programs or redeem them for travel purchases like flights and hotels. Choose a card that offers bonus miles for your most-shopped categories, like restaurants or groceries. Some cards, including the Capital One Venture series, offer access to proprietary travel portals where prices are lower and miles are worth more. Alternatively, several airline-sponsored credit cards let you earn miles directly with their loyalty program.

Look out for other included perks, such as rental car insurance, travel insurance, or fee reimbursement for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

You may know to be wary of foreign transaction and ATM fees, but did you know there's another sneaky way credit cards upcharge you for swiping abroad? When paying with a credit card at restaurants or hotels, you'll often be offered the option to pay in your home currency or in local currency. To save a few bucks, always choose to pay in local currency. This means your home bank will handle the conversion, resulting in lower fees and a better rate for you.

Note: You'll often see this option offered at hotels and restaurants that handle a high volume of international customers. The registers at smaller stores and retailers are not typically equipped to offer a choice of currencies.

Certain goods are eligible for a tax refund at the airport. Look for stores advertising Tax Free shopping—it’s usually marked in a clear spot in a store window or at the register. When purchasing, give your passport to the clerk and get a VAT (Value-Added Tax) receipt. On your way home, arrive at the airport early to get your paperwork verified at customs before checking your luggage. After you’ve been approved and dropped off your bags, head to the airport’s VAT refund desk or self-service kiosk, located before the security check, to claim your refund.

Don't plan to get your local cash at the airport currency exchange or on-site ATM. Oftentimes, exchange rates abroad are high, and ATM foreign transaction fees can be hefty. Instead, order a small sum of local currency from your bank well ahead of your departure date.

While it used to be true that shopping for flights on Tuesdays yielded the best deals, modern algorithms and dynamic pricing have equalized airfare across the week. However, there are still strategic choices you can make when booking to get a cheaper price. According to the data , flights departing on Tuesdays or Saturdays offer the best rates. For the lowest prices , book domestic travel one to two months before the departure date. For international travel, book 3 to 6 months in advance.

Certain online travel agencies, such as Travelocity , JetBlue Vacations , Priceline , and destination-specific sites like CheapCaribbean.com , offer bundles combining hotels, airfare, and rental cars. These bundles can help you save, but they aren't guaranteed deals — research each component to see if booking separately or together offers the best price.

A water bottle at the airport can cost three times as much as one at a convenience store. Load up your carry-on with TSA-friendly nibbles to get you through your wait in the terminal, and bring an empty refillable water bottle to top up at a water station after you've gone through security.

Museums and historic sites often have monthly free-entry days, and sites like GuruWalk make finding low- or no-cost walking tours easy. If you've planned a packed sightseeing itinerary, consider a CityPASS that includes admission to several attractions, oftentimes alongside discounted transportation passes, at a fraction of the cost. Take stock of potential discounts you may be missing: AAA and AARP members frequently qualify for discounted admission at attractions around the United States.

Book hotels with laundry facilities or laundry in-room, especially on trips longer than one week, to help you pack light. Easy access to laundry can help you avoid overweight baggage fees, free up space for souvenirs, or skip checking a bag altogether. Make sure the hotel offers self-service facilities rather than a laundry service, which may incur an additional cost.

The best way to save for a trip is before it’s ever been planned. Open a travel savings account or set aside some cash in a safe place and deposit as little or as much as you want per month. When plans arise, you’ll have some money set aside for upfront expenses that won’t make a dent in your daily checking account.