Easy Ways to Save on Travel

This post, Save on Travel contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support! Please also note that any prices, offers, and terms listed are subject to change at the discretion of the companies mentioned.

Between booking flights and tracking down decent hotels within your budget, travel planning can be frustrating and time-consuming. And expensive. What you originally thought would be a modest investment has somehow tripled in cost.

If you’d like to check off some items on your travel wish list without breaking the bank, these legit tips can help save you cash -as well as time and frustration- on your next trip.

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Sign Up for Flight Deal Newsletters

They have dedicated staff who search for the best travel deals, which can save you time, money, and aggravation. While we can all learn some of these skills (one technique is to plug your requests into Google Travel) most of us don’t have long stretches of time -or the patience- to search the Internet for deals that may or may not actually be genuine deals.

One caveat of cheap flights and advertised specials is they’re typically for limited times and dates. They’re especially helpful if you can be flexible with your travel date or location.

Some travel deal newsletters are free, while others offer both free and paid versions. Some publish generic deals, while others will send you customized deals based on your preferences for airports and hotels.

Hotel and flight deal newsletters that may help you save on travel

I also sign up for newsletters from my favorite hotels and airlines.

Applying for an Airline Credit Card to Save on Flights

If you’re already using a credit card to pay for your purchases, why not use one that accumulates flight miles? It’s one of the easiest and most passive ways to save on travel.

Most airlines offer credit cards in a variety of tiers, including a basic card that rewards you with introductory miles and miles per dollar spent on qualifying purchases. Miles and benefits increase with higher-tiered cards. With a Delta Platinum card (priced at $250 annually) for example, you can score extras like a complimentary companion ticket upon renewal.

Here’s a look at the basic credit cards offered by some of the popular airlines. Each of these also offers higher-tiered cards.

Delta SkyMiles®Gold American Express Card. Annual fee is $99 after a free one-year introductory trial period. Notable perks in addition to miles: First checked bag is free on a round trip flight for a savings of about $60. Priority Boarding (main cabin), which is especially helpful if you like to get settled in early.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Plus Visa Credit Card. Annual fee is $69. Notable perk in addition to miles: 3,000 points added to your account on your card anniversary.

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Mastercard®. No annual fee. Notable perk in addition to miles: A 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases.

United Airlines Gateway℠ MileagePlus® Visa Card. No annual fee. Notable perk in addition to miles: 25% back on United in-flight purchases.

Miles can add up pretty quickly, depending on how often you use your credit card. If, say, you were to charge $1,000 dollars worth of groceries and restaurant visits on your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex every month for the next 12 months, you’d earn 24,000 points (plus any introductory points), which depending on where and when you travel and which class you book, can mean a round trip ticket.

EXTRA TIP: Even if you don’t want an airline credit card, consider joining their free loyalty program (like United’s MileagePlus) so you can still earn miles.

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!

Take Advantage of Free Loyalty Programs to Save on Hotels

Some people swear by booking sites, but I’d rather work directly with hotels to receive exclusive rates, points for free nights, and free late checkouts. The way to take advantage of these perks is to sign up for their free loyalty programs.

Marriott Bonvoy™, for example, offers tiered memberships, based on the number of stays booked per year. With stays of up to nine nights per year, you receive perks like complimentary in-room Internet access, member rates, and mobile check-in. After nine nights, the benefits increase, and depending on the tier, include perks like bonus points, welcome gifts, and guaranteed room types.

EXTRA TIP: Points can also be used to redeem merchandise (like sports equipment, home appliances, and clothing) or gift cards to retailers like Panera Bread, Target, and Macy’s.

A benefit of working directly with a hotel chain like Marriot Bonvoy™ or IHG Hotels and Resorts is access to a wide range of hotels -from basic to luxury- in their portfolio. For example, Marriott Bonvoy™ properties include Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard, and Residence Inn. IHG Hotels and Resorts owns Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton hotels, and other brands.

Consider applying for a branded credit card if you plan to travel more frequently. With the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Card for example, you can earn 30,000 bonus points (that’s a free night stay depending on which property you book) after being approved then making qualifying purchases, as well as other perks like up to 14 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott properties.

Save on Travel with an AAA Membership

American Automobile Association (AAA) offers three tiers of membership, though you can take advantage of their travel discounts with the classic membership, priced at $58 a year.

Examples of hotel discounts for AAA members:

Marriott Bonvoy™: Save 5% or more, plus earn points.
Hyatt: Save up to 10%, plus get exclusive AAA members deals.
Best Western: Receive a $25 Best Western Rewards®gift card for each night you stay (limited to four cards).

AAA travel discounts also apply to attractions, theme parks, water parks, and shows – as well as to car rentals. If you book with Hertz, for example, you can get up to 20% off the base rate plus receive exclusive offers.

Other memberships that offer travel benefits include AARP and Costco. Do the math to see if the price of membership is worth your while.

Save on Travel by Working for a Company That Offers Travel Benefits

The most obvious employers to start with are airlines and hotels. The travel industry typically offers flexible job options including part-time and remote positions, as well as decent travel benefits.

Delta Airlines, for example, offers its employees free & discounted travel benefits, as well as profit sharing, health & dental, paid time off, and other attractive perks. Marriott Bonvoy™ benefits include hotel & food discounts at Marriott properties, profit sharing, and professional development.

Other potential employers to consider are rental car companies, cruise ships, theme parks, and travel companies like Expedia and Travelzoo.

Take Online Surveys to Save on Travel

Some online survey sites offer airline and hotel gift cards in exchange for your opinion. It’s not the quickest way to save on travel, but can be a great way to supplement your miles or points.

A few survey sites offering travel prizes:

e-Rewards. Miles from American Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and several others; and points for hotels like Hilton, Radisson, and Choice Hotels. A caveat is that you have to be invited to join e-Rewards. I got in by subscribing via an invitation from a Famous Footwear purchase.
MyPoints. Vouchers for American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines.
Branded Surveys. Gift cards to Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Enter Sweepstakes to Win Trips

Though it’s not a sure thing, you can try to win trips or flight miles by entering sweepstakes.

To find legitimate sweepstakes, try doing online searches using terms like Airline sweepstakes, Win a Trip, Hotel sweepstakes, or Travel sweepstakes.

My preferred way is to sign up for a free or paid sweepstakes newsletter like Sweepsheet or the Contests and Sweepstakes Channel on Balance Everyday. Check out my sweepstakes article to discover more tips on how to find the best sweepstakes.

I hope these tips can save you some cash, and inspire you to plan your next trip.

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!