Don’t call it a dream, Call it a plan

Whether you’re a student, parent or even a busy professional, planning your dream journey can be a hassle or an incredible experience. There are always reasons why people feel that they cannot live out their perfect escape and its usually because of the price tag.

No matter what budget you set, you can make it work.

From getting to your destination, finding the perfect rental accommodations while in all budgeting your entire trip. Of course, traveling does come with a special cost, but there are many ways for you to travel the world with a set budget while experiencing your dream itinerary.

Here are my Top 5 ways to save on travel that’ll enhance your globetrotting dreams.

The Magic Day

Throughout the traveling world, Tuesdays has become a very important day for numerous reasons. Research has found that travelers who search for flights on Tuesday at midnight save around 6% on their flights, possibly making this the magic day of the week to book your flight. Generally, people do most traveling from Thursdays towards the end of the weekend. So, if your itinerary is flexible, it would be best to travel mid-week.

Traveling to Your Destination

Travels during the summer may be the most expensive depending on the location. If you have the flexibility in your schedule to travel during the off-season, do it! Places in Central America, South America and the Caribbean (for example Venezuela, Argentina and Chile) would be a perfect getaway for the winter months. The weather is better, places are less crowded and you’ll save a lot of cash. With endless search engines and continuing price changes, flight booking can be a hassle and extremely overwhelming.

↓Here are some ways that I book my flights while saving money↓

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares millions of flights to find you the cheapest deal, fast. They also compare and find the cheapest hotels and car rentals for your next trip for FREE.
Skippedlagged: “Hidden city ticketing” Skiplagged can offer steep discounts on airfare. Basically, you book a flight past your destination, with your target destination as a stop on the route, and save more than if on the direct route. Skiplagged is one site that shows you these hidden deals.
Hipmunk: Hipmunk is the fastest, easiest way to plan travel. They offer the most comprehensive travel search, from commercial flights, trains, and charter flights.

→Tip to Remember←

(Combining transportation (for example, plane to train) can be the cheapest alternative to travel.)

If you haven’t decided the best way to travel, check out the Rome2Rio and download the mobile app. You’ll be able to find the best ways to get anywhere from your cellphone or tablet. The app will compare travel options from Plane, train, ferry, and other ride share selections to make your transportation choices hassle free.

Best Accommodations

Apartments are best for families, group travelers or even the solo individuals like myself. Those of you that are looking for that home away from home concept with full kitchens, spacious bedrooms or living areas, AirBnB is a great option if you are not looking for the luxury suite inside of a hotel or the shared rooms in a hostel. AirBnB and other companies such as HomeAway , 9Flats , and HouseTrip all offer serviced apartments that are furnished and taken care of just like a hotel.

If you are looking to stay in a hotel, it may be best to stay at one further from the heart of the city. These hotels tend to be a little cheaper and they have great transportation systems to bring you wherever you need to go.

Transportation

Now that you’ve arrived at your destination, you’re probably wondering what may be the best way for you to get around the city without going over your set budget. I have always found that taxis can get quite expensive, so I try to use Uber or Lyft whenever possible. Depending on where you may be, I also recommend underground travel. If your new to the city, there’s usually small kiosks that allow you to purchase prepaid metro cards for you to use on subways.

Of course, Walking would also save you Big Bucks!

Tasty Meals

Pack Your Own Meals: The number one way to save money as you travel is to pack your own snacks and meals. Being a huge foodie and a flight attendant at the same time I have had to take control of my spending habits while in different cities. I’ve learned to pack my favorite snacks and meals that didn’t necessarily need refrigeration. Now I have more money to spend on other activities during my journey oppose to spending cash on meals everyday.

Grocery Shop: Fresh produce is always great, by grocery shopping your saving tons of money rather than going out to eat every night during your stay. If you’ve made the choice of staying at a serviced apartment and a kitchen is available to you, then this would be a great idea.

Bring Reusable Water Bottles: I know that water isn’t actually in the food category, but it’s definitely something that can cost (or save) you money. Continually buying water bottles at airports or rest stops will cost you big bucks over a trip especially if you are overseas. A bottle of small water at San Francisco Airport costs a $3.75! Multiply that by a few and you’re looking at big (and unnecessary) spending.

Lunch Time Deals: Skip the pricey entrees and long wait times by eating out at lunch instead of dinner. Most restaurants will offer happy hour deals to bring in more traffic during the slower hours. You can always try tapas style. Order appetizers instead of one large entrée. It’s usually cheap and you get to try multiple dishes.

Daily Adventures

↓Here are some ideas for ways to save on activities↓

Ditch Pricey Tours: Become a member on Groupon and search for tours around the area you are visiting. You can then select which activity you want to enjoy by filtering the price.
Ask for a Discount: Always look for special rates for students, seniors, kids, groups, or whatever might apply to you. It never hurts to ask!
Research Free Activities and Museums: Many major tourist attractions are free on certain days. You can find an endless list of free activities for most big cities.
Do an All-inclusive Sightseeing Tour: If you’re visiting for the first time and you know you want to see it all, consider hop-on/hop-off buses or city passes that’ll take you everywhere.