10 Frugal Travel Tips - SOMER SAVES YOU

My family is living proof that traveling affordably IS possible, so today I’m sharing my top 10 frugal travel tips to make any vacation possible!

And before I go on, I feel I need to properly validate my own credibility by sharing that my little family of four adventured on a six month road trip this past year without full time jobs, without an RV, and without debt! So if anyone could offer a few frugal trips for travelers, I hope it can be me.

There’s little I value higher than having the means to travel. This “means” doesn’t just mean money. It also means the creativity and connections to make fun experiences happen, even on a low budget!

You’ll find that my 10 frugal travel tips are helpful for any size family in any financial situation. These hacks and tricks don’t require any special status to enjoy.

Travel during the off season. This was probably our best move without even knowing it. On our six month road trip we traveled through the lower half of the United States, which was technically during “off season.” But being from Wisconsin, the weather felt great and prices were substantially lower than the summer months!
Book through Rakuten. Or Fetch. Or Ibotta. Or some sort of cash back website that will credit you even a small percentage back on your purchase if you shop and book through the app. For example, we often found great hotel rates on Expedia; however, we first logged into Rakuten, found Expedia through the Rakuten app, then shopped through the link to score anywhere from 1% – 15% cash back. Even on a single night in a hotel room, that’s well over $10 of free money.
Wherever you are, SIGN UP. This hack scored us the most food freebies, which kept food costs low. Take inventory of the restaurants you’re around, the gas stations you pass, and even the grocery stores you visit while traveling. A we traveled through 23 different states, we signed for any and all establishments that offered rewards programs just to enjoy whatever welcome bonus offered upon sign up!
Purchase at the counter. Booking flights? I have it on good authority that you can score more affordable airplane tickets if you purchase them right at the ticket counter for whatever airline you’re looking to book with. This obviously means you’d need to live decently close to even go purchase the tickets in advance, but my friend – Marissa – is living proof this hack works!

Use gift cards. Maybe you saved up some gift cards from a recent birthday or you’re cashing out on all your rebate apps. Either way, save up your gift cards and use them during travel days when you have to eat out and just want to splurge!
Eat in. After six months sharing Airbnbs, hotel rooms, and other people’s kitchens, I gathered and even created a handful of easy recipes you can throw together in the simplest of spaces.
Get outside. From free trails to fresh springs of mountain water and all the wildlife sanctuaries in between, the great outdoors are your best bet for making an itinerary. And don’t forget to walk wherever you can if the location you’re traveling to permits.
Consider the GETOUTPASS. If you’ve never heard of the GETOUTPASS, now’s the time to educate yourself, especially because code SOMERSAVES scores you an extra $10 off! This pass is essentially just a one-time payment for a pass that admits you into dozens of local experiences (museums, zoos, amusement parks, gardens etc.).
Enjoy more for free. Google and TikTok became my best friends as I searched “free things in _______” for every single city we visited. From free zoos to free local events happening during your travels, you might be surprised how little time you have for the expensive sight seeing you originally planned on.
Travel with friends. Splitting the cost of stays and sharing food can make for a much more enjoyable vacation… and much more affordable. Consider who you might want to travel with for your next vacation!

This list of 10 frugal travel tips is not exhaustive by any means. There’s a hundred other little things we do to make travel more affordable for our frugal family. But here’s a good place to start.

I wish you luck on your next great travel adventure. And never hesitate to reach out with specific questions. Drop a comment or message me directly on social media!