There’s no single website or special formula I can give you for how to travel for cheap on every trip you take. I can, however, suggest all the ways we’ve found to score discounts, deals, and cash back each time we travel. This is a step-by-step explanation for how we spent six months booking the biggest trip of our life! We hope it can help you on your own future travels.
(For a quick guide with our favorite apps and websites, CLICK HERE)
HOW TO BEGIN:
We begin planning a trip by searching two things – (1) GOOGLE places to stay in ______ and (2) AIRBNB places to stay in ______.
I will use Green Bay as an example:
- Go to Google. Search “places to stay in Green Bay, WI.” Fill out any further information required like dates and number of guests. Search, then click on “Maps” right below the search bar. There you’ll find an overview of prices in the area. This helps me see the average price per night, as well as decide if I can afford a hotel stay in the area.
- Go to the Airbnb app. Search “Green Bay” in search destinations, then fill out the appropriate information for your trip. After you search, a map will come up right at the top. Once again, I use this map as my guide for determining the average price per night, then I can decide whether a hotel or Airbnb would be most affordable. (You can also use this method with VRBO.)
HOTELS
If you’ve determined a hotel would be more affordable, you would choose the rate/stay you like the best through my search on Google Maps. This is just the easiest way to see price and location all in one place. Then, instead of booking directly through Google, you’d head to another app to find the best deals.
Apps or websites with some of the best rates for hotels include Hotels.com, Expedia, and Priceline. See our full list here.
If you find a better rate on one of these sites, great! But you might not. Be sure to cross-check all sites, including the actual hotel website for the best price. Then, instead of booking through the site of the best rate, head to either Rakuten or Ibotta. These are apps that offer cash back for online shopping and that includes travel! We purchase 90% of our travel through Rakuten, and sometimes Ibotta offers an even better cash back rate.
Otherwise, invest in an AARP card for just $15 a year, and score discounts on hotels around the world. No, it’s not just for old people. Anyone over eighteen years old can get an AARP card. I kid you not when I say there’s an actual endless list of discounts offered through AARP. Most hotels offer at least ten percent off. Ten percent off a thousand dollar booking is a HUNDRED bucks. Plus, your AARP card offers discounts on car rentals, eating out, and flights too!
During your stay at whatever hotel you choose, be sure to keep an eye out for rewards programs to sign up for. Programs like Marriott Bonvoy or Best Western Rewards give points for each stay, which you can then save up for free stays in the future!
AIRBNB / VRBO
**CROSS CHECK PROPERTIES ON AIRBNB AND VRBO AS SOMETIMES PRICING VARIES ON EACH WEBSITE.**
If you’ve determined an Airbnb would be most affordable, you pretty much already have the best price. My only discount suggestion is to once again pull out that AARP card. Through the website, you can purchase a $500 Airbnb gift card for just $475. Depending on how expensive your stay is, you may even choose to purchase multiple gift cards. This is saving you $25+ with each gift card purchase!
If I’ve determined a VRBO would be most affordable, once again, the website won’t have further discounts. However, shop through Rakuten and you’ll score some sort of cash back on the app. Also, after each purchase, check your VRBO account for One Key Cash. This is cashback you earn with each booking that can be redeemed on future trips. You’re literally getting paid to travel!
TIPS
Earn extra cash back called “One Key Cash” toward future trips every time you book through Expedia, VRBO, or Hotels.com.
After your stay, some hotels offer discounts for future stays. Keep an eye out or coupons or emails with offers. (Example: Great Wolf Lodge)
To get the most bang for your buck, request early check-in or late check-out. This ensures extra hours on vacation without an extra charge!
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