Travel in Off Season

Traveling in off season, sometimes referred to as shoulder season, is one of the best ways to score deals. Typically, accommodations tend to be cheaper and you can land great deals. Depending on your destination, activities may be less expensive as well. Personally, I rather travel in off season. Besides the budget friendly prices, crowds have thinned out drastically. This will give you the opportunity to experience the location with less of a touristy feel.

Shop at Local Markets and Grocery Stores

Want to experience a new place like a local? Then do as the locals do! Markets are one of my absolute favorite things to experience while traveling. Markets are unique to each culture and never disappoint. You can even check out the grocery stores. If you haven’t been to a local grocery store abroad, I highly recommend it. It is a lot more fun than shopping at your store back home, I promise. 

Book in Advance

Plan what you want to do and see ahead of time in order to purchase tickets in advance. It is quite a bit cheaper to reserve online in advance rather than buying in the present. This goes for all museums, attractions and transportation. On my recent trip, I booked ahead with Get Your Guide and was able to save money as well as skip several hour long waits!
Book tours, attractions, and activities online here with Get Your Guide!

Bring your own snacks

Seriously. This saves so much money, especially when you are traveling with a toddler! Because lets face it, toddlers eat all damn day. All those little snacks you purchase at the airport, on planes, and in between meals while traveling adds up significantly. Pack snacks that are filling, such as nuts, protein bars and cracker packs with peanut butter. These snacks are all portable and perfect for on the go.

Transportation

Getting from one place to another gets pricey quick. My number one tip is to set your home base in a prime location within walking distance to the majority of things you want to see and do.  Walking to your destinations will save you tremendous amounts of money. Depending on where you are going, you can even book some transportation ahead of time. If you are traveling around Europe, look into the Eurail pass or the local train station site for the country you are visiting to save on travel costs.

Usually the biggest transportation cost is getting to and from the airport and your accommodation. Hotel transfers tend to be outrageously priced and taxis can sometimes be even worse. If you are uncertain of which route to take, check out RideGuru. RideGuru compares the prices of different transportation options to give you accurate estimates so you can find the cheapest option. Their biggest perk? The operate across the globe! Simply go to their website and fill out where you are and where you need to go. RideGuru will then calculate fares from rideshare services such as Uber, Lyft, ola, Curb and Didi Kaudidi as well as the local taxi service. RideGuru breaks down the costs of each option and helps you decide on a budget friendly and safe transportation route.