Obviously I saved money but that was only part of how I was able to travel for so long and to so many places for my gap year+ and how I continue to still travel so much these days.  These are tips that I personally used/did and are geared towards how to best maximize your money for travel: from how to save $ to how not to spend any money to how to spend money wisely and how to make your money work for you. I’m hoping that I’m inspiring and helping you to go out and travel better…and cheaper…maybe even travel more. Quitting your job and then gallivanting around the world is strictly optional.

1. Loyalty/reward programs

When you fly or stay at a hotel, sign up for their reward program and then build loyalty. For example, I am willing to pay a little bit more for a United (or a Star Alliance partner) flight so I can accumulate United miles. Also look for other ways to earn miles: the shopping portal of an airline’s program when online shopping. You don’t pay more but you earn miles for your purchases!

How loyalty pays off: I have elite status with multiple hotel chains that entitles me to perks like guaranteed early check-ins/late checkouts and some of the higher elite levels entitle me to lounge access and/or free breakfast. However, my absolute favorite perk happens when I redeem points for a hotel room, and then choose a welcome gift of points; I end up earning points for a stay that I didn’t even pay for and having the stay count towards keeping my status! As an added bonus, award stays with Hyatt and Hilton hotels eliminate resort fees!

2. Credit cards especially with large sign up bonuses Caveat: please only consider if you pay off the credit card IN FULL every month because no reward amount can justify interest charges as the amount you pay will always exceed any rewards you earn! If you are new to credit, here’s a little primer.

So by using miles and points throughout my travels, I ended up saving A LOT of money on flights and hotels. But did you know the easiest way to earn miles and point (if you aren’t traveling for work) is by getting a rewards credit card. Yes there is an annual fee for these types of cards but that will more than pay for itself!

First, put all you can on that card since you will get rewarded for those charges. Second, make sure that card doesn’t have an foreign exchange fee if you’re traveling abroad. In almost all cases, the best exchange rate I had was when I used my credit card for purchases and I earned rewards on those purchases as well! Third, I suggest that you wait for a LARGE sign up bonus and then make sure you meet the requirements in time to get the bonus. So everyday spending that was going to be done anyway is leveraged into lots of points (or miles).

An example? Years ago, Chase Bank had a promotion for their British Airways credit card ~ an incredible 100K miles with a small spending requirement ($2,000 in 3 months if memory serves me) and then I stayed on top of not letting those miles expire. This previous post shows how I leveraged some of those miles when I was in South America.

3. Resources/Help 

Some of my fave websites/apps and links to them because you don’t have to know it all, you just have to know where to look:

Flyertalk: There are so many people who are even more obsessed and crazy about the above two things than I am and I have learned so much in their forums. This is the OG in the world of travel hacking and full of great information and knowledgeable people BUT it is so hard to search if you don’t know where to look..just a warning.

I first wrote this in 2016 and it’s been incredible how widespread travel and credit card hacking have gone seen then – I find myself often in Facebook groups (10x Travel, MilesTalk) to crowd source information but also balance it out with searches on my own and really have been loving Upgraded Points lately – also end up reading articles from the Points Guy often. I am not linking a specific site here because this really has become so mainstream that simple google searches are now pretty effective!

Google Flights: A useful, fun, addictive way to search and save on flights

Rome2rio: Such a cool website/app to “Discover how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry and automobile”

XE currency app: With cash, always pay in local currency so you don’t have that business setting a higher exchange rate and always know how much the exchange rate is ~ even functions offline

Smart Traveler app: Cannot recommend this enough for my fellow Americans! Dual purpose A. Allows you to keep the State Department updated on your travel plans and helps the US embassies to locate/assist/evacuate you as necessary and also keep you informed during crises through the STEP program and B Provides information on countries including entry/exit/visa requirements which is a great lead into the next tip…

4. Plan ahead/do a little research and that sometimes includes not booking ahead  If you are looking to book award flights – you normally have to start looking the moment it is released if you are searching for the more elusive and scarce business or first class awards OR if you have flexibility (or if you are comfortable with booking refundable fares in hope of something popping up), I can attest that waiting to look three months out has been successful but often times, it is a month to a few days before, that there is availability. I was able to snag an EVA business class seat literally TWO days before I left to Thailand!

Travel me is very different from work/Colorado me and weirdly doesn’t sweat the details but not researching does create a little Achilles’ heel for me (Petra at night comes to mind!). The STEP app really helped keep me on top of visas requirements. It would be an expensive lesson to learn when you’re barred from entering a country because you didn’t have the required visas/documents/etc and it does happen!  I typically only book my first night’s accommodations prior to arriving but so many times these places have helped me out tremendously to save me money (ie information about the Jordan Pass or arranging transportation so I don’t have to deal with cab drivers wanting to rip me off). I still do this often when I am solo traveling to give me the flexibility to change plans (or if the vibe of a place is off, I don’t feel the need to stay or stick it out and lose money).

Unless what you want to do or the location is extremely popular and there’s a chance it will sell out, you can wait until you get your destination to book said activity. I flew into the Galapagos and booked my tours there. I ended up paying a lot less than the prices I had been seeing on the internet and I also employed this next tactic:

5.Negotiate! 

Almost everything can be negotiated and it never hurts to ask. In the above case, I booked all my day trips with the same operator and simply asked if “there was anything they could do about the price since I was doing multi tours with them?” I did my research and went and talked to a few operators so I was aware of what single and multi day tours were running and we came to a mutually beneficial price. Allow me to interject that I want to come to a fair price in these dealings and I want to respect that this is how the other party is making his/her living . However if I like someone is trying to take advantage of me, well nothing talks like money when it walks away.

6. Free/low cost/lower cost options

Modes of transportation: Walking is preferred for me because A. Stay active B. Great, go at your pace way to explore and discover hidden gems – so many times, I have stumbled across cool cafes or coffee shops this way C. Free! (Side note: again importance of resources/some initial planning: the free! ‘maps.me’ app: just download before you get to your destination and it works beautifully offline). I also use public transportation and have found it to be an easy, safe, and affordable way to go to explore in all corners of the world

*Free* walking tours: Ok first, I hesitate to use that phrase but the easiest way to find them is by googling that phrase and the city you are in BUT please tip at the end as this is how the guides are paid, even if it’s a couple of euros or dollars – it all adds up for them. Typically an interesting and informative way to see and learn about a place and I have found that it’s a great way to make some new friends (both with guides and fellow tour goers). Also the guides are such great ambassadors for their cities so can help you with food, drink, party recommendations.

Lunch: I love food and I have found that a markedly less expensive way to try a renowned restaurant is to go there for lunch! Also street fare/food trucks is my absolute favorite way to be able eat my way through a locale – typically inexpensive but also some of the best eats I have ever had was with these local shops.

7. Backpack travel

So I know that many people may not want to travel in this way and that’s absolutely fine – do what makes you happy.   I love traveling in this way however even I didn’t do it this way for my entire trip.  But if you want to travel and have limited funds ~ go backpacking plus I found it to be the absolute best way for traveling solo. Staying in hostels and using local transportation including night buses made for some interesting situations/stories but also lead me to meeting some incredible people that defined my trip. It’s a different vibe and a specific way of traveling that puts you in contact with like minded people that you may not have a chance to meet elsewhere.

8. Make friends

One of the downsides to solo travel is there is no one to split costs with when you first set out but a friend or two or more changes everything. When you backpack especially for extended periods of time, it’s easy to travel with your new friends even for a short duration of time. Now you can split costs (cabs/rentals/etc) and you have a better position to negotiate since it’s now for more people. And I personally like friends who dine family style so I can try lots more food without spending more money!

But the most amazing thing that happened with my new friends was the hospitality that they extended. I had drinks with and was invited to home dinner by locals in countless countries and even had multiple invites to weddings that I wish I had been able to attend. And then there were the friends I made in one country who ended up hosting me when I was in his/her/their home country. Such generous souls I was able to connect with that not only opened up their houses but went out of their way to make me feel at home and some of my favorite memories were from those times. I was lucky enough to have almost five weeks of accommodations taken care of in this way during my long extended travels but I was also shown their countries in a way I would have never been able to experience otherwise and that’s priceless.

9. Think/befriend a local 

If you aren’t lucky enough to be hosted by friend who’s a local then at least eat, drink, party and hang out where the locals do. Most of the times, the prices will be cheaper since they don’t want to or can’t pay tourist prices. Plus these places tend to showcase the true vibe of a place through the food, the energy, etc. I love to have coffee or eat lunch in a park frequented by locals my first day in a city and it helps me get connected to a place.  And be willing to strike up a conversation and maybe make a new friend or two!

10. Make an impact with your money

It’s a privilege to travel. Saying this doesn’t undermine the sacrifice or hard work that one may make to go someplace but it does acknowledge that not everyone has this luxury/right. Money is important and can help make a big difference based on how it’s spent. I love supporting local businesses and also seek out places that have a greater social mission. And also choose to support places that are ethical/humane ~ so no elephant riding or tiger palaces and so forth for me.

And remember that there are many instances where benefits outweighs the costs. For me, it was clear that the spontaneity and flexibility that not having plans afforded me was better than saving money by booking things ahead. And I often ended up changing the few plans I had made beforehand which ended up being more expensive in the long run!

And I think the adage about the best money is spent on experiences holds true. Yes my hot air balloon rides were expensive but I will always remember those magical sunrises.

Hopefully there was something or a number of things that will help you with maximizing your money for travel! Did I miss anything here that you think is a great money & travel tip? Or is there a subject that you wish I had gone more in depth about? Please let me know and I’ll see if I can work it into an upcoming post!