• Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

Evelyn Kanter ecoXplorer

smarter traveling, driving and spending

  • Green Hotels
  • Green Cars
    • Best Cars under $20,000
    • Test Drives
    • Diesel Cars
    • Electric Cars
    • Hybrid Cars
    • Hydrogen Fuel Cell
    • Luxury Drives
  • Travel Deals
    • Free
    • Budget Travel
    • Discount Tickets
  • Xplore More
    • Safety and Health
    • How To
    • Five Best
    • Travel Pioneers
    • Motorcycles
    • Vintage Cars
  • Scam Alert
  • Where to Go Next
    • Historic Travel
    • Epic Adventures
    • National Parks
Home » 10 Ways to Stretch Your Travel Dollars

10 Ways to Stretch Your Travel Dollars

Leave a Comment

how to stretch your travel dollar

Since you might not have traveled in a while, consider this a quick refresher course for how to stretch your travel dollars before, during and after a trip, whether you are going solo or with the entire family.

Plan Twice, Book Once

Even though some airlines have dropped change fees because of the Covid-19 pandemic, some airlines charge $150 or more if you change your ticket after it’s been booked, and many hotels now charge “no show” fees of $50 or more.

So, double-check the details before you book your flight or your room to avoid these potential added charges.

Pack Light

Minimize checked baggage fees of up to $35 for the first bag by packing and checking less.

For longer trips, the cost of dry cleaning may be cheaper than checking extra luggage with additional clean shirts and pants.

Also look into overnight delivery and luggage forwarding services — for samples to bring on a business trip, or your skis, snowboard or golf clubs for a leisure trip.

advantages of global entry programCheck Your Paperwork

Make sure your passport is current and that you have any necessary visas. Expired or missing paperwork can delay your trip and add expensive charges for expedited applications.

Some countries will not admit you if your passport has less than six months left, so if you are planning a trip later in 2021, get your passport renewed now.

See our article with tips on how to apply for or renew your passport.

Check visa requirements also – iVisa has a comprehensive list.

Be Flexible To Find Savings

For travel to or from an area with multiple airports, search alternate airports or use this option in your online booking tool.

For example, in New York City, fares may be less expensive enough at JFK to offset the incremental taxi fare difference for a trip to LaGuardia.

Check alternative airports such as Idaho Falls instead of Jackson Hole, Burbank instead of LAX.

Rental cars also may be less expensive at the alternative airports.

Watch for Waste

Millions of tickets go unused, even though most non-refundable fares are valid for travel for up to a year.

While there may be change fees, you can still save money by not letting these unused tickets go to waste.

Also check your frequent flyer miles for expiration.  If you aren’t flying, using them to make a purchase such as a magazine subscription can extend the miles by another 6-12 months, or longer.

Stay Together, Save Together

If you are arriving on different flights than your co-workers, friends or family, plan ahead to arrive around the same time and meet at an airport lounge.

That way you can travel to the hotel together and save the cost of multiple taxis or shuttle services.hotel deals and freebies

Big Ticket Items Can Mean Big Savings

If you are planning a complex international or multi-city US itinerary, use a travel agent.

It will save you  time better spent on your family and/or your business, a travel professional is better equipped to find the best airfare deals to ensure you get the lowest fare, with or without a land package.

Plan Ahead, Stay In Touch – The earlier you book air tickets and hotel rooms, the more likely you’ll find a lower rate.

Ask for price guarantees

many airlines and hotels offer you a lower rate if the price for your trip drops after you’ve booked it.

Stretch Your Stay to Stretch Your Dollar

Some airlines are bringing back “minimum stay requirements,” so you can safe money by postponing your return trip from a Friday until a Sunday or Monday.

Or, take the overnight red-eye flight home — that’s usually the least expensive flight of the day for an airline.

Oldies But Goodies

If you are bumped, be sure to get a free voucher, and try to travel in the so-called “off-season” or “shoulder season” for lower travel costs.

And a final tip from me –buy travel insurance to protect you if you have to cancel a trip.

Thanks for visiting ecoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars, smart spending and frugal living by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.
Welcome back to exoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars and smart spending by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Posts:

  • 24 Best Historic Golf Courses in USA
  • What's New in Colorado Ski Country This Season
  • How Hotels Will Change in 2018
  • 25 Most Haunted Hotels in USA
  • How to Avoid Hidden Costs of Car Buying
  • Holiday Travel Tips From a Road Warrior

Filed Under: How To, Smart Spending, Travel Tips Tagged With: Travel Insurance

What do you think? We value your comments and love hearing from you. Cancel reply

ecoXplorer is your guide to smart spending and eco-friendly living

Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

Evelyn currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), and is a past Board Member of a prestigious professional group for travel journalists.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Most Popular Recent Posts

  • Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
    Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
  • 2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
    2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
  • Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in March & April
    Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in March & April
  • Where to Find Cherry Blossoms in NYC & NY State
    Where to Find Cherry Blossoms in NYC & NY State
  • Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
    Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
  • Best Hotel Gardens in the USA
    Best Hotel Gardens in the USA
  • Deals & Discounts for Seniors
    Deals & Discounts for Seniors
  • Free Passover Recipes and Online Cooking Classes
    Free Passover Recipes and Online Cooking Classes
  • Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
    Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
  • Qiantu K50 is a Chinese-American EV
    Qiantu K50 is a Chinese-American EV

Search ecoXplorer by category

© 2010-2022 EcoXplorer by Evelyn Kanter. All the stories and photos on our site are protected by US (C) Copyright laws. Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. Plus, it’s just not nice.

  • Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

ecoXplorer.com is an independent information service which is compensated by advertisers and sponsors. This site includes some links to other websites which are compensated for by our sponsors when you click them.

 

Loading Comments...