Travel is one of the most enriching things you can do — but let’s be honest, it’s not cheap. Between flights, accommodation, food, and all those “just one more souvenir” moments, costs add up fast. Last year, I set out to travel more without draining my bank account. And surprisingly, I didn’t need to sacrifice comfort or experience. I just had to get smarter.
Through a combination of research, experimentation, and a few accidental wins, I ended up saving over $1,000 on travel without cutting corners. These weren’t shady tricks or extreme penny-pinching. Just small, strategic moves that added up to big savings — and today, I’m sharing the 13 best travel hacks that made it happen.
What Makes Up The Best Travel Hacks?
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not talking about loopholes, reward card rabbit holes, or anything that feels like gaming the system. The travel hacks on this list are practical, repeatable, and totally above board. They’re things that anyone can do — whether you’re planning a weekend trip or a six-week adventure.
To me, a good travel hack is something that:
- Saves you money without killing the fun
- Takes minimal effort to repeat
- Still lets you enjoy the best parts of travel: freedom, spontaneity, and good food
If that sounds like your kind of vibe, you’re going to love what’s coming next. Let’s dive into the 13 best travel hacks ever!
1. Use Google Flights + Flexible Dates
One of the easiest ways I saved hundreds was by letting Google Flights tell me when to travel. Instead of picking dates first and then suffering at the checkout, I used the “Date Grid” and “Price Graph” tools to find the cheapest days to fly. I scored a €26 round-trip flight from Eindhoven to Milan just by shifting my departure by one day. Over four trips, that strategy alone saved me at least $300 last year — no tricks, just timing.
2. Book One-Way Tickets Separately (Sometimes)
Round-trips aren’t always the deal you think they are. Especially with low-cost airlines, booking two one-way tickets — even on different airlines — can be much cheaper. I once flew from Lisbon to Amsterdam for €18 on Ryanair, then flew home via Transavia for €23. Had I booked round-trip with one airline, it would’ve been over €90. This approach saved me around $150 total on various trips.
3. Take Overnight Trains or Buses for Double Savings
Overnight travel saves you on both transport and accommodation. I took a night bus from Prague to Kraków and paid €20 — way cheaper than a hostel, plus I woke up in another country. It’s not luxury travel, but for budget trips? Golden. Last year, this hack saved me at least $100 across multiple journeys.
4. Use Public Transport Instead of Airport Transfers
Taxis and airport shuttles love charging 3x the local rate. I always research how to reach the city using metro, bus, or train before arriving. In Barcelona, the airport bus was €5.90; the regular city bus was €2.40. It adds up quickly — I estimate I saved $60–70 over the year just by taking local options.
5. Book Direct to Save on Airbnb Fees
Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com tack on hefty service fees. Once I find a place I like, I search for it online or reach out to the host directly. Most are happy to offer a slight discount in exchange for avoiding fees. Over the year, this move saved me around $100 — and sometimes hosts even offered extras like free breakfast.
6. Use Hotel Price Tracking Tools
Sites like Google Hotels, Kayak, or Hopper track hotel price drops. I once booked a 3-star room in Porto for €47 a night — two weeks earlier, it was €69. These tools take 2 minutes to set up and easily saved me $80+ over a few bookings.
7. Stay in Student Cities on Weekends
Here’s an underrated trick: university towns like Ghent, Bologna, or Utrecht tend to be cheaper on weekends when students go home. Hostels and Airbnbs are often quieter and more affordable. I saved around €25 per night in Ghent doing this — and the vibe was still great. The can still make for some wonderful stories and epic destinations.
8. Eat Your Main Meal at Lunch, Not Dinner
In most European countries, lunch menus are cheaper for the exact same food. I started flipping my eating schedule: lunch at a restaurant, light dinner from a market or bakery. In Lisbon, I got a three-course seafood lunch for €11. Dinner prices? Nearly double. This trick saved me at least $150 across trips — and honestly, it felt more indulgent than limiting.
9. Join Free Walking Tours in Every Major City
Almost every city has a “free walking tour” where you tip what you want. These are often run by locals or students and give you a more personal insight than overpriced bus tours. I did them in Prague, Porto, Valencia, and Kraków — zero regrets, and I probably saved $100+ on city tours.
10. Use Local SIM Cards or eSIMs (Not Roaming!)
International roaming is a wallet killer. I switched to using local prepaid SIMs or Airalo eSIMs, which gave me data for a fraction of the cost. In Poland, 10 GB of data cost me €5. My old roaming plan? €2.50 per day. Over 2 months of travel, this saved me over $80, and I always had internet.
11. Use a No-Foreign-Transaction-Fee Card
Foreign transaction fees (usually 2–3%) quietly chip away at your budget. I got a travel card with zero FX fees, and it saved me about $40–50 across my total spend last year. Combine that with ATM fee refunds, and the savings start stacking fast.
12. Travel with a Refillable Water Bottle + Foldable Tote
Airports and touristy areas love charging €3 for water. I carried a refillable bottle and avoided the markup entirely — especially useful in countries like Austria or the Netherlands, where tap water is perfect. I also carried a foldable tote bag for groceries and beach gear. These two items easily saved me $50–60, reduced plastic waste, and made me feel like a seasoned traveler, not a tourist.
13. Don’t Book Everything in Advance — Sometimes Last-Minute Wins
Contrary to travel gospel, last-minute bookings can actually be cheaper — especially for tours, bus tickets, and even some hostels. In Valencia, I booked a bike tour the day before and saved 25% compared to the “early bird” price online. Flexibility = power. This saved me around $60 across a few cities — and gave me room to be spontaneous.
What I Actually Saved (Rough Breakdown)
When I tallied up all the little wins from these 13 travel hacks, I was shocked at how much they added up to. None of them felt extreme. I wasn’t eating instant noodles on park benches or sleeping in airport terminals — I just made smarter decisions in areas that usually get overlooked.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what I saved last year:
- Flights: ~$300
- Accommodation: ~$280
- Transportation: ~$100
- Food & tours: ~$200
- Miscellaneous (SIMs, water, FX fees, etc.): ~$150
Total saved: over $1,000.
And the best part? That extra $1,000 basically funded an entire trip to Portugal I hadn’t even planned for. That’s the power of stacking smart habits — they turn into travel fuel.
Travel hacking isn’t about being cheap — it’s about being intentional. Every euro, dollar, or pound you don’t spend on a tourist trap or overpriced transfer is money you can spend on experiences that actually matter. Like a second glass of wine by the ocean. Or a detour to somewhere most people miss. Or visit hidden gems instead of overcrowded and overstimulating tourist places.
Got a travel hack of your own that saved you money, time, or sanity? Drop it in the comments — the best travelers share the best secrets.
And if you’re looking for even more smart travel tips, head to our Travel Hacks category. We’re all about helping you go further, for less — without ever feeling like you’re missing out.
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