How To Travel On A Budget: Tips from a Nonrev

Let’s face it: we all want to find ways to stretch our dollars further while traveling. I don’t care how much money you make or how big your savings account is. Every dollar saved is a dollar you can put towards your next trip.

Nonrevs are no exception. We may not have to worry about how much an airplane ticket costs, but we sure as heck still have to figure out how to plan out our travel budget (maybe even more so because the volume of trips we take is so much higher than the general public!).

I have learned a thing or two about how to keep costs down after flying over 400 non-rev flights. Here are some of my most actionable tips to saving you money before your next trip:

How to save money on gear

First & foremost, let’s dig into how to approach how to assemble everything you need to get traveling.

Keep an eye out for BIFL goods

The idea of finding high-quality gear and buying it for life (BIFL for short) is not new, but it is absolutely worth revisiting in our world of fast fashion & cheap goods. 

Buying an indestructible carry-on bag is a great example. Sure, you could buy some inexpensive backpack or rollaboard bag from the local department store knowing full well that it will wear out in a year or two of heavy flying. On other hand, spending some time (and a little extra cash) to find a bag constructed of great materials will leave you with a bag that will last for hundreds of flights. 

A little research goes a long way. An item’s price tag is not always an accurate representation of its durability or quality. Blogs and internet forums are your friend when it comes to finding high quality gear that will last a lifetime of travel. 

Buy used gear & clothing

I am constantly amazed at some of the deals I can find on nice gear on the internet. You would be amazed at the number of people who buy awesome travel bags or carry-on luggage but only end up taking them on a handful of trips. Most travelers don’t fly nearly as much as nonrevs do!

Websites/apps like eBay, Poshmark, and OfferUp connect you with people just like you who are looking to offload gear that has been collecting dust (often at a discount). 

Going on a hiking trip but not sure if you can justify paying for $100 hiking pants from REI? These online marketplaces are also a great place to find lightly used clothing at a discount. Plus, buying used gear gives you the satisfaction of applying the reduce/reuse/recycle mindset to material goods.

How to save money on lodging

Great, now you have all the gear you need to get going. How do we save money on hotels & rentals?

Price checking on multiple apps

This should be a given, but never jump on the first price you see without checking the price against at least one other source. I personally use both TripAdvisor and the ID90 Travel apps (sign up using our referral link for $10 off your first booking) to check nightly room rates.

Your company site may also have a portal specifically for booking contracted rates for leisure travel. If it does, make sure you are checking those prices as well. Hotel rates can fluctuate wildly, so sometimes the contractual leisure rate will be more or less than the current market rate.

Collect & use hotel points

If you are traveling often, you should already be carrying a travel credit card that earns you points/miles. I personally carry multiple co-branded hotel credit cards in my wallet to enjoy perks at a variety of chains & properties. 

While every hotel loyalty system is unique, many award nights are priced using a tiered system. Their point systems can provide great opportunities for finding sweet spots when redeeming with points. 

If you are traveling somewhere in the off-season, you will find that some hotel chains will incentivize guests to stay by using reduced off-peak redemption rates. On the other hand, there will be peak travel times (when a major sporting event or concert is nearby, for instance) where the cash rate will spike while the points rate remains within the tiered redemption band. 

Short-term rentals for large groups

Looking at potentially buying more than one hotel room for your group? Consider splitting the cost of a larger short-term rental instead.

VRBO and AirBnB (sign up with our link for $35 off your first booking) offer a wide variety of properties available to accommodate groups of all sizes. Fitting a big group of 5-10 people into a house or cabin is much easier than splitting hotel rooms or small apartments. Some of my favorite trips have been in cabins and condos that a group of us rented for a weekend. The larger the group, the larger the cost savings: being able to split the related fees between multiple people saves everyone some cash.

Know what is included (and what costs extra)

There was a team when I relished the idea of staying exclusively at luxury properties. The lavish lifestyle in elegant surroundings was great for my Instagram feed, but the luster soon wore off when I realized I was burning through my travel budget & points stash twice as fast as I expected. 

These days, I try to keep my lodging expenses low so I can allocate my travel budget towards food, drinks, and activities. I have stayed at great 2 & 3-star hotels that provide value while still being very modern & comfortable. Here are a few things I look out for when booking a hotel:

• Have you checked the hotel’s proximity to your must-visit spots? Booking a more expensive hotel near a train station or even within walking distance of your points of interest could end up being a better deal than a cheaper hotel that requires taxi rides to & from.
• Staying on a busy block in downtown? Check to see if you are going to be charged an arm & a leg for overnight parking. 
• Going to a resort destination? Make sure to budget for the over & above resort fees.
• Staying at a higher end hotel? Don’t count on a free continental breakfast.

How to find free or wallet-friendly activities

Go for a stroll

Sometimes the best things in life are free. Exploring the city on foot costs nothing and lets you fully immerse yourself in your new surroundings. There really is something magical about enjoying life at a slower pace. I will never forget the feeling of utter disappointment after speeding through a famous street in Arizona while in an Uber. “This… is it?” I thought to myself. 

It wasn’t until I walked back along the avenue and got to hear the sounds of thumping music and the smell of fresh tacos that I understood what made this street special.

Taking a stroll through a local park or hiking a local trail are other great ways to get out into nature without spending a whole lot of dough. You can find somewhere interesting to walk no matter where you go, and it is a great way to chat up locals & find out what they love about their city.

Hunt down the latest & greatest murals

Is your Instagram feed sorely lacking some originality? Skip the selfies at the usual tourist trap destinations and Google “street murals near me” the next time you feel like stumbling across some inspiration on your journeys.

Street murals are constantly evolving and give you a snapshot of the local diaspora. Finding them can be a journey in itself, but discovering art is always worth it. Bask in the glory larger-than-life street art and enjoy your journey through a real world art gallery.

Find the “sunset spot”

I have found my own “sunset spot” to watch the sun disappear over the horizon in every city that i have ever lived in.

I am 100% convinced that anyone who has lived in a city long enough has their own idea of their personal sunset spot. If you love meeting new people during your travels, asking an intimate question like “where is your favorite place to watch the sunset in your hometown?” is bound to spark a memorable conversation and provide you with local insight that you won’t find in any guidebook.

Get personal & go find your new “sunset spot”. That’s what travel is all about, right?

How to save money on food & drinks

So you have a place to stay and things to do. Great! Now we get talk about the best part about traveling: eating & drinking your way through a new destination. This is the category that commonly blows up my travel budget, and I would guess that is true of most travelers.

Check out some tips I have picked up over the years:

Put your airport discounts to good use

Did you know that most airport shops & restaurants give airline employees a discount? Simply flash your airline ID badge at your home airport and ask for the employee discount.

At my home airport, all charges (except purchases of alcohol) are discounted by 10% when I show my airline badge.

Hit the farmers market

If you want a taste of the local flavors without breaking the bank, visiting the farmers market is a great way to sample fresh food without paying tourist prices.

Fresh fruit & coffee can be purchased at farmers markets at a fraction of the cost you might pay at a brunch restaurant. If you need something heartier, most markets will have at least a couple stands selling prepared food.

My favorite thing to grab from the farmers market is a loaf of fresh bread along with jams, fruits, or cheeses. Building your own picnic with fresh ingredients from a local market is a fun & wallet-friendly alternative to dining out.

Make your own meals

You don’t have to dine out for every meal just because you are on vacation. Short-term rentals with full kitchens are more popular than ever, so why not put it to good use?

There is something magical about cooking with fresh local ingredients. Find something unique to the area you are visiting to make your creation unforgettable. It can be something as simple as an egg scramble topped with a hot sauce you picked up on your trip; you don’t have to be Bobby Flay to cook while on vacation.

Not gifted with the ability to whip up a meal in an unfamiliar kitchen? Fair enough, it’s not for everybody. You still have other ways to pack a lunch to prevent you from blowing up your food budget. Packing hearty snacks that won’t spoil easily (like trail mix or deli sandwiches) is a cost-effective practice. Bonus points for incorporating local ingredients into your packed snacks!

Plus, buying a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer from a local store instead of out at a restaurant is a great way to keep your costs low.

Carry a reusable water bottle

When it comes to disposable bottles & cups, just say no! Instead, opt for bringing a reusable water bottle. You might even want to opt for a travel tumbler; this is a great option if you enjoy taking coffee with you while you are on the go..

Filling up your own reusable bottle will save you from constantly buying water bottles while exploring a new city.Water bottles aren’t expensive, but the costs can add up over a trip (not to mention the plastic waste that you could be avoiding as well). Many cities, most notably Paris, have installed public drinking & water bottle filling stations all over the place to help curb the consumption of one-time plastics.

How to Save Money on Transportation

Last but not least: how the heck are you supposed to get around in your destination?

Don’t be afraid of public transit

If you want to travel like a local, public transportation is often the best option. Local buses & trains are a great way to explore a new destination without breaking the bank. 

The local transit schedules & station locations are built directly into Google Maps, which makes access to public transit in an unfamiliar city easier than ever.

While most major cities around the world have adopted electronic payment methods, it doesn’t hurt to carry some extra coins & bills. Cancun’s bus system in their Hotel Zone is a good example: the 12 peso fare (about $0.57 USD) is posted on their buses & can only be paid in cash. 

Make the most of rideshare apps (Uber/Lyft)

Ridesharing is a convenient way to get from one point to another, but it can be surprisingly cost-effective as well. When public transportation doesn’t get you to where you need to go, calling an Uber or Lyft is nearly always cheaper than relying on taxi pricing. 

Since you should be carrying around a travel credit card with you, there are plenty of ways to take advantage of discounts and earn extra credit card points through bonus categories (like 5x points you can earn on Lyft rides with the Chase Sapphire Preferred).

In case you have been living under a rock & have not yet used a ridesharing service, you can use Standby With Me’s referral link to sign up for Lyft.

Know how to hail a taxi

Traveling to a city or country that doesn’t have rideshare services? Make sure to carry enough cash to pay for a cab. Not every cab will have a credit card terminal for electronic payment.

If you expect to take a taxi in a country you aren’t familiar with, take some time to research the local customs & estimated rates. 

Generally speaking, it is a good idea to ensure that your taxi driver uses the meter to charge a fair price. This helps prevent you from being ripped off: a cab driver could theoretically turn off their meter and demand a non-standard amount upon arrival. 

In some countries though, flat-rate rides can be common. Upon arriving in Belize, I knew the trip from BZE airport to the water taxi terminal was a flat $25 per car (not person). On the other hand, every cab ride I took in Havana required a brief negotiation before a rate was agreed upon.

Renting a Car

If you are in a spread-out city, renting a car may be the most economical way to get around your destination. With wallet-friendly industry rates available and low gas prices, you can budget well under $50/day to rent a car in many US markets. It only takes a few rideshares or taxi rides to eclipse that figure, so do the math based on your expected itinerary.

Many rental car companies offer discounts to airline & travel industry employees. My airline offers discounted rates when booked through specific rental companies via our internal hotel/car travel portal. Check your company’s rental policy; nonrevs shouldn’t be paying full price! Just make sure to bring your airline ID badge with you on trips in case you are asked for verification of your work status.

Conclusion

There are a number of ways to save money & travel on a budget, and I am sure we only just scratched the surface here.

Do you have any favorite money-saving tips that were not included above? Leave us a note in the comments section below or engage with @StandbyWithMe on Twitter.