Travels and Curiosities
 

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The Biggest Money Mistakes While Traveling and How to Avoid Them

September 28, 2020

It’s so easy to spend more money than we want while traveling. There’s just something about being out there, free from our 9-5 jobs that allows us to say things like, “F- it, we’re on vacation!” 😂

We’ve been there. And as travel has pretty much become the center of our universe, we are constantly faced with these same struggles.

So how do we experience travel to its fullest without compromising our savings… or worse, paying for it later on a credit card?

Here are our best tips for identifying and avoiding the biggest money mistakes while traveling.

  1. Not having a plan.

    Whether it’s booking a flight too late or waiting until you arrive to a destination, not having a travel plan will more often cost you than not.

    Travel can be both tiring and stressful, and these emotions can lead to impulse choices like booking a $300/night room because there’s nothing left in the area.

  2. Not making a trip budget.

    First of all, you don’t need to build an Excel Spreadsheet to travel. I mean, if that’s your thing, cool. But even a loose outline detailing what you’ll likely spend can be extremely helpful in not going overboard.

    Top cost factors to include in the list:

    Lodging (overestimate for things like taxes and parking)

    Gas (if road tripping, use Gas Buddy to calculate trip cost)

    Eating out and/or groceries

    Transportation (ride shares, airport shuttles, public transit)

    Entertainment (concerts, museum admission fees, etc)

    Souvenirs (seriously, you should budget for this. Think $20/person… at the very least)

  3. Not packing food and water

    Packing food and water while traveling can save you major money. Anyone who has ever flown has experienced the pain of paying $4 a bottle for water in any US airport. Don’t. Do. It.

    Carry a refillable water bottle, pack non-perishable snacks, or sneak on those little bottles of booze (whatever works). But don’t start your trip off by dropping $20+ before you even board the dang plane.

  4. Detaching from reality

    We get it, vacations are meant to be a freeing and all-out break from our sometimes humdrum and stressful routines. But they aren’t supposed to mess up the rest of our year financially.

    In other words, don’t just slap a credit card down on every single whim. Enjoy knowing that buying that $40 t-shirt from the Yellowstone gift shop, for instance, is not going to bring you happiness. True story of avoidance. 😂

    Saying no to even a few of these frivolous material things can end up be empowering.

  5. Don’t forget to carry (at least some) cash.

    Many of us transact in the developed world, so we’re used to swiping a card and going on our merry way. But cash can be extremely useful to have on hand for things like tolls, parking, tips, and protecting yourself from horribly upsetting circumstances like theft.

    Carry at least enough cash with you to barter transportation to the nearest town, stay in a hotel for a few days, plus other general food and expenses.
 

We just went to Thermopolis Hot Springs, the largest mineral hot springs in the world. Apart from being totally unique and mesmerizing, this destination is completely free to enter!
 

We hope this email has sparked some travel savings inspiration! Check our latest travel savings tips and let us know if there’s something we should see or experience out there.

Stay safe and happy exploring!

Vincent and Elaine
 

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