Traveling doesn't have to be a budget breaker. There are plenty of tricks and tips I've learned throughout my years of traveling. This is just a general list of travel tips.
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SET YOUR BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
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Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than worrying about all of the travel-related bills you'll find in your mailbox upon your return home - and likely spend months paying off.
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I always set a budget and then stick to it. In fact, my sister is a globetrotter and we often compete (in a fun way) to see who can plan a trip for less money and score the best deals. In sticking to your budget you won't be stressed during your entire trip.
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SPEND PLENTY OF TIME PLANNIING YOUR TRIP IN ADVANCE
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I'll plan any trip at least 6 months in advance and more often, a year in advance. This gives me the opportunity to shop around, take advantage of annual deals and promotions, and get my reservations in early on things that book up fast. I'll make out an itinerary but I never etch it in stone because I may change my mind about something or find a better deal somewhere.
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BOOK YOUR TRIP IN YOUR DESTINATION'S "OFF SEASON"
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Prices on everything are normally significantly lower during an "off season". Not only that, you won't have to spend your whole trip fighting hordes of tourists and waste your vacation time standing in long lines.
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USE VIATOR
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If you’re looking to do any tours in your future travels, I HIGHLY recommend using Viator. They offer the best curated experiences in destinations across the US and Europe, from walking food tours to other guided sightseeing. I've found you'll save at least 15% more than on sites like Get Your Guide.
GET NO FEE CREDIT CARDS THAT AWARD TRAVEL PERKS
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​I have a no annual fee American Express card that awards me Delta Skymiles, for example.
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Cards with high fees tend to give you much more in return, including airline lounge access and credits on incidentals (i.e. free checked bags). As such, having a travel rewards credit card is a great way to save money and travel for cheap.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, offers no foreign transaction fees, 5x points on flying, 3x points on dining and travel, and 50% additional value when redeeming travel expenses (airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises).
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There are many great travel credit cards out there with no foreign transaction fee, so be sure to do some research and find one that best fits your needs!
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2025 8 BEST TRAVEL REWARD CREDIT CARDS
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Paying off the balance in full every month will keep you out of debt and/or from paying interest fees.
ALWAYS GET TRAVEL INSURANCE, ESPECIALLY MEDICAL
One of the biggest mistake American travelers make is thinking everything in other countries works like it does in the U.S. Not the case, as my sister found out when she fell down the steps in a Switzerland castle, breaking her ankle.
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She had to go to 3 different hospitals just to get her ankle set and cast. If she hadn't had medical travel insurance, she likely would've come home to thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Busting 5 Common Travel Insurance Myths
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CARRY SOME CASH WITH YOU
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US dollars are good anywhere in the world. Carry at least enough small bills with you for tipping, etc.
I always bring some $100 bills in case of emergency but keep them in a money belt I wear so they are far less likely to get stolen - unless the thief wants to try to rip my pants off of me.
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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE WALKING TOURS
Free walking tours are not only great because they're FREE but you can get the lay of the land of your travel destination before setting out on your own.
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It's been my experience they're often better than walking tours booked through tour companies.
Some tour guides of free walking tours ask you only tip them based on how well they conducted your tour. $10 per person is a reasonable tip.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATION'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
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Many U.S. tourism cities are now making the move toward free public transportation and/or offering low cost options to get around, apart from driving and having to hassle with expensive, hard-to-find parking, etc.
These cities offer fare-free public transport
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​Many cities have transportation passes. Tripjive is where public transportation pass comparison comes in to help you make an informed decision. By comparing the features, coverage, and prices of different public transportation passes, you can select the one that best suits your needs. They will guide you through the process of comparing and choosing the right public transportation pass for you.
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CHECK INTO CITY PASSES
A City Pass can be the best thing ever.
You can save money by bundling attractions you want to see, it gives you access to public transit and it allows you to skip the lines at major tourist sites.
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I usually applied for mine online before I even left on my trip.
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For travel within the U.S. and Canada, I recommend City Pass.
GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
The more adventure you incorporate into your travels, the more you'll enjoy them.
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Try new things you wouldn't normally do at home!
I've been hang gliding, hot air ballooning, scuba diving. gliding and done many things that pushed me out of my comfort zone and made a trip unforgettable.
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These things give you a new perspective on life once you conquer them and take that first step in trying something new. You'll discover you have more and more confidence in everything you do.
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Remember: Fear doesn't exist unless we create it ourselves. Fear is nothing but what we make our own minds believe.
DON'T OVERPLAN
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Having an itinerary is a must if you want your trip to go off with as few hitches as possible. But don't get locked into it, remain flexible.
Leave some wiggle room for the unexpected or a spur of the moment change of plans. It's important to have some spontaneity in your trips because sometimes, the best things that happen are totally unplanned. Besides, planning every minute of your trip will leave you feeling exhausted.
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Be flexible in changing your plans. You might want to book accommodations for 1 or 2 nights at your destination, take a walking tour to see the major attractions but if that destination doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, you can move on to a new destination.
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RESPECT THE LOCALS AND THEIR CULTURE
This should go without saying but it's easy to slip up inadvertently!
I always do a little homework on the major culture that inhabits my travel destination. For example, when I visited an Amish community I was glad I'd read some Amish sects don't want their photos taken for religious reasons - so I always asked before taking any photos during my visit.
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I've found people are more open with me if I show respect to them, their culture, their beliefs.
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