17 Ways to Save Money on Transportation When You Are on Vacation
There are a number of ways to save on transport when you are on vacation.
Plane Travel
1. Save money on tickets
You can save a lot of money on airline tickets if you're flexible with your travel dates. A day or two earlier or later can make a huge difference in the cost. Tuesdays through Thursdays are usually the cheapest days to travel by air.
2. Consider alternate airports
Sometimes, flying into a different airport can save hundreds of dollars per ticket per flight. Larger cities typically have multiple airports.
3. Consider travel to and from the airport as well
Try to save money getting to and from the airport. If you take your car, you will need to pay for parking at the long-term car park. There might be cheap transportation to and from the airport, but it might be cheaper and less hassle to take your car if you have a lot of people and/or a lot of luggage.
4. Don’t overpack
Airlines can charge a small fortune these days for checked baggage. Pack each carry on for each family member carefully for maximum usefulness in the minimum amount of space.
5. Watch out for fuel surcharges and airport taxes
These should usually be included in the price of the ticket, but if you are booking online, that "cheap fare" might actually end up giving you sticker shock.
6. Book packages if possible
A flight, hotel and car rental for one inclusive price can be a good deal.
7. Collect air miles
Air miles can all add up to a big savings on your next vacation as long as there are no high fees for booking. Charges will usually be highest for last-minute travel, such as less than two weeks prior to departure.
8. Go in the off season
Avoid flying at the height of the holiday and summer. Try spring and fall getaways instead.
Going by Car
9. Make sure you have the car serviced before you go
You don’t want to end up with breakdowns and/or any costly repairs on the road.
10. Check the tires, especially in warm and cold weather
The state of the tires can have a significant impact on fuel mileage.
11. Look for good gas prices
If you have more than one option, shop around.
12. Pay cash for your gas
This can save you around 10 cents a gallon because so many gas stations these days are passing along the credit card company charges to the customer.
Coach Holidays
13. Go all-inclusive
Consider an all-inclusive coach holiday, especially if you are not fond of driving. They can be very cost-effective and offer sightseeing to top locations.
14. Bus passes
These are popular in Europe and other locations where people like to see the sights by bus. You could get a pass offering unlimited travel for 7 days, for example. Compare the price of the pass with the individual prices of the tickets between all the destinations you want to visit.
Train Travel
15. Train passes
As with bus passes, these can be a really cheap way to see Europe and the rest of the world. Note that some train systems will have first, second and perhaps even third-class options. The latter should be the cheapest, and reasonably clean and comfortable in most cases.
Cruises
16. Book a cheap cruise
A cruise is your transportation and hotel all rolled into one. All you have to do is unpack once and relax. Before booking, check out each destination carefully to make sure there will be enough to do. Some will stop at interesting destinations, while others will spend most of their time off the shore of their own company-owned island for people to do water sports and other activities.
Look for last-minute deals and packages if you don’t live at a cruise shop port of call and have to fly to get to your ship.
Planes, Buses and Trains
17. Consider group travel
Traveling with a group, usually 4 to 10 people, can really cut down on expenses. Larger groups can get the best rates if they plan ahead.