Don’t you wish you could afford to go on more vacations? Check more cities off your list and see the world? Well, you just might be able to cut down the time between one trip and the next. Use a few simple tips and tricks to avoid the traps that make you waste money on vacation.
We all know vacations are expensive. Between the flights, the lodging, the food, and the excursions, everything adds up. And that includes the purchases we forget to plan for ahead of time. You know, the small, $5 here and $10 there that add up over the course of a week, or even long weekend. By avoiding a few of these you are guaranteed to save money and cut your overall vacation budget down a few hundred dollars. (If you don’t have a vacation budget at all, read How to Create One That Works.)
The Top 5 Ways We Waste Money on Vacation
Eat Near Tourist Hotspots
Times Square, The Magnificent Mile, theme parks. Any of these areas are cool places you will want to check out. But should you eat near them? Absolutely not. Restaurants are placed there and purposely priced higher due to the influx of people who choose them based on convenience.
The best way to avoid overpriced restaurants? ALWAYS, always follow the 5-block rule. What is that, you ask? It’s the rule that ensures you go at least 5 blocks in any direction of major tourist attractions to eat out. Do it and not only save money but find better food! There are tons of chain restaurants in popular spots and wouldn’t you rather something unique to the area?
MONEY SAVED (LONG WEEKEND): $10 MORE ON EVERY DINNER OUT—$40
Tip: Talking to locals? Don’t ask them where to eat, in which they will likely respond with the mainstream tourist traps. Instead, ask “where do you like to eat?” This question will bring up a few of the hidden gems!
Souvenir Shops
Talk about a trap. You walk into souvenir shops full of color, and glitter, and I heart location t-shirts and it’s like you’re a kid in a candy store. Everything is so cheap and fun! And you obviously have to get something from your trip! But here’s the thing—most of these souvenirs are a waste. Keychains that fall apart, mugs with handles that break off, t-shirts that are thrown into the dryer once and suddenly the arms are two times longer than the body. Don’t waste your money on cheap stuff. $5 here and $4 there ends up being money down the toilet.
Now, I’m not saying NEVER buy souvenirs. Sometimes you come across something you need that will also remind you of your trip. Just avoid the cheap crap and keep it practical. Here are some ideas that end up being better bang for your buck.
- Your photos and videos
- Collect shells or rocks
- Keep maps
- High-quality clothing—yes, more money but actually lasts
- A new water bottle
MONEY SAVED: A CHEAP T-SHIRT AND A KEY CHAIN—$20
Uber’s and Taxi’s
Getting from point A to point B is not always cheap, especially in big cities. And this expense becomes a couple of things:
- One you forget to budget.
- And one that adds up way too fast.
Instead, opt for walking. It’s better for exploring anyways! And if Point B is too far, make sure you check out the train or bus. Public transportation is much cheaper for not all that much more time.
Where should you be especially mindful of this? Airports. Taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts have inflated prices and/or include extra charges when picking people up from the airport. Before you get there, look up any train or other public transportation options. This is going to save you $20+.
Tip: for the occasions when you do end up getting a ride somewhere, pay attention in the app or pull up Google Maps to make sure the driver isn’t giving you the “scenic route.”
MONEY SAVED: UBER TO/FROM THE AIRPORT + 3 SHORT DISTANCE RIDES—$100
Bag Charges
Don’t do it. This is how Little Blue Backpack was born. Refusing to pay bag fees because what in the world are these airlines thinking? $30-50 for my clothes to come on vacation with me? Suuuuure.
Anyways, rant over. But seriously, make sure this is an area you consider when you are purchasing your plane tickets. Sometimes, the fees are inevitable (probably not going on a week vacation with a backpack, I’ll let you know when I master that), but if you still consider the ticket price a good deal with the bag fee, great. This would go into your flight budget. The key here is to not forget this when you buy your ticket. Those airlines are getting trickier and tricker.
MONEY SAVED: BRINGING A SUITCASE—$40
Buying Food or Forgotten Items at the Airport
Don’t go to the airport hungry. Cardinal rule of sin that will waste money on vacation right off the bat. Meals, snacks, bottles of water. It’s all highway robbery. Instead, eat before the airport so you’re not tempted. Bring a couple of snacks—great for both the airport and the plane (here are some great food ideas). Never go without an empty water bottle you can fill up. Do all of this and you are sure to save a lot of cash.
Also, do everything you can to avoid purchasing anything you forgot at the airport. Here is a checklist of what not to forget. And some options in case you do!
- Chargers; first, make sure your phone is fully charged when you get there. And if you did forget a charger, stop at a gas station or Walgreens to get one.
- Neck pillows; these are way cheaper at Walgreens or even Target. If you forget, grab a sweatshirt out of your backpack and call it good.
- Books and magazines; don’t forget these. I don’t know what else to tell you. Lol.
- Souvenirs; we touched on this already. But really, really don’t wait until the airport to buy them.
- Headphones; get them in-flight vs. the airport, if necessary.
- Wi-Fi; go to a Starbucks and grab their Wi-Fi!
- Medicine; make sure your carry on has all of the basics in case you get a little woozy!
MONEY SAVED: MEAL (with a drink) AND A MAGAZINE, TWICE—$50
EASILY AVOIDABLE EXPENSES OVER A LONG WEEKEND: $250 PER PERSON
It’s easy to waste money on vacation.
But it’s also easy to avoid the traps all-together! Be mindful of these areas and save yourself hundreds. And all that extra money? Save if for the next trip!
