10 More Surefire Ways to Save Money While Traveling

I am often asked how I am able to travel as much as I do. Over the years I have all learned all sorts of ways to save money while still enjoying great destinations and attractions.

Tip One

Carry ID that allows a discount -- If you're a student, a government employee, a senior AARP, a member of CAA/AAA or in the military, bring membership ID to prove it. Many places offer discounts for museums, amusements, shopping or accommodations with IDs.

Carry your ID cards that allow a discount. You can save on Accommodations, admissions, meals and shopping

Tip Two

Become a premium member of your local museum/aqurium/zoo - I am a member of my local history museum and a member of my local zoo. I buy the premium level memberships because I get reciprocal privileges at other museums around the world. (Membership fees are also either a partial or complete tax write-off) Through my history museum I not only get free admission to my museum all year and other basic membership benefits like a discount in the store but I also get free or discounted admission to over 750 other museums belong to the North American Reciprocal Museum Association.

My zoo belongs to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As member of an AZA-accredited zoo I receive free or discounted admission to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums that participate in the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program.

Tip Three

Buy a US National Parks Service Pass - a National Parks Pass is a great investment for those who love our National parks. The $80 annual pass is a wonderful deal for everyone but they also offer a free annual pass for US military, a $10 lifetime senior pass, a free access pass for US citizen or resident aliens with disabilities, and a free volunteer pass for anyone with 250 hours of volunteer hours.

Three of the most beautiful National Parks - Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon

Tip Four

Avoid high data charges for your phone - Seek out cheap Internet cafes and email from there rather than getting huge roaming charges with your wireless devices.

But if you are like me you can’t live without your smart phone. I use my phone to look for hotels and restaurants, attractions and fabric stores, museums and fast food places. I use it for Yelp reviews so I have an idea of what people are saying about places. I can't always wait until I'm back at the hotel to use the free Wi-Fi. I buy a pre-paid data plan and track the usage on my iPhone. See my tip on this here.

Tip Five

Go to a matinee instead of an evening performance – It suits my needs and I save money doing it. I don’t always want to be out late at night in an unfamiliar city so going to a matinee or preview performance in place of a regular evening one is the perfect solution. I'm also able to go to bed earlier and get an early start on the next day’s activities.

Also check out half-price, same-day tickets.

Tip Six

Eating a nice meal in an upscale restaurant is cheaper at lunch - When I do go out for a nice meal, I go for lunch when the menus are much less expensive. Also many nice restaurants have happy hour offering deep discount on appetizers and early bird meals. My sister and I was had a lovely meal at an upscale restaurant in San Diego. Not only were their appetizers half price but we had a window table with an ocean view.

Happy Hours tend to be friendlier and it is a good time to connect with locals

Tip Seven

Share costs if you can -- When I travel with my sister or my daughter-in-law we’ve found that ordering one entree to share along with a salad and appetizer is usually more than enough at most restaurants. This is also a great way to reduce your hotel and lodging costs.

Tip Eight

No shopping in main tourist areas - The people who run these shops pay more rent to be in the center of all the action. So it makes sense that they will have to charge you more for their wares. When we were in Maui last year, my sister and I did most of our souvenir shopping at a CVS drug store. For example, we got large emery boards, nail clippers and tweezers all with great Hawaiian scenes on them. We had seen the same thing in the tourist shops for twice what we paid for them.

Tip Nine

Create gift bags for creative friends - Do you have friends who enjoy sewing, knitting, crocheting or scrapbooking? In Maui, for my sewist buddies I picked up buttons fashioned from coconuts shells and Hawaiian print fabric. For my scrapbooking friends I picked up paper freebies like maps, business cards, postcards, napkins and small inexpensive finds like decorated notepads, stickers, and ribbons. On Maui there is also a ban on the use plastic shopping bags so every store was offering inexpensive, eco-friendly bags, most decorated with Hawaiian scenes and symbols. I bought several and had the perfect gift bags for my purchases.

Tip Ten

Get thee to a convent – I am not jesting. The first time I stayed in a convent was around 30 years ago in Mexico. The area we were in was very expensive but a Mexican friend made arrangements to stay at a local convent. We got a small lovely room and breakfast for three days for what we would have paid for one night in a local hotel. Monasteries, college dorms, and hostel all offer lodging for less than hotels.

Check out Amazon for books on this subject. I will highly recommend these (below are affiliate links, this will not affect the price you pay) :

By Trish Clark

By Jack Kelly

When I follow my own tips I am able to go more and do more while traveling. I would love to hear your best tips on saving money while traveling. Please comment below.

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