Hello and welcome to episode 32 of the Ready Set Depart Podcast. We are so glad you’re here!

We are right at the start of Spring Break time around here and things are getting busy! No one, including me, has a lot of time to chat. 

But do you know what we always have time for? Saving money while we travel. So today, let’s talk about five ways to save money while you travel!

Save money with hotel rewards.

The first way to save some money when you travel is to pick your favorite hotel line, sign up for their rewards, and then only stay with them when you can. For example, we’ve chosen Marriott. There is a Marriott hotel of some sort everywhere we’ve been, they have great breakfasts, and the rooms are nice. So, if we have to stay in a hotel, that’s where we stay. And the nights add up quickly! With Marriott, you get free stays and late check out and often a goodie bag as you get more and more reward points so it’s a great deal for us. You should try it.

Save money with airline rewards.

Number two is saving on flights. Flights can be the biggest expense of your trip, so knowing a few ways to save money can really help. First, try not to fly on weekends if you can help it. In fact, statistically, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the cheapest days to fly. BUT, and this is a big but, that doesn’t always ring true. The airlines use a tier system so they sell a certain number of seats at a certain price, and when those are all sold out, the price goes up for the same type of ticket. Confused? Yeah, it’s confusing.

When should you buy your ticket is also kind of a pain because of that tiered pricing system. Usually, about a month out is the best, but just take a look. There are websites that track trends so you have that option.

We also save money with rewards points for airlines too. Choose your favorite, and try to use that airline whenever you travel. The perks are often great. For example, with Delta, once you hit a certain status, you can have overweight bags for free. This is big when I’m the one packing!

Save money with Target Red Cards.

Our third tip is gift cards. We are big fans of the Target Red Card and the discount you get when buying gift cards with it. They have gift cards for airlines and amusement parks and Uber Eats. Basically anything you might need on your trip. So if you buy a $100 gift card, you pay $95 for it. The dollars add up.

And, you don’t have to get another credit card to use the Target Red Card. They also do a debit card.

Or, if you’re a Costco or Sam’s Club member, watch for their gift cards - usually around Christmas - and save money with those!

But be really careful about what you’re getting. There was a news story not long ago about an older couple who were going to take their whole family on a Disney Cruise so they started buying gift cards for what they thought was Disney so they could save money when it came time to pay for the cruise. They actually bought Disney + cards, which don’t pay for cruises. Thankfully, Disney, with its amazing customer service, took care of them, but still…could have been horrible. So definitely know what you’re buying if you back gift cards!

Save money with groceries.

Tip #4 is all about food. Eating out all of the time while on vacation can definitely add up, so we recommend saving money by getting groceries for breakfast (if your hotel doesn’t provide it) and lunch, then eating out for dinner. This saves a ton of money plus, I don’t know about you, but having to eat out all the time is not my stomach’s favorite thing. 

You can use a delivery service if you want, but be careful. We tried this one time when we went to Disney World when Trooper was tiny. I thought I’d be smart and have diapers and stuff delivered. Well, it never got to the hotel, or they refused it, I’m still not sure, but we didn’t get the diapers and the person we spoke to said that that happens all the time there. But, that was years ago, when delivery services were new so it might be better now, but Trooper doesn’t need diapers anymore so I’m not sure so maybe test delivery before relying on it.

Save money by going somewhere close.

The last way to save some money when you’re traveling is to remember - adventure doesn’t have to happen far away. You can sleep in your own bed and eat your already bought groceries and still have an adventure during the day. Is there a National Park nearby that you’ve never been to? What about a cool State Park? Is there a museum your kids would love? 

It doesn’t have to be far.

So save some money while you’re traveling so you can make some amazing family memories without breaking the bank by:

• Signing up for hotel rewards

• Signing up for airline rewards

• Getting gift cards at a discount

• Get groceries for breakfast and lunch

• Remembering that adventures don’t have to be far from home

Do you have any money saving tips that we missed? Let us know!

And if you love practical tips like this, make sure you’re following the show.

And as always, let’s keep making traveling with your family easier, one trip at a time. See ya next time.