Use the tools

• The internet is a great resource for finding deals. Sites like Google Flights, Kayak, Trivago and others let you compare prices for the same and similar products including flights, hotel rooms and car rentals.
• TripAdvisor and other forums can be excellent sources of information and reviews for hotels, restaurants, and tours for pretty much every location on Earth! You can also ask questions and get answers from people who either live in that location or have traveled there in the past.
• Check out Facebook or other groups on social media for locations that you are visiting. These groups may be private so you’ll have to request an invitation, but they can be a wealth of information from people who know the location very well.

Go to the source…or not

The competition for your travel dollars is fierce out there so it’s worth looking for deals. Travel booking sites like Expedia offer packages of flights, hotels, and car rentals that may be less expensive than buying each separately. But be sure to go to the source, too. Often hotels, in particular, will match or beat any other online price and offer extra perks like a free upgrade, breakfast included or an airport pick up.

Do the math

Sometimes it makes sense to stay right in the heart of your destination and save on transportation. For example, if you are going to New York, staying mid-town means that you can walk to pretty much all the sites. You’ll pay more for your hotel, but you won’t be paying daily for transportation. On the other hand, if you are in London, for example, you might want to look at hotels or short-term rentals that are outside of the city centre but just a short 15-20 minute subway ride into the middle of it all. You’ll pay much less for accommodations, and you can get a pay-one-price pass for all your travel needs.

Some hotels offer breakfast with your room. Be sure to check the price of the room with, and without, breakfast. Often the breakfast included price is far above what you would pay for breakfast at a local coffee shop. If your room has a fridge, you can visit a local grocery store and pick up fruit, yogurt, cheese and other light breakfast and snack items.

Watch your timing

Things like plane fares and hotel rooms often work on a batch system. This means that only a certain number of seats, or rooms, are available at each price point. Booking early might mean that you can snag a better option for a lower price than if you wait. At the other end of the stick, waiting until the very last minute can also mean you might save some dollars as airlines and hotels try to get rid of unsold inventory – but this comes at a risk if everything you want is sold out. If you want to go for a last-minute option, there are a lot of websites that offer this.

As well, all destinations have three travel windows – high season, low season, and shoulder season. If you can go during shoulder or low season for your destination, you’ll likely get a better price for your travel and accommodation, plus you’ll avoid crowds at popular tourist sites and restaurants. If you are travelling in an off-season, be sure to check for bad weather (like hurricanes or unbearable heat) and other reasons why people tend to not travel there during this time.

Do free stuff

If you’re on a beach vacation, then your days may be inexpensive. But, if you are in a city centre, everything costs money! Or does it? Many large cities offer free walking tours (you pay what you want at the end), and many attractions like museums and galleries offer at least one free (or significantly reduced fee) time to visit. Be sure to check out the websites for the places you want to visit to get this information and plan your days accordingly. You can also search for free places to visit for your chosen destination like parks, churches, and gardens.

Sometimes going away for your vacation isn’t in the budget. If that’s the case, you can always consider a fun staycation!