Summer is one of the busiest times to travel, but that also makes it one of the most expensive. Everything from airline tickets to hotels to popular events tend to increase in cost around this time as companies take advantage of high demand.
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But the truly frugal people know how to save money when traveling during the busy season. Here are just some of their top methods.
Stick To Basic Accommodations
The fancier your hotel and room are, the more you can expect to pay. But unless your trip revolves around staying at your hotel, save money by keeping things simple — while keeping safety and cleanliness at the top of your mind.
“Location within the hotel isn’t as important if you’re out exploring all day,” said Echo Wang, CEO and founder at Cool Travel Vibes. “Snag the most basic room and put that extra cash towards experiences.”
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Choose Free Entertainment
This might seem like a given, but an easy way frugal people save money when traveling is by choosing free or low-cost entertainment. Even if you sprinkle in some paid options, your wallet will thank you.
“Take into consideration also the kind of structures that you want to visit because there could be places, such as parks, that might be free of charge,” said Giacomo Piva, travel industry analyst and co-founder at Radical Storage. “You can also search for some free walking tours…which provide you with a free tour of the city.”
Eat In
Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you have to go out to eat for every meal. Cooking in your hotel room or Airbnb can save you quite a bit of money.
“Food can be a real budget-buster, so skip the expensive hotel breakfasts and overpriced restaurant meals aimed at tourists,” Wang said.
If your hotel room doesn’t have a kitchen, don’t let that stop you. Depending on how long you’re staying, it might be worth it to buy some simple cooking equipment — like an instant pot — and cook meals in your room.
Wang also suggested hitting up inexpensive stores like Costco for basic frozen meals and toaster oven meals to save even more.
Live Like a Local
Living like a local is another great way to save money while having the trip of a lifetime.
“Living like a local means also avoiding all the touristy traps that you might find in the city and relying on local solutions, for example for your meals,” Piva said. “Consider some restaurants and bars which are local, even if a little bit unknown to the general public.”
Use Reward Points and Miles
Another frugal travel tip is to use rewards credit or debit cards that’ll earn you miles.
“Leverage credit card rewards, airline miles, and hotel points to offset travel costs,” said Sheila Hayes, travel expert at SheMamaMaps. “This can significantly reduce expenses for flights and accommodations.”
Fly Mid-Week
Summer’s a peak travel time, but you could still get lower hotel rates and airfare by flying during the middle of the week or at less desirable times.
Scott Lieberman, an avid traveler and founder of Touchdown Money, suggested taking early or late flights.
“If you don’t mind when you get to your destination, these can be great ways to save,” he said. “You’ll have to plan ahead to do this, but you can save on flights when you add a connection or take a flight at non-peak hours.”
Pack Smart and Light
Baggage fees can add up, especially if you’re checking multiple bags or have oversized luggage. If you want to be really frugal, pack as light as possible.
“Avoid extra baggage fees by packing only what you need,” Hayes said. “Use a carry-on whenever possible.”
Use Technology Efficiently
Travel apps and other resources can help you save a ton when visiting new places, so take advantage of technology — especially if it’s free.
“You can find online many different apps and resources that will help you save some money in any way, giving you coupons, tips or any recommendations,” Piva said. “There are also many different websites that will help you scan all the prices available for you.”
Stay Outside the City
Where you stay has a huge impact on your travel budget, so keep costs low by picking somewhere a little further out — but make sure there’s decent public transportation.
“When you visit a big city, suburbs will usually have plenty of hotel space and free parking,” Lieberman said. “In Chicago, for example, you can pay $50 a night to park plus hotel fees downtown, or you can move to a suburb and spend $12 a day on public transportation while saving on your lodging.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Ways Frugal People Save Money When Traveling in the Summer