10 Expert Tips for Budget Travelers

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Planning travel is wonderful, but what do you do when your bank account screams, “I’ve had enough.”

Don’t give up. It’s time for some strategic planning. If you Google “hacks for the cheapest flights,” you’ll find many solutions. 

Maybe you don’t need more money for your next trip, you may need helpful flight deal hacks. I’ll share my travel tips to help you book flights at incredible prices here. Travel math is simple: if we find cheap flight tickets, we haven’t spent money but saved it, right? 

So, whether you’re in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Denver or Orlando, let’s explore some useful hacks for your next trip.

Google Flights: The Art of the Cheap Flight Search

When it comes to finding cheap flights, the best advice is research, research and more research. When money is a concern, you want to explore all your options before choosing the best flight.

So, to save you time, I recommend using the Google Flights search engine.

Google Flights allows you to quickly and easily compare costs across many sites allowing you to find the cheapest flights. If you have flexible dates, it also allows you to search the calendar for the cheapest days.

If you want to search more, I also recommend Kayak, Momondo and Skyscanner.

Setting up price alerts on Skyscanner is also a smart move since it will notify you when ticket prices drop for your selected route.

Another great hack is to check nearby airports, which can sometimes cut the cost by up to 50 percent. That’s something, right?

Cheap Airfares: Select The Cheapest Days

I know you love weekends, but when it comes to cheap flights, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the preferred days of the week.

Why? Because Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best—by which I mean the least expensive—days to book flights. And by that, I don’t mean that you should buy a ticket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, but that those are the days when you should fly.

Try to avoid the busiest travel days of the week which are Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. But, just in case, check them out too. You never know. Miracles happen. At least that’s what they say.

What About Last-Minute-Flights

From my experience, taking last-minute flights is generally not a good idea.

Because who buys last-minute plane tickets?

Usually, those who need to get somewhere urgently or have had a last-minute change in plans. And they’re generally willing to spend even more at that point. Airlines are aware of this, so waiting until the last minute is often a great way to spend far more money than you planned.

Of course, you might be lucky, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Especially if you’re on a budget.

Avoid Peak Travel Times

Your budget loves off-peak travel dates, such as mid-January to mid-March or late September to early November.

If you’re flexible with dates, I recommend tools like Google Flights’ “Explore” function. It can show you the cheapest flight prices across various dates and destinations.

Also, if you book at least two to three months in advance for domestic flights and three to five months for international flights, your budget will certainly appreciate such solid planning.

Consider Low-Cost Carriers Like Ryanair

For your next trip, consider low-cost airlines. It can be a game-changer for your budget.

For example, airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet often offer prices as cheap as $20 for short-haul flights inside Europe.

That’s how I got from Croatia to Switzerland for only 20 euros. Perfect for spontaneous getaways, right?

However, keep an eye on extra fees; many budget carriers charge for things such as checked baggage and seat selection.

Also, I read somewhere that in 2022, nearly 70% of travelers reported saving up to 50% on flights by selecting low-cost options. Now it sounds like something worth trying, right?

Myth or Truth: Alerts and Using Incognito Mode

If you are an experienced cheap flight ticket hunter, you probably have heard of these two hacks, but I’ll remind you.

First, alerts.

Search engines such as Google Flight and Skyscanner allow you to set alerts for specific routes. For example, if you want to fly from San Francisco to London, you can input your travel dates and receive notifications when prices drop. Cool, right?

Second, Incognito mode.

Airlines and booking sites may use algorithms to track our searches. This means that if you search for the same route several times, they may raise the price. Crazy, right?

So, if you set an alert for a round-trip ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Rome and search in incognito mode, your search history won’t affect pricing, allowing you to view the best deals.

Some believe that tracking is a myth, but I’ll leave that up to you.

Actually, do you think you could mislead them by googling “I am so broke!” for days until they offer you the cheapest flights?

Read More: How to Pack Light for Any Length Trip Abroad

Cheap Flights: Book Now, Think Later

Did you know that in the USA, you can cancel any flight free of charge within 24 hours? Provided that the flight is booked at least seven days before the scheduled departure date.

So, if you find a cheap flight, I suggest you buy it right away. After that, you have 24 hours to decide whether it’s a good idea or whether your travel buddy can take a day off from work.

Keep in mind that this policy generally applies to all airlines, but it’s always a good idea to double-check the cancellation policy of the airline you’re flying with just in case.

Travel With Carry-On Luggage

I know it would be lovely to fly in business class, but perhaps next time.

Since you are on a budget, it would be ideal if you could only bring carry-on luggage.

This reminded me of those meme photos where you book a Ryanair flight with only carry-on luggage and then put on ten layers of clothing because… who has ever been able to fit everything in carry-on luggage?

Explore Different Airlines

This one is obvious, but here it is: compare prices of different airlines, particularly if you are taking a long-haul flight to Europe.

For example, if you’re traveling from New York to London (United Kingdom), British Airways and American Airlines offer nonstop flights. But you can also explore low-cost options, such as Norwegian Air. It may involve layovers, but it can result in significant cost savings.

Similarly, when heading to Paris from New York, Air France offers direct flights. But budget airlines such as LEVEL may offer cheaper flights with a layover in Barcelona. Yes, it might slow down your trip, but at least you’ll be able to say you were in Barcelona (and Barcelona is, by the way, really amazing).

Also, don’t forget about round-trip flights. Booking them together typically results in significant savings.

Leveraging Credit Cards and Frequent Flyer Programs

Did you know that some credit cards reward you for booking flights?

For example, American Express Gold offers extra points for travel purchases. It is redeemable for airline tickets or upgrades on round-trips.

Also, joining loyalty programs, such as Southwest Rapid Rewards, can result in free flights or savings.

Additionally, many airline credit cards eliminate additional costs for checked luggage or priority boarding, saving you money in the long run.

See? You didn’t spend money; you saved it!

So, What’s Your Next Trip?

I feel that people around the world are becoming more aware of the importance of traveling, gathering experiences and raising awareness by learning about various cultures.

But what happens when your wallet says no?

Luckily, discovering great travel deals can open up a world of possibilities. You can fly from London to Rome for the cost of a nice dinner.

By staying flexible with your plans and keeping an eye out for cheap flights, you can book your next trip without breaking the bank. So, I wish you a peaceful, safe, and, of course, cheap flights.

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