Welcome to the budget traveler’s guide to exploring the world for cheap—no credit card points required! If you’ve ever wanted to travel at a discount without relying on credit card points, this is your go-to resource. As a mom of 3 and on a budget, I’m all about making adventures accessible, showing you that you can enjoy amazing experiences without a hefty price tag or requiring credit card points.
Navigating the world of budget travel can seem overwhelming and frankly impossible at times. It might seem that the only way to travel inexpensively is if you’ve racked up a bunch of credit card points. But thankfully, that’s not the case. If reward credit cards aren’t your thing, it doesn’t mean you can’t take an affordable vacation. In fact, there are times we are saving up our rewards points and need to pay cash for a trip. These tips and hacks I’m about to share are what I always resort back to!
With smart planning and insider tips, your travel dollars can stretch further than you think. You just have to get creative! Get ready to become a pro at making the most of every travel opportunity and save money as you book cheap flights without credit card points and miles.
Free Travel Budget Planner
We’ve created a free 9-page travel budget planner to help you track your spending from beginning to end. One of the quickest ways to blow a budget and overspend is not to pay attention to all those credit card swipes. This planner makes it easy to keep track of every transaction, so you know exactly how much that bill is going to be when you get your next statement. Be sure and get yours before you start planning your trip!
Some of our links are affiliate links and may earn a small commission and come at no cost to you. We only recommend products and services that we love.
Free Vacation Money: Get Cashback at Every Fill-Up and at Restaurants
If you haven’t heard of Upside, you’re missing out! I use Upside to get cashback on my gas purchases and at restaurants. I love the map feature, as it lets me easily search for gas stations around me and shows all the current pricing, so I can find the best price with the best cashback. Make sure you download the Upside app before your next road trip!
Planning Your Trip
Timing is Everything: How to Choose the Right Time to Travel
Timing can make or break your travel budget. The secret? Flexibility. Here are a few tips for being flexible during your travel.:
- Travel in the off-season: Avoiding peak season (think spring, summer, Thanksgiving, and winter break) not only saves you money but often leads to a more relaxed experience, away from the crowds. Double win!
- Note: For families with kids in school, I know it feels like you’re only limited to school holidays and summer break. But as a former teacher, I say miss school and take the trip! If it’s the only way you can afford to travel, then do it. It is worth it. And most teachers I’ve met are very understanding and supportive if you communicate with them.
- Avoid major events and holidays: While President’s Day might not seem like a popular holiday, you’re going to pay premium prices to fly that day. Any holiday when the kids are out of school and banks are closed is going to mean higher prices. Also, check for major events going on at your destination. You’ll spend a lot more on flights, hotels, and rental cars if the demand is high.
- Be climate flexible: Everyone wants to visit Costa Rica in the dry months and Aspen during the winter snows, but you can save a ton of money if you go when the weather is less than optimal. Of course, this won’t work for everyone, but it’s something to consider!
- Travel in the middle of the week: Airfare is typically cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Sundays and Mondays usually being the priciest days to fly.
Location, Location, Location
Flexibility doesn’t just apply to timing. Being flexible in location is also key to finding cheap flight deals!
- Search for “cheapest flights from…”: a simple Google search will help you find the best deals from your location
- Search for “Everywhere”: Use Skyscanner and type “Everywhere” in the destination box. It will help you find the cheapest flights to anywhere during your specific time period. This is perfect if you’re limited to traveling at a specific time period.
- Choose airline hubs: When you fly into an airline hub, you can often score cheaper flights. For example, taking a Frontier flight to and from Denver is often an affordable option, since they have so many flights to and from their hub.
- Try a nearby airport: Flexibility on your departing location can also score you a deal. For instance, we’re driving 4 hours to Houston this summer to catch flights on Allegiant to Asheville. This is saving us over $700!
Price Alerts
Utilizing tools like price alerts from travel apps can help you snag the best travel deals the moment they drop!
- Google Flights: I love Google Flights for fare alerts. I love the ability to easily scan prices via their monthly calendar and receive email alerts when they find lower prices within a specific time frame. It’s usually the first place I check for airfare since it sends me directly to the airline to book my flights.
- Hopper: The Hopper app is another awesome tool for tracking flights. It allows you to freeze prices for a small fee when you find a great deal but still want to watch the prices. You can also easily cancel or change your flight through Hopper, so you’re not out a ton of money in case of an emergency or change of plans.
Booking Your Travel
Flight Booking Tips: How to Find the Best Deals on Flights Without Points
Booking cheap flights without credit card points is less about luck and more about strategy. Here are our top tips for booking airfare without breaking the bank:
- Use flight comparison tools: Use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner to find a range of options, find deals, and set up alerts for price drops.
- Book domestic flights about six weeks in advance and give yourself at least 2 months for overseas flights: It is hard to pinpoint the perfect time to book, but this is a good general rule. It typically offers a balance between last-minute hikes and the higher prices a year out from departure. But definitely use price alerts to monitor flights months in advance.
- Consider alternative airports: Check for other airports near your departure and destination for potentially cheaper fares, and always be open to taking connecting flights, which can be significantly less expensive than direct routes.
- Read the fine print: When you find advertisements for flight deals, always read the fine print for specific travel days with lower prices. For example, Frontier Airlines will often post flight sales for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel, so you’ll want to book flights that leave or return on those days.
- Stay longer: Sometimes staying longer will score you a better flight deal. If Tuesdays are the cheapest day for flying with an airline, staying until the following Tuesday will mean a cheaper flight. We have found this to be true a lot of the time, and typically try to plan a week at our destinations.
- Take advantage of airline rewards: When you book your flights, make sure you register with the airline to start accruing those airmiles, especially if you’re doing international travel. It might take a while, but if you’re planning to become a frequent flier, you’ll eventually get free flights or first-class or business-class upgrades with those miles you’ve racked up!
- Check the ultra-low-cost carriers: I used to shy away from everything but full service airlines because of stories I’d heard. But when I couldn’t resist the bargain price any longer, I gave the ultra-low-cost airlines, like Spirit and Frontier a shot and am so glad I did! Now they are my first pick for domestic flights. You can save hundreds on one flight!
- Don’t pay for extras you don’t really need: Check before you pay extra for seat assignments, extra bags, wifi, etc. Do you really need it? Check the airline’s policies about seating families together. And consider fitting everything in the free luggage allotment. Cutting back on the extras is key to securing cheap flights.
Accommodation Hacks: Choosing Where to Stay to Save Big
Your choice of accommodation can drastically affect your travel costs. Here are some of our favorite ways to save on a place to stay:
- Choose hotels off the beaten path: You’re likely going to pay much more for hotels in a tourist area. For instance, Times Square is going to cost you much more than a hotel in the Lower East Side or Brooklyn. Location is one of the easiest ways to save money on accommodations.
- Get a suite and share: If you’re traveling with a group or have a larger family like us, a typical hotel room won’t fit everyone. Instead of booking multiple rooms, opt for a suite.
- Check out hostels: While very popular in Europe, they’re becoming more popular here in the States. Hostels are cheaper than traditional hotels and have different options for sleeping arrangements if you’re not comfortable with a room full of strangers. But if you’re looking it as a cheap place to sleep and aren’t worried about snoozing with strangers, this is a great way to save potentially hundreds of dollars.
- House rental: While not as affordable as it used to be (those pesky cleaning fees are high!), renting through Airbnb or VRBO can be a great option for large families or big parties traveling together who want to have an extended stay and save money on eating out. And if you look at neighborhoods a bit farther out from the main tourist attractions, you can find even more budget-friendly options.
- Choose hotels with free breakfast and free parking: If you decide to go the hotel route, choose one with free breakfasts and free parking. This can easily save you at least $50 a day, and sometimes much more!
- Sign up for hotel rewards: When you become a hotel loyalty member, those hotel stays add to up big rewards like free hotel stays! We’ve been a Marriott Bonvoy Rewards member for the past 10 years and had dozens of free stays, plus awesome upgrades, like access to the concierge lounge and suites. When you book directly with the hotel you’ll rack up points, which is a great way to earn free stays in the future.
Packing and Preparation
Packing Light: What to Pack to Avoid Extra Fees and Hassles
One of the best ways to save is by packing light. Honestly, most people only need a few things for each day. Minimalism is the key to packing efficiently and saving money on baggage fees.
Most airlines charge hefty fees for checked baggage, unless you have status or an airline credit card. Ultra-low-cost airlines even charge for carry-on bags! If you want to save on baggage fees, it’s best to pack everything into the free bag.
Here are my top travel tips for packing light:
- Focusing on versatile clothing you can mix and match. Wear layers at the airport to save luggage space.
- Purchase toiletries at your destination and only bring things you can’t easily purchase, like prescriptions or expensive makeup.
- Wear your bulky shoes and jackets when traveling
- Use compression packing cubes to create more space
- Plan to wash clothes at your destination
We’ve created full packing guides to help you pack light for your carry-on bag or 18X14x8″ personal item bag. If you want to learn how to pack like a pro, you can access them both here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Pre-Trip Checklist: Essential Steps Before You Hit the Road
Before you depart, make sure to:
- Start tracking all of your travel spending. We’ve created this free travel budget planner to help you keep track every step of the way!
- Notify your credit card company or bank if you travel overseas to avoid frozen funds (this is not always necessary, but it doesn’t hurt to check if your credit card company or bank requires notification)
- Double-check passport and visa requirements.
- Download offline maps, accommodation, and other travel info that can be lifesavers if you’re visiting remote areas with spotty internet coverage.
- Reserve airport parking ahead of time to save money. This usually saves us around 20% a day compared to paying parking fees on the day of travel
On-the-Ground Savings
Eating on a Budget: How to Dine Well Without the Lavish Expense
You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy some delcious eats on your travels. While I love to eat out and try new restaurants, that’s a fast way to majorly blow my budget. Here are some of my top tips for eating cheap while traveling:
- Local eats: Embrace local food markets and street vendors, which often offer delicious and authentic meals at a fraction of the restaurant prices.
- Prepare meals: If you have kitchen access, try preparing some meals yourself, which not only saves money but also lets you experiment with local ingredients.
- Picnics: Pack some simple sandwiches and fruit and enjoy a picnic at a beautiful park or garden or on the steps of a museum. It’s much cheaper and healthier than grabbing overpriced fast food.
- Free hotel food: See if your hotel offers free breakfast or evening snacks. Anything free significantly cuts down on your food budget!
If you want more tips, here’s my full guide for how to eat cheap while on vacation ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Free and Cheap Attractions: How to Enjoy Your Destination Without Splurging
I love visiting big cities or gorgeous nature getaways due to all the free attractions. You can experience A LOT without spending money! Here are some of the amazing free experiences you can look out for:
- Museums: Many big cities offer free admission to their museums each day or on specific days/times. This is always one of the first things I look for when planning our trips.
- Outdoor markets: I love to wander through farmers and vendor markets, even if I’m not spending a dime. It’s a great way to see local artists and crafters’ wares. You’ll sometimes find live music at these events, also.
- Gardens: Botanic gardens are a great way to spend an afternoon and are often free or very cheap admission.
- Beaches: Whether you’re near the coast or a lake, a day at the beach is a fabulous free way to spend the day
- Trails: Hiking is one of my favorite free activities. Not only are you enjoying local nature but you’re getting an incredible workout, a dose of Vitamin D, and some needed fresh air.
- Historical sites: Many historical sites are free to visit. The Historical Marker Database is an excellent resource for finding historical markers wherever you’ll be visiting.
- Free walking tours: Many cities offer free walking tours—a great way to familiarize yourself with the area and its history.
- Free events: Check out community boards and facebook pages, or local websites for free events like concerts, festivals, or art exhibitions.
Transportation Tips: Get Around Town for Cheap
Transportation can easily blow your travel funds. Expensive uber rides and rental car fees can really add up, but there are ways to get around town for less:
- Use public transportation: A lot of major cities have awesome public transportation. If you’re in a city with a subway system, light rail, trolleys, or extensive bus system, you get around for dollars a day. Check into day passes or weekly passes if you’re going to be making multiple trips a day.
- Walk: Another reason I love staying in big cities is the walkability. Being able to walk to restuarants, shopping and activities means I’m getting exercise and saving money.
- Try Turo: If you need a rental car, you can score cheaper rental car deals using Turo. Renting from an individual is often considerably cheaper and easier than renting from the major rental car companies.
- Electric bikes or scooters: If you need to make it a few miles, you can also rent an electric bike or scooter. It will get you around way quicker than walking but is definitely more affordable than a rental car.
- Ride-Share: While taking an Uber can be pricey at times, if you’re just needing a lift to and from the airport or have a short trip here and there, it can still be the affordable option when you take into consideration rental car and parking fees.
Can I Earn Travel Points Without Relying on Credit Card Travel Rewards?
The answer is yes! These methods won’t accumulate points as quickly as you would with a travel rewards credit card, but they can still help you earn lots of travel benefits over time:
- Loyalty Programs: Sign up for airline, hotel, and rental car loyalty programs. Even without a credit card, you can earn points for flights, stays, and rentals that you can later redeem for rewards.
- Shopping Portals: Many airlines and hotels have online shopping portals that allow you to earn points by shopping online. This can be a good way to accumulate points on purchases you were going to make anyway.
- Partner Offers: Look for offers from airline and hotel partners. For instance, airlines often partner with survey sites, restaurants, and other service providers where you can earn points.
- Promotions and Bonuses: Keep an eye out for special promotions and bonuses from loyalty programs, which can sometimes offer significant point opportunities. We rack up a lot of extra points this way!
- Travel Booking Sites: Some travel booking websites offer their own rewards programs independent of credit cards. You earn points for each booking, which can be redeemed for future travel discounts or free nights.This a a great option if you don’t want to be tied down to a company or brand. Booking.com is a great one to check out if you’re just getting started!
Wrapping Up: Booking Cheap Flights Without Credit Card Points!
Equipped with these budget-savvy travel tips, you’re all set to embark on your next journey without needing a stash of rewards credit card points. Travel doesn’t have to drain your wallet, and with a bit of planning and flexibility, you can experience incredible adventures affordably. So pack your bags, embrace the thrifty travel lifestyle, and get ready to explore the world on your own terms. Happy travels!
