Maximize Your Vacation Budget: Six Ways to Save Money While Traveling

Bratwursts, gingerbread cookies, German chocolate beer, and shopping: four highlights of a recent girls’ weekend!

Three friends and I traveled to the quaint Bavarian themed town of Leavenworth, WA. We had a great time enjoying each other's company, wandering the shops, and looking at the Christmas lights. 

There were several things we did to save money. Here are a few ideas you can use the next time you go on vacation. 

1️⃣ Bring food or hit up the grocery store

Dining out can really add up. We decided to only go out for lunch and dinners. We each did some simple meal planning for breakfast and snacks. I brought yogurt, granola, homemade cinnamon rolls, chips (I always bring an excessive amount of chips), and other snacks. Once we got to Leavenworth, we also swung into Safeway and picked up a couple more items. Buying food at a grocery store will almost always be cheaper than going out for a meal. The meal planning and Safeway run helped cut down on food costs.

2️⃣ Stay at an AirBnb/VRBO within walking distance of everything

We stayed at an AirBnb in downtown Leavenworth. We had a full kitchen where we stored breakfast food and snacks. We could easily stop by and grab a snack if we got hungry. Honestly, the place we stayed at was more spendy than if we stayed a little ways out of town. However, the place had two parking spaces that came with the rental. I think we broke even because we didn't have to pay for parking. We could easily walk anywhere in the downtown area maximizing our time.

3️⃣ Pre Funk! 

Going out on the town is fun, but I always 💩 a brick when I see my bar tab at the end of the night. Don’t be afraid to bring your own adult beverages and store them where you are staying. We drank mimosas in the morning and cocktails in the evening.

4️⃣ Look for discounts on local attractions

A year ago, I went to the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm with my husband. After you go once, the owners consider you part of the family and offer a discount for returning guests. I was able to use this discount for cheaper tickets. We all truly enjoyed interacting with the animals. Hand feeding a reindeer and feeling its fuzzy nose against your hand is a magical experience. 

5️⃣ Plan ahead for souvenirs

Before you go shopping, decide how much you’re going to spend on items (helloooooo, budgeting!). Don’t just buy things to buy things. Think about what you might want, how much you’re willing to spend, and go from there. For example, I wanted a new heavyweight beanie. I went on a mission and found a cute dark green one with a fuzzy pom-pom. I saw a lot of other knick-knacks that I easily could have purchased. I made a plan beforehand and stayed the course. 

6️⃣ Look for free things to do

Exploring cities, hiking trails, and walking around local parks are some of my favorite things to do when traveling. We enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights in Leavenworth’s town square. We could spend as much or as little time there and it didn’t cost us a dime. 

So there you have it. Six ways to help save money while you’re on vacation. 

What ways do you save money when you’re on vacation? Share in the comments!