Traveling is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but it can also be one of the most expensive. Flights, accommodation, food, activities, costs can quickly add up.
From scoring cheap flights to free accommodation, in this article, I’ll share the trips you can implement in less than 60 seconds to help you save more, without compromising on that luxury vacation!
How to get cheap or free accommodation
Who likes paying full price? Not me!
Before you book your next accommodation, try these tips to secure your stay for cheap, or even better, for free!
Hotels.com has a rewards program for every 10 nights you book you get 1 free! I’ve redeemed over 20 nights over the years – saving over $4,500!
Bonus tip: Before you book, sign up and get access Hotels.com via a refund site such as Cash prizes the ShopBackand get another 3% cash back on your booking!
2. Buy an Airbnb gift card
Airbnb gift cards are sometimes released. I recently received a 15% off Airbnb gift card! You can get notified when Airbnb gift cards go on sale by setting up a sales alert OzBargain.
Can’t wait for a sale? You can get cash back rewards on gift cards starting now Cash prizes the ShopBack.
Flights
1. Find the cheapest day to fly out
There’s this idea that booking flights on a Tuesday is the best way to save money, but honestly, it’s not always true. Instead, your best bet is to check prices for the entire month and see which days are the cheapest for your route.
Here’s how you can do it:
Step 2. In the From and To section, enter the departure and arrival cities.
Step 3. On a computer: in the “Departure” section, click the date, but instead of entering a date, select “Entire month.” Press the “Search for flights” button. Now you can see all the dates and which one is the cheapest!
On the mobile app: In the “Departure” section, click on the date and you’ll be able to scroll through the prices for each month!
2. Check if your flight is cheaper in other currencies
Before booking this flight, check if it will be cheaper by paying in a different currency. Often airlines will charge you using your home currency or the currency of the departure country, which is not always the cheapest.
An important note here, if you’re paying in a currency other than your local currency, make sure you’re using a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, such as Mastercard 28 points.
3. Go one step further and use points!
It’s not technically a 60 second hack, as this hack takes quite a bit longer. But it’s worth mentioning, as with a little patience and planning, you could fly First Class for the price of economy! See my article on how to do this here.
Bonus Hack: Always search for flights in incognito mode in your browser. Companies use cookies to track your visit and can increase flight prices to scare you into booking a flight before the prices go up even more. (Already searched for a flight? Don’t worry. Delete your cookiesand go away Incognito.)
Get free upgrades and gifts
Celebrating a special occasion during your vacation?
When you book a hotel room, in your booking notes always let them know about this and ask for a higher floor. For example, you could say, “I can have a higher floor, that’s about it <εισάγετε ειδική περίσταση>?”
90% of the time I’ve gotten a better room and/or a free one. Whether it’s a bottle of wine, dessert or even amazing upgrades! The best I have ever received was on my trip to Dubai when my one bedroom apartment reservation was upgraded to a three bedroom ocean view penthouse!
conclusion
Traveling is an incredible experience, but it sucks when you have to pinch pennies or sacrifice quality. By implementing these super fast hacks, you can get the most out of your experience without breaking the bank!
Have any hacks to add to this list? Leave a comment below!
