Travel experts share their top tips for making your 2026 vacations affordable even on a tight budget

Are you ready to travel but low on funds? Having a small budget shouldn’t stop you from embarking on that vacation to Europe or a beach holiday in the Caribbean.

Instead, you’ll just have to be smarter in your planning, scouring the Internet for good deals on flights, entertainment, and off-peak travel, and using simple tricks to cut costs.

We reached out to travel experts who revealed how people can make the most of their holidays even on a tight budget.

Use websites to find flight deals

Before you book a flight, check Google Flights and Skyscanner. Set up alerts, so you’ll be notified when the price of your desired flight drops.

“My best friends are Google Flight Alerts and Skyscanner’s multi-city search. Prices for Google tags drop the minute they do, and Skyscanner pulls in budget airlines and individual one-way hops,” said Georgia Fox, travel advisor at Altezza Travel.

Booking your flight at least a month in advance and traveling on certain days of the week can help bring prices down even further. According to Expedia, booking domestic flights one month (or up to three months) in advance of departure can save travelers up to 25%.

Additionally, flying on Thursday instead of Sunday can save travelers about 17%, said Melanie Fish, a travel expert at Expedia.

Consider traveling in the offseason

Avoid in-season crowds and high prices by traveling outside of peak season.

“If you’re flexible with your dates, always travel during peak season. Not only will this help you save money while accommodations are cheaper, but you’ll also experience fewer crowds, which can make your vacation significantly more enjoyable,” said Jennifer Yellen, travel expert at Points Path.

Book directly for affordable accommodation

Booking directly can save you money on your accommodations while traveling. So cut out the middleman and save it.

“If you find the hotel you want to stay at on an online booking site, typically, if you contact the hotel directly via their direct booking site, the price will be lower, as they don’t pay any commission when you book directly with them,” said Daniel Green, co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance.

And if you’re considering staying in a vacation rental, such as Airbnb, booking direct is still an option.

“The same goes for vacation rentals. A lot of people don’t know this, but on Airbnb, a lot of the rentals are managed by larger property management companies that also have their own direct booking sites. Again, book direct and you’ll likely get 10% off your lodging costs,” Green said.

Pay for hotels and flights with credit card rewards

Redeem credit card rewards. If you have a travel rewards credit card, now is a good time to use all the points you’ve earned.

“The number one trick for me when it comes to traveling more cheaply is to use points earned from your credit card rewards,” Yellen said. “This can allow you to redeem points for free flights, hotel stays, or even car rentals.”

Study different rewards programs carefully. For example, credit card companies usually have different travel partners, such as hotel and airline loyalty programs, that you can transfer your rewards to. You should check redemption values ​​with different travel partners.

“I recommend putting in a little effort to learn about your specific rewards program, because there may be ways to use fewer points for the exact same travel booking — such as transferring your points to a partner loyalty program versus booking directly through the program’s hotel chain,” Yellen said.

Take advantage of these simple tricks to make extra savings on travel costs

In addition to taking advantage of credit cards and being strategic about when and where you travel, there are some easy ways to make your vacation more affordable once you arrive at your destination.

“Some comprehensive ways to cut costs include using public transportation instead of taxis, finding a free walking tour, and looking for free museum days,” Yellen said. “And when it comes to meals, find out where locals eat and avoid areas crowded with tourists.”

Although renting a car can be expensive, you may be able to use it to save money on other major expenses.

“When traveling as a family, we find that renting a car is often a huge money saver,” said Jason Mills, travel writer at Big Little Travels. “We recently visited Morocco and rented a car for the week. This meant we didn’t need to use local taxis which can be expensive, we could visit the sights directly instead of booking expensive tours, and we could visit the supermarket which locals use to stock up on food and drink, allowing us to save money when eating out three times every day.

You can also save money on food by making lunch your favorite meal of the day.

“Alternate lunch and dinner,” Kilgore said. “Because lunches are often less expensive than dinners, make lunch your main dining out experience, and eat breakfast and dinner at your residence, or out as a picnic if possible.”

Additionally, if you still want to enjoy local restaurants without spending a fortune, consider using an app like Too Good To Go.

“Too Good To Go allows travelers to get discounted meals and groceries across Europe and North America,” said Tanya Turner, travel blogger at The T Word on Travel.

For entertainment, try the Internet – sites like Groupon and Eventbrite can help you find events, classes, and activities in the area you’re traveling to.

“Think mini golf, zip lines, shows, sunset cruises, etc., at the location you’ll be visiting,” said Austin Kilgore, an analyst at the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights. “Search the web for activities or attractions you know you want to visit, plus the word ‘coupon.’ Many places offer two-for-one or percentage off coupons online.

Bottom line

Affordable travel is within reach. You can save money on flights by using your credit card rewards and transferring them to an airline loyalty program. Also consider using sites like Google Flights and Skyscanner to get notifications about price drops and find cheap flights.

Once you reach your destination, you can save on food costs by making lunch the main meal of the day and taking advantage of apps like Too Good To Go. When it comes to saving on attractions and activities, sites like Groupon can be useful for coupons.