5 Ways to travel Cheaper in 2025

Travel often feels like a luxury priority. Undoubtedly, bills, food, gas and clothing; our basic necessities, significantly takes precedent day in a day out. Traveling with your family can feel risky or even reckless- how much should I spend? How do I plan each day so everyone is happy?, etc. We will show you 5 Ways to travel cheaper in 2025!

We are here to help you plan a budget itinerary AND some tips and tricks for discovering fun activities and excursions that don’t break the bank. Sometimes clicking “book” feels a little like jumping off a cliff- but with a little planning and family communication, we will show you our process for planning and booking your perfect family adventure. See below for our planning process and more ways to travel cheaper in 2025!

Where the Heck Should we go?

That is the question… most people have bucket lists of destinations that they dream of exploring. Many of the destinations feel out of reach financially. We recommend creating a bucket list of EXPERIENCES rather than destinations. An African safari may not be in the budget but you can often duplicate the “experience” in lower cost destinations. For example- I love the experience of seeing animals in the wild. As a result, Costa Rica could be an expensive alternative but similarly, an incredible experience for your animal lover. By creating THE EXPERIENCE list, you get to understand more about the hopes and dreams of each member and can take that into consideration when researching destinations. In conclusion, Share your Experience List with us in the comments below- we might even be able to offer suggestions for destinations based on your list!

What is our Actual Budget?

Understandably, calculating costs when you haven’t chosen a destination can feel a little overwhelming. We recommend really looking at this per person; especially with adult children, the per person number helps to give your kids an understanding of the costs you are investing in their happiness! Travel is all in the VALUE of the experience. For instance, You may not really care about the accommodations because you are kite surfing or perhaps the EXPERIENCE is the actual accommodation-” I want to stay in a bungalow over the water”, etc. Each component of a trip holds a price tag and a value and by breaking things down, you’ll have an easier time creating an itinerary within your budget and making key decisions when booking.

In conclusion, what did you decide for your number? Write it down. Create a vision board of experiences. Share instagram or tik tock reels back and forth between the family of experiences and videos that inspire you. Consequently, this also helps to build bonds and make connections!

1. Save Money On Your Flight

Usually the largest travel cost will be your transportation. We are going to show you a fun way to explore potential destinations: Google flights and their destination map. Simply open google flights, enter your departing destination but leave all other fields blank and hit “explore”. Click on the VIEW MAP icon at the bottom of the screen. This will show you prices for destinations all over the world for a 1 week trip within the next 6 months. Move around the world and zoom in to see the costs of a per person round trip flight. Click on the destination for dates that the prices reflect and the specific flights and airlines that offer this. Now click into the departure date box and this will bring up a calendar that shows you the price by each date.

This is incredibly helpful because mid week departures are often less expensive and you start to get a sense how flights may fluctuate based on the time of year. Now, Create a list of 5 destinations that could fit in your budget and the dates that correspond. Consider whether you could extend these dates to 9 or 10 days or compress them to less than a week- what’s the impact on the cost of the flight? Have fun exploring our number one way to travel cheaper in 2025!

2. Getting the BEST VALUE in your Accommodation

Our second way to travel cheaper in 2025 is by saving on your accommodation. The cost of accommodations will affect the number of days you can afford to travel. By researching your destination with a guide like Plannin, you’ll find more in-depth reviews and even a discount! Using platforms like booking.com- you can often book your stay months in advance without paying upon booking. This gives you more time to save! Free Cancellation options also give you the ability to book without the full commitment. Trust me, there is nothing more satisfying than finding that perfect stay with sweeping views for a fraction of the cost!

Location is the number one way to infuse value into your accommodation. By being within walking distance to major attractions you will save on costly transportation. Secondly, having stunning views can give you the perfect place to return home after a day full of exploring. See below for our view from a $87 per night stay in Austria.

Comfort is as important as location when looking for places to stay. Be sure to read reviews about how comfortable the beds are before making your choice.

Check-in details are important. We like self-check-in options, but we’ve also enjoyed stays where hosts provide special touches and helpful information. Arrival and departure times can influence your choices, so pay attention to any restrictions that might make you wait longer.

A note about Air BnB

We love a good Airbnb! In most cases, families will save on costs by booking a house or apartment with key amenities. Cooking your own meals and having space to gather are important things to consider when planning a group travel itinerary. Airbnb and VRBO are not the only options for larger group stays. Be sure to look on Booking.com as well! Air bnb has updated their price per night view and now includes all fees and costs in the their transparent price.

3. Packing Light Can save You $

We’re not great at packing and often bring home clothes we never wore. On our last trip to Spain, we had a local flight from Barcelona to Granada that charged for carry-ons. By packing smart and using backpacks instead of suitcases, we saved nearly $200 on a flight that cost only $60 per person. Traveling light also helps save money on rental cars. A family of four with big suitcases needs a large SUV, but if you pack less, you might fit into a smaller car. This way, you won’t face the hassle of not being able to fit your luggage in the rental vehicle.

“Modern Americans travel light, with little philosophic baggage other than a fervent belief in their right to the pursuit of happiness.”

George Will

4. Excursions and Activities

One of the best ways to travel cheaper in 2025 is to choose your excursions and tours carefully. When planning your trip, it’s essential to research and select excursions that offer the best value for your budget. This means looking for tours that include multiple activities or attractions in one package, as these often provide a more comprehensive experience at a lower overall cost.

Additionally, consider opting for local guides or smaller tour companies instead of large, well-known operators. Local providers frequently offer competitive pricing and can give you a more authentic experience of the destination. Be sure to read reviews and compare prices across different platforms to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Another strategy is to prioritize free or low-cost activities. Many destinations offer a variety of free walking tours, cultural festivals, or natural parks that allow you to explore without breaking the bank. Remember your EXPERIENCE LIST- there are often free or low cost options. Refer back to your accommodation options- spending a little more money here may offer more options for free activities that can save you money in the long run!

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5. Food and Food experiences

For us, eating is truly part of the experience of travel. Tasting local delicacies and eating our way through a destination becomes the highlight of the trip. However, there are lots of ways to eat well on a budget.

Food Tours

We love a good food tour. Food tours are often a great introduction to a city. You’ll often discover hidden gems and off the beaten path restaurants that can really enhance a visit. Food tour guides can also offer invaluable information for ways to explore outside the traditional tourist traps.

Packing a Picnic Lunch

Making a stop at your local grocer can save you hundreds of dollars in food costs. Pack a recyclable bag or pick one up as a souvenir and stuff it full of local food gems. Packing a picnic lunch for a hike or exploring a local park adds to the experience- nothing tastes better than food in the fresh air!

Creating intention When Eating out

Choose a handful of “Food Experiences” for your destination. Eating dinner in a Cave while watching Flamenco, eating at a Tomato greenhouse in Iceland, or a rooftop bar in Salzburg. Pre-planning these meals will be some of your fondest memories and will save you valuable time and energy looking for a meal. Famous markets are also a great way to taste local flavors on a budget and bring some back to make tomorrow’s picnic lunch!

In Conclusion

Planning a budget itinerary can actually be a lot of fun! Sometimes it feels like a secret challenge to find the best value in our travel choices. Some of our favorite stays have cost less than $200 a night! Take the time to plan your itinerary in detail to maximize your dollars and your memories! For more destination guides and itineraries, join our newsletter to stay up to date on our adventures and tips for traveling on a budget.

“Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver”

Anonymous