How to Travel on a the Cheap

There are many ways to travel and have a good time and not spend too much money, or save some money.  These are some tried and true ways, not all experienced by yours truly.

Hotel Rooms:
Several Hotel chains have their own Visa/MasterCard credit cards that reward you with program points.  For each dollar you spend you are rewarded hotel points.  Stays in their hotel rooms often credit you with double and triple points.  When traveling on business, try to stay at one of these hotels as often as possible.  Before you know it, you have enough points for a weekend getaway at no cost to you.  Some of the hotel chains even have specials where the points needed are "value discounted" or you can use points and cash to stretch your stay another day.  Other credit cards build up mileage credits for airline tickets.

Car Rentals:
Before committing to a rental with one of the major car rental companies, make a comparison on Hotwire.com.  Their reservations are with the same car companies, but at significant savings. 

I'm not sure about other locations, but in Orlando, the toll fees can be charged to your credit card on file with the rental company, saving you the hassle of saving quarters for the unmanned exit stations.  Check with the rental agency when you get your car to confirm this option.  The charges will be added to your credit card at the end of your trip.

Airline Ticket Prices:
Before booking direct with an airline, check out Kayak.com.  This site will give you all the available flights on all the airlines, and a listing of Southwest Airlines' flights and a link to their site for pricing.  This site is a definite time saver.

Free Gifts
American Express has a reward program that has an annual fee of around $50.  If you spend a considerable amount of money on your AMEX card and are not accumulating mileage credits, you may want to consider their reward program.  I've used it at my old job to get gifts for the employees, like gift cards at restaurants and quite a few stores.  Even got a Ducane grill for Company cookouts.

Gas Discounts:
Kroger has a shopper reward program that gives you $.10 off per gallon of gas for every $100 you spend in the store.  The credits are good within a two month period.  Kroger also gives you double points on every gift card you buy, and during some promotions it is times four.  If you are going to do some major shopping, check out their selection of gift cards to retail stores and restaurants.

Walmart customers using a Walmart gift card will receive a 10 cent per gallon discount; customers who use a Walmart MoneyCard® or Walmart Credit Card will save 15 cents per gallon on their fuel purchase at Murphy USA stations.

Amusement Park Tickets:
Some parks do have discounts off their regular admission price. Simply buy you ticket online, print at home, and off to the park you go.  Online ticketing saves the amusement park on their labor costs.  Almost every amusement park has online discounts with the exception of Disney.

Disney:   Discounts on Disney ticket pricing come when you buy multiple day passes, the more days you buy, the cheaper the daily cost will be.  Disney has it all figured out, there is a fee to visit multiple parks in one day, there is a fee for tickets to not expire, etc....

Sea World, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, & Bush Gardens (Orlando-Tampa):
These parks are all owned by the same company.  Budweiser sold the parks to another company several years ago, so they no longer have the free beer tasting that us old folks got to experience years ago.  Be sure to check for specials on line.  I have been able to get free tickets to Sea World by purchases tickets at Bush Gardens.  These free tickets are only good if used during specific weeks of the year.
Free food:
There are lots of examples of how you can enjoy saving money of food:

Split a meal:  When you and a companion want the same food item, simply order the larger size and split the cost.  An example are Izzos, Moes, and Chipolte burrito shops.

Expense account:  when on a business trip and your spouse travels with you, simply share an entree and ask for two plates.  Usually the meals at high end restaurants are large enough for two anyway.

Dining Clubs:  Quite a few restaurant chains have developed their owned reward programs.  Landry 's restaurant chain's plan includes all the restaurants within their group and can be found at http://www.landrysselect.com/.  The cost is $25, but you get a $25 credit that you can use on your next visit.  They give you a $25 dining credit on your birthday, and each dollar spent accumulates up to 250 for a $25 dining credit.  Points do expire after a year.  Click on the link to see all the restaurants that are included in the plan.  Vacation dining dollars add up quickly.  One of their best benefits is first priority seating, especially in vacation spots like Orlando, New Orleans, etc...

Coupons:  Check online at your favorite restaurant chains.  They may have a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert.  More and more of these restaurants are moving to their own dining clubs, and when you enroll, they most often provide a coupon which the membership.

ROO CUPS:
Kangaroo gas stations have a summer program where you purchase their insulated cup for $7 and refills are $.25 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  If you purchase a straw, there are certain Fridays where you get free refills if your straw is a certain color for that particular day.

Other gas station chains have coffee clubs.

Condiments:
This sounds kinda cheap, but hey, its free!  When planning a vacation trip, and you are staying in a condo rental, be sure to accumulate all the ketchup, mustard, mayo, sugar, and sweet -n-low packets you can get your hands on.  Put them in a Ziploc bag and take them with you.  No need to buy these items at the store when you arrive, and nothing to throw out when you leave.  This also goes for the plastic cutlery and napkin packets as well.

Shampoo & Conditioner:
When you travel on business trips, collect all of the samples of shampoo and conditioner that is provided free by the hotel.  These are great to use when you are one extended vacation trips at the beach.

Ziploc Margaritas:
If you have a margarita machine like I do, take it with you on your vacation, especially to the beach.  The night before, make up a few batches, pour them into Ziploc quart freezer bags, and put them in the freezer.  These are nice ice substitutes for ice in your cooler the next day, and they turn into slush just about the time you are ready to enjoy one, or two, or three.....

Timeshares:
Yeah, I know, timeshares, what a rip!  BUT.  Timeshares can be a big money saver if you work it right, and have no problem saying NO.  Timeshares want you to come and experience what they have to offer.  They have promotions where you can get three nights and four days for $200 or less.  They will usually even extend it for a week for a few dollars more.  If you have a friend that has a timeshare they can usually set up the referral for you.  Your friend gets something for the referral and you get a discounted trip to a plush resort.  Sometime during your stay, you will have to give up 2-3 hours to hear the "spill".

Most timeshares are now on the point system vs the old "specific week" every year.  The point system gives you much more flexibility in planning your trips, but you have to do the planning 9-12 months ahead to lock in your reservation. 

I have discovered that there are bargains to be had on the "after market", but you have to know how each timeshare company's point system works in order to maximize the benefits of each timeshare.  Attending the timeshare sales presentations gives you a pretty good picture, but the true knowledge comes from understanding how many points are needed for your particular circumstances.  The sales people will not disclose this until you have made a commitment to buy.  Remember to get promises on paper, and if they tell you about specific benefits, ask to see them on paper.  The spousal unit and I have ownership in two timeshare companies and have added more value to them with purchases on the secondary market.  I am willing to share this knowledge, for a price.....


I hope you find these tips to be useful.  If you have some to add, please add them in the comment section!