Travel Savings Tips: How to Save Real Money While Traveling

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Travel Savings Tips: How to Save Real Money While Traveling

Greetings from London! Today I’m sharing tips for saving money while you travel because most people don’t realize you can save a lot of money while traveling, and use those savings to extend your travels!

Travel Savings Tip #1: Reserve Tickets & Hotels in Advance

 

Last minute bookings can cost you a lot more. You can save a lot of money by booking all of your tickets and hotels ahead of time. You might even get a discount on museums and attractions by booking early. In Europe, train tickets increase significantly on the day of travel, so you can always save money by booking ahead.

 

Travel Savings Tip #2: You Don’t Have to Always Eat at Restaurants

 

Eating out is part of the fun of travel, but it can get expensive. You don’t necessarily have to have a kitchen to eat a few meals at “home.” You can go to the supermarket and get simple ingredients for sandwiches. Buying a few supermarket meals during your trip can add up quickly to travel savings. European cities are full of beautiful green spaces just perfect for a picnic!

Read: How to Eat Cheap AND Well While You Travel

 

Travel Savings Tip #3: Eat Your Big Meal at Lunch

 

Another way to save money on food when traveling is to eat your biggest meal of the day at lunch. A lot of places offer lunch specials so you can still get great food, but at a much lower price than the dinner menu. Also look for happy hour specials when you’re traveling as those can be a great way to  save money.

 

Travel Savings Tip #4: Use Public Transportation

 

Taking public transportation while you travel can save you a lot of money. Even when you first arrive at the airport, there’s usually a bus route than can be significantly cheaper than taxis or shuttles.

Travel Savings Tip #5: Consider Transportation Prices in your Lodging Choice

 

Keep public transportation access in mind when choosing your hotel. You might save a few bucks on a hotel that’s far from the city center, but you’ll likely use up that savings in extra transportation costs. Sometimes you can actually save money by spending a little bit more on a hotel with easy access to public transit. Think of your time as money also, and the added time you will spend commuting to the attractions you want to see.

 

Travel Savings Tip #6: Rent an Apartment Instead of a Hotel

 

Especially if you are traveling as a family, renting an apartment can save you a lot of money over staying in a hotel. European hotel rooms are small, so a family of four or five will need two rooms. An apartment has an added bonus of having a kitchen so you can eat some meals at home, as suggested in tip #2. You can often do laundry in an apartment, and it’s just nice to have a home base from which to take your day trips.

 

Travel Savings Tip #7: Use Regional Rail or Bus Passes

 

Many regions have a special rail or bus pass that can save you money while traveling. It’s always a good idea to compare prices to see where you’ll get the best price. In Germany, there’s a Bavarian ticket, which is good for up to five people traveling anywhere in Bavaria, for the whole day. It never hurts to ask about discounts. There are often savings for children, students, or seniors and you don’t know until you ask.

 

Travel Savings Tip #8: Buy a Multi-City Ticket Arriving in One City and Departing Another

 

If you’re visiting multiple destinations in your trip, don’t buy a round-trip ticket from the same city. Consider flying into one city, and flying out of another city. This will save you at least a day of travel and the additional airfare is usually minimal.

Read: Why You NEVER Get Those Cheap Airfares You Hear About

 

Travel Savings Tip #9: Use Budget Airlines When Available

 

When you’re visiting multiple European cities, you don’t always have to take the train. There are many low-cost carriers in Europe like EasyJet and RyanAir. In places like the UK, the train can be outrageously expensive, while it’s cheaper to fly.

 

Travel Savings Tip #10: Don’t Arrive After Public Transportation Has Stopped Running.

 

Try not to arrive in your destination too late, if the public transportation doesn’t run late. You could spend up to 100 pounds to get from Stansted into London if you arrive after hours. Suddenly, the great deal you got on a late-night flight isn’t so great.

Travel Savings Tip #11: Use Your Debit Card at an ATM to Get Local Currency

 

When it’s time to exchange money while traveling, the exchange houses will usually give you a bad rate and charge a fee on top of it.  I find that using my debit card at an ATM machine will give me the best possible exchange rate. This is also usually the lowest amount of fees you’ll pay, too. Credit cards typically charge a foreign transaction fee, plus cash advance fees.

 

Travel Savings Tip #12: Pick and Choose the Major Sites to Visit

 

Trying to visit every museum and monument will get very expensive, very quickly. First, look to see if there are free options. Some things, like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace are free to see, so including some free options in your itinerary will help you save money. For those attractions that cost money, prioritize them into what you really want to see.

 

Travel Savings Tip #13: Get an International Cell Phone Plan

 

Make sure you let your phone carrier know you’ll be traveling, and research the international data plans, so you don’t get a surprise bill after your trip. Depending on the length of your trip, you might find it cheaper to buy a cheap phone with a local SIM card upon arrival.

 

Travel Savings Tip #14: Research Your Destinations

 

Simply researching and choosing destinations based on price can save you a ton of money. If you decide to visit an expensive destination, there are sometimes smaller towns nearby that can save a lot of money. For example, instead of staying in Venice, you can stay in Vicenza. Don’t forget tip #5, though, and take all factors into account when choosing where to stay. If you are really traveling on a tight budget, you might consider lesser-known cities as destinations. Destinations like Portugal or Greece are also better for budget travelers than countries like Switzerland or Norway.

 

I hope these tips help you save money while traveling so that you can travel more. We use all of these tips and it’s how we’re able to travel so much as a family. If you want more travel tips, check out some of our other posts:

Read: How to Save Money When You Travel So You Can Travel Longer

Read: 7 Common Mistakes Tourists Make That Can Cost Them Big

 

What to Pack in a Kid’s Carry-On & Keep Them Quiet On a Plane at The Same Time

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How to Pack a Kid’s Carry On Backpack (and keep them quiet)

We’ve all been there, that flight with the screaming kid… Before each flight we parents pray it isn’t our kid that has the catastrophic meltdown in a metal tube at 36,000 feet. The following are some tips to help keep your kids entertained and quiet while you travel.

#1. Start them traveling at a young age.

I know this isn’t always possible but if you can it is a great help. Even 3hours in the car to Grandma and Grandpa’s allows them to get accustomed to being in a confined space for extended periods of time.

Our kids both took their first flights at 6weeks old. Traveling is second nature to them. I love it when people see our kids on a flight and say, ‘Oh great, I’m stuck next to children’. My response is usually, ‘Well, my kids are already more well behaved than you’. How many people have eaten their words at the end of those flights!

 

#2. Backpack Tips

Get a backpack that fits your child. Make them carry it! You have too much other stuff (tickets, those dang quart size bags of liquids, your suitcases and the kids themselves) to worry about.

Making them carry their own pack gives them a buy-in. It builds confidence, responsibility and independence. They will be better travelers and humans because of it!

Do Not overload their backpack! If it is too heavy, guess who ends up carrying it? That’s right, you the human pack mule, and they lose all that independence and responsibility.

So, what do you put in those Backpacks that don’t weigh too much?


#3. Headphones

Those ‘headphones’ you get on International flights are no good for kids. And they kinda suck for adults too. My solution is small over-the-ear headphones from the dollar spot at Target. They cost about 5$ so if they get broken or left on the plane I am not too upset-except that I will be out of headphones on the next flight.

Mark recently bought new ones for the kids…he didn’t get the cheap ones. Sometimes cheap is better.

First, those had ‘volume control’. Volume control is so not helpful on a plane full of engine noise plus, the volume on the entertainment system is really low. Don’t worry too much about your kids listening at high volume, I’m not sure it is possible on a plane.

Second, they broke after flight number two…we had a total of 6 flights on the trip. Our boys were not thrilled with their new option of, share or use the airline headphones. Insert giant parental eyeroll.

#4. Toiletry Kit

Each of us have one of these in our backpack/purse. Each contains; wipes-baby or antibac (don’t pack antibac gel in kids packs as it has to go in the liquids bag for TSA), toilet seat covers (because we have seen some nasty toilets in our travels!), a wisp ‘toothbrush’, Kleenex and a change of underwear. The whole lot goes in a quart sized Ziploc bag which can be used for a multitude of purposes. An extra Ziploc bag isn’t a bad idea either.

If luggage is lost/delayed or someone spills (usually the kids spill on us) or heaven forbid has an accident at least you have things with which to wipe up, a clean pair of underwear and a (albeit chintzy) toothbrush.

If you have a baby, one of my girlfriends taught me to put an extra outfit (something small and simple) into another Ziploc bag. When the mess happens, as it will, you have a place to store those gross clothes until you can launder them.

This kit has saved so many people, not just us. I have shared wipes with countless moms, dads and kids    covered in all manner of food, bodily fluids, juice or soda. I’ve even handed out toilet seat covers to women in line at particularly gross bathrooms. So, make a kit and spread some kindness while you are at it!


#5. A Small bag of cheap (but priceless) toys

Hello Dollar Store! I love to grab little toys, Lego type blocks, cars and action figures at the Dollar Store. A couple new things can grab a kid’s interest-sometimes even mid-meltdown! But you don’t have to spend a pile of cash to do that.

Have one or two old standby toys that you know they love along with these newbies. Remember these should be small, lightweight and age appropriate.

This little bag of toys can also spread some joy. We once sat in the United lounge at O’Hare for 10 hours due to a snowstorm. (Thank you, Chicago weather) I had a small daycare going while all the other parents were in line for hours trying to rebook, find hotels etc. All those toys came in handy for my sanity and those kids! Hard to put a price on that.

My kids have pulled out that bag of toys and played with kids in parks/streets/playgrounds all over the world. And when, on occasion, my boys notice that their new friend is underprivileged and give that child their little bag of toys and that child’s face lights up…that is my definition of priceless.

 

#6. Twistable Crayons and Mechanical Pencils

How many times has your kid gone from a docile, sweet little lamb to head-spinning-foaming-at-the-mouth-monster .2 seconds after their ‘favorite’ crayon broke? Buy Twistable Crayons.

#7. Activity Books

This is another thing for which the Dollar Store is excellent. Get sticker books (if your kid won’t cover the entire plane in them), hidden picture books, coloring books and a blank notebook for inspired works of art. You don’t have to bring them all just what your kid loves most.

Our family loves game books. We divide into teams and play Categories, Dots and Boxes and Hangman. We like to play parents vs kids, and it is great to see the boys collaborating to beat mama and dad. I am almost never without a sheet of one of these games.

Hint: pull pages out of larger books and stash a few in their bag and even some in yours to use while waiting because, like Dr. Seuss said, everyone is just waiting.

Bonus Item: un-sugary snacks, they keep the whining at bay and don’t hype the kids up.



#8. Book(s) to Read

A book the little ones can read on their own or that you can read to them is wonderful.

Making things homey while traveling can alleviate a lot of stress on both the kids and you. Mark reads to us almost every night. We pick a series and just run with it. Putting the next book in a series on a device is an easy way to keep this going.

I load up my kindle with books that each of the kids can read independently as well as a few big books we can read to them.

#9. Make the contents of their backpacks similar

This alleviates a wee bit of the infighting that happens between even the closest of siblings! Having similar but different toys means they can imagine more and play together. It’s like getting twice the toys for each kid.

 

#10. Older kids need older activities

Sudoku, Crosswords and the like are great for keeping them busy and still using their grey matter. A journal once they are of writing age is a wonderful memory maker.

Both boys have little notebooks full of fantastic drawings and phonetically spelled stories from trips they took starting around age 5. These always make me nostalgic and I hope one day they will have similar feelings when reading them as adults.

#11. Electronics

Oh, electronic toys…at once the bane of my existence and my trusty built-in nanny. I surely have a love hate relationship with these wonderful, infuriating things!

The downside with Ipads, PSPs, Kindles, tablets and the like is that they are expensive, heavy and they have batteries. You can also load them up with movies and games You approve. See, always the love and the hate.

Mark and I choose to keep these things in our bags usually, though Caleb is getting older and we allow him the responsibility of carrying them some of the time.

Are you willing to lose that Ipad? Are you sure your kid won’t leave it as they wander off of a 10hr flight half asleep and walking like a drunkard? Is all that confidence they’ve built up by carrying their own stuff going to be stripped away when they leave their PSP at the gate? Can your 4year old handle an extra few pounds in that backpack? Ask yourself these types of questions before you trust them with the electronic toys on a trip.

Hint: Get a power bank, preferably with built in plugs for different types of devices.

Remember, things change as they grow, their backpacks and the contents need to also. When they get a bit older and understand well that they have to carry what they bring then it is time for them to pack their own.

Caleb does this now and though he never leaves home without the Toiletry Kit he has lost the need for Legos and action figures (though occasionally he puts 1 or 2 in to play with Liam). He has added things like a soccer ball and a hat. I am so proud watching him judiciously pack his own backpack. We are raising a good traveler.

 

Your kids will be good travelers too. Fill up those backpacks with toys and wipes and dreams and go show your kids the world!

Jocelyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Big Travel Mistakes That Tourists Make That Can Ruin a Vacation

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Seven Biggest Travel Mistakes Made By Tourists

Greetings from Vienna, Austria! Today I’m sharing some of the biggest travel mistakes I see most often. These are simple things that can take away from the enjoyment of your travels, so I hope you can use them to make your travels more fun.

Travel Mistake #1 Cramming too much into too little time

 

This happens a lot, especially with backpackers trying to see as many countries as possible in whatever time they have. Trying to see a high number of countries on your vacation means you’ll be spending a lot of time (and money) on planes and trains, and you won’t really be enjoying all that Europe has to offer. A jam-packed itinerary like this means you won’t even have time to take in the culture or the people of the country you are visiting. What I recommend is not trying to see seven countries in ten days. Focus on spending quality time in one or two countries, or perhaps even three if they are very close together.

 

Travel Mistake #2 Choosing Cheap Out of Town Airports

 

Sometimes travelers jump on cheap airline deals, but don’t realize that the low cost carriers often fly into more remote airports that are far outside of the city you are visiting. So, you might save 30 Euros by flying into Girona instead of directly to Barcelona, but then you have a 45-minute trip into Barcelona, which will also cost money. RyanAir flies into Stansted Airport near London, but the train from Stansted into London can cost more than your flight. And if you land before or after public transportation is open, you’ll have a very expensive taxi fare. Make sure you factor in all costs before jumping on a cheap airfare to save money.

Read: 6 Reasons Why You Never Get Cheap Plane Tickets

 

Travel Mistake #3 Staying Far Out of Town to Save Money

 

People often think they will save money if they stay in hotels that are outside of the city center. If you’re only visiting a city for a few days, you want to be as close to the center of town as possible, so you can maximize your time. If you choose a hotel or hostel that’s 45 minutes from downtown, that’s 90 minutes a day you’ll spend commuting from your hotel and back. You also have to consider the hours of public transportation. If you stay out late and miss the last bus, you’ll likely eat up any hotel savings with a taxi ride. It’s better to find an affordable hotel near the center of town by booking early. This also gives you a place to rest in the middle of the day if you get tired.

Travel Mistake #4 Not Researching the Destination

 

A lot of people fail to do the proper research before arriving at a destination, and don’t try to figure out things to do until they arrive. If you don’t do your research, not only will you waste time figuring out where to go and what to do, but you can also fall into some traps. Without the proper research, you might not know that Barcelona is the #1 worst city in the world for pickpockets.

Read: 7 Reasons Why You Might Be a Bad Traveler 

 

Travel Mistake #5 Not Checking Prices

 

Taxis and restaurants are two great examples where travelers should check prices ahead of time. It’s really easy to get ripped off if you don’t do this, especially with taxis. If you’ve done your research (see #4) you’ll know where it’s expected to negotiate taxi fare before jumping in. Also, you might stumble into a fancy restaurant without realizing it and order a bottle of water, only to find out it costs 10 Euros. This is easy to fall into in bars as well when ordering a bunch of drinks, which happened to me in Chile when I let the bartender choose the beer and he served us $8 Heineken’s instead of the local beer which is less than $1. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a menu to see prices.

Travel Mistake #6 Not Enough Connection Time During Travels

 

This is so common, whether it’s with flights, trains or buses. Depending on your flight itinerary, you may have to exit the arrivals terminal, collect your luggage, clear customs and then start all over again by checking your bag and going through TSA lines. How often do you see someone running through the airport or train station? Make sure you give yourself enough time between connections. Remember, just because your flight arrives at 7:30, doesn’t mean you exit the plane at 7:30. If you’re at the back of the plane, you might have another 45 minutes before you’re off the plane. Trains in Europe are often running 5-10 minutes behind, and the connection locations aren’t always obvious. Give yourself time to find your way around.

 

Travel Mistake #7 Packing Too Much

 

If you ignore tip #6 and end up running through the airport or train station, you don’t want to do it with 75 pounds of luggage! Packing too much is a huge travel blunder for so many reasons. It limits what you can buy on your travels as your luggage is already full. Packing too much also makes you an easy target for pickpockets when traveling. Most of all, you really don’t need all these things. When packing for travel, it’s best to keep it simple so you can travel light and fast.

 

Hopefully these tips help you avoid some of the common travel mistakes I see often. If you want more travel tips, check out some of our other videos:

 

The 7 Signs You “Might Be” a Bad Traveler

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Seven Signs You Might Be a Bad Traveler: Tourist Behavior To Avoid

Greetings from Copenhagen, Denmark! Today I’m sharing with you seven signs that you might not be the best traveler. Basically, these are seven tourist behaviors to avoid in order to be a better traveler.

Tourist Behavior #1 You Pack Too Much

 

I’ve seen this so many times, with tourists dragging giant bags onto trains and buses. My back hurts just watching these people carry all their luggage. If your suitcase is bursting at the seams before you even leave for a trip, then you’ve got too much stuff. One of the cool things about traveling is buying stuff during your travels. Packing too much makes it difficult to get around and it also makes you a target for pickpockets and thieves. I recommend packing as you normally would, then remove half of it and leave it at home. You also need to make sure you can lift your luggage above your head, because you’ll need to do that when traveling on a train.

 

Tourist Behavior #2 You Don’t Research Where You Are Going

 

You need to do your research before you go on a trip. I take students on trips around the world and the ones who are prepared have a much better time than the ones who don’t. If you haven’t researched your trip ahead of time, then make sure your first stop is at the tourist information office, where they’ll give you maps and guides. If you don’t do any research, you’ll waste time and you might not know key thing like the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. This is extra important when traveling with kids!

Read: Travel Hacks That Make Your Travels 10 Times Easier

Tourist Behavior #3 Complaining About the Differences

 

Constantly comparing everything to how it is “back home” and complaining about the differences means you will really miss out on the joys of travel. It’s good to realize the differences, but celebrate them, rather than complain.

Tourist Behavior #4 Don’t Dress the Part

 

Whether it’s dressing to fit in with the locals and wearing the wrong kinds of clothes, or not knowing what to wear. This applies to flying, too. Don’t wear lace-up boots that you can’t easily remove, or excessive layers of clothing, for TSA lines. Bring clothes, and shoes, that are appropriate for the place you are going. Cobblestone streets and high heels are a terrible combination.

 

Tourist Behavior #5 You Only Eat What You Know

 

One of the best things about traveling is the food. I didn’t get fat from McDonald’s; it’s from all the amazing food in Europe! Sure, some foods in other countries might seem gross, but you don’t know until you try something whether you’ll like it or not. It’s OK to find a familiar food when you get homesick on a long trip, but really make an effort to seek out local cuisine and try new things.

 

Tourist Behavior #6 You Don’t Know the Rules

 

There are rules when it comes to travel, and a good traveler knows these ahead of time. When you’re flying, don’t try to bring a full water bottle through security. And when you do get called out, don’t yell at the agents for something beyond their control. Look up luggage restrictions ahead of time, so you’re not that person unpacking their belongings on the airport floor. Knowing the pertinent rules ahead of time will make your travels much easier, and your fellow travelers will thank you.

 

Tourist Behavior #7 You Talk Too Loud

 

This is really noticeable in a place like Denmark, where people generally don’t talk on public transportation. Pay attention to the cues around you; nobody wants to hear your conversation. If you are conversing in public with others, use your inside voice. This also goes for talking on  your cell phone in public. In general, this goes back

 

17 Things That Flight Attendants Want You To Know

 

The 6 Most Popular Places for Pickpockets to Rob Tourists

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Pickpocket Techniques and Locations: How to Avoid Pickpockets

Greetings from Vatican City! You see a lot of tourists here, walking by. But what you might not realize is that not all of the people here are tourists. There are also pickpockets wandering around among the tourists. So, today I want to share with you the most common places that pickpockets work. So that when you’re traveling, you can pay extra attention to your surroundings. That said, you do need to realize that pickpockets can be anywhere! They’re not just in the bigger towns like Rome and Barcelona, but also in small towns, so it’s always good to have your wits about you when traveling.

Pickpocket Spot #1 Major Tourist Sites

 

This is where you will find a lot of pickpockets. There’s a concentration of tourists, and those tourists are generally preoccupied with the sites around them. A pickpocket might bump into you, or “accidentally” spill something on you, or just slash your bag. Even once you are inside some of the museums, there are pickpockets. The Louvre has warnings when you enter, and there are also pickpockets in the Vatican museum. The best thing you can do, in addition to paying attention, is to leave your valuables at home and keep your wallet in your front pocket.

 

Watch: World’s Biggest Travel Scams

 

Pickpocket Spot #2 Train Stations

 

When you exit a train, there are usually crowds and confusion as you try to figure out where to go next. Pickpockets know you are distracted and that this is a good time to rob you. The ticket kiosk at the train station is another common spot for pickpockets to work. They might offer to help you figure out the ticket system, while robbing you at the same time. Also, on the trains you have to guard your luggage. If you are sleeping, it’s very easy for a thief to dip into your luggage stored overhead.

Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques & How to Avoid Them

Pickpocket Spot #3 Public Transportation

 

The metros in big cities are a prime spot for pickpockets to work. Paris, Rome and Barcelona are infamous for pickpockets on public transportation. Most often, you will be pickpocketed as you enter or exit the bus or train, as that’s when you are most distracted. They might even have their hand in your pocket, ready to pull your wallet as soon as you step on the Metro. They might also try to follow you through the turnstile as you enter the metro station. They’re not just trying to get a free ride on the subway; they’re getting close enough to pick your pockets. This happened to my dad at Gare du Nord in Paris. Rush hour on public transportation is an especially high time for pickpockets because of the crowds.

Pickpocket Spot #4 Shopping Centers

 

Stores and shopping centers are another common place for pickpockets to work. They look like everyone else, sometimes even dressed nicely to blend in. Fitting rooms are a prime spot for purse snatchers, particularly if you step out of the fitting room and leave your purse behind to get an opinion on the outfit you’re trying. This happened to my wife when she left the baby stroller, with her purse, outside of the fitting room.

 

Pickpocket Spot #5 Restaurants and Cafes

 

Restaurants, cafes and bars are another hot spot for pickpockets. Most people when enjoying a drink or tapas at the end of the day, will put their purse or coat on the back of a chair in a restaurant. This makes it very easy for someone to steal. If you’ve been out shopping and have bags of new purchases, those can also be stolen, so put them in front of you, under the table. Keep your phone and your wallet in your pockets; don’t put them out on the table where they’re easy to swipe.

 

Pickpocket Spot #6 The Beach

 

This one might surprise you, but pickpockets love to work the beach. The beach is tricky because you want to play in the water, but you usually have things like a wallet, cell phone or keys with you that you can’t take into the water. Pickpockets know this, so you need to have someone always watching your things. Maybe you make friends with the people next to you at the beach, or take turns going in the water. We seriously limit the stuff we bring to the beach. We usually just bring some cash and a waterproof camera. If you don’t have a lot of stuff with you, you can’t be robbed of a lot of stuff.

 

The key thing to remember is that pickpockets will work anywhere that they have a target. Anytime they see an opportunity to get money, they’ll be there. Even when you least expect it, be on the lookout. Check out some of our other travel tip videos on this topic:

 

 

 

 

10 Easy Ways to Save Money So You Can Travel More!

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Ten Ways to Start Saving for Travel

Greetings from Buckingham Palace in London, England! I get a lot of questions from my viewers who ask how I pay for all of the trips we take as a family. I’m not a millionaire, so we are always looking for new ways to save travel money. Today, I’m sharing my ten best travel savings tips so you can start saving for travel, too!

Travel Savings Tip #1 Cut Out Expenses You Don’t Need

 

Take a look at your monthly bills. Start with your cable, internet and phone bills. Are you paying for 500 cable channels that you don’t use? We save $180 a month by only having internet instead of a full cable package.

 

Annual Savings = $2,160 on cable

 

Travel Savings Tip #2 Eat Out Less

 

You’d be amazed at how much money you spend by eating out for lunch or dinner two or three times a week. We hardly eat out at all when we’re home. We cook at home, and use vegetables from our garden in order to save money. Then when we’re in an expensive city like London, we can afford to eat out.

 

Travel Savings Tip #3 Drive Less & Use Public Transport

 

If you have just one car, you can save a lot of money. Not only are you saving money from a car payment, but you’re also saving money on insurance, gas and maintenance, too. Our family only has one car. My wife and I carpool or I take the bus or bike to work. Even just cutting back on your trips around town can save a lot of money. Be efficient with your shopping trips and go once a week instead of a few times a week.

 

Annual Savings = $520 just by cutting back on trips to save $10/week in gas

 

Travel Savings Tip #4 Search for Deals

 

Just like shopping for travel deals, look for deals when you need to buy things at home. If you need a new TV, February is the best time to buy, thanks to the SuperBowl. If you are buying a new air conditioner, buy it in the winter months when sales are slow. Make sure you are comparing prices online and in stores so you can get the best deal possible.

Travel Savings Tip #5 Have a Travel Savings Account

 

I recommend this, especially for younger people trying to save money for travel. Have a little bit of money diverted from your paycheck every month, and it will add up quickly. Put it in an account that’s not so easy to access so that you aren’t tempted to dip into it.

 

Travel Savings Tip #6 Sell Your Old Stuff

 

Do you really need all those old PlayStations? No, get rid of them. If there are things lying around your house that you aren’t using, get rid of them. You might not make a ton of money on old items, but it can add up, plus free up space in your home.

 

Potential Savings: $200 if you sell just 20 items for $10 each!

 

Travel Savings Tip #7 Sign Up For Frequent Flyer Miles

 

Sign up for a credit card that has travel benefits. If you’re going to use a credit card to pay for things, you might as well earn miles for your purchases. Make sure you have a frequent flyer number for any airline you fly. The miles add up and we can usually get at least one free flight each year using miles we’ve earned.

 

How to Save Money While You Travel to Travel Longer

 

Travel Savings Tip #8 Travel in the Off Season

 

Consider going in the fall, winter or spring when airfares can be up to 30% lower than peak summer season. Hotels and restaurants are also less expensive in the low season. You might even have a better time when you don’t have to deal with so many crowds of tourists and long lines to get into major sites.

 

Travel Savings Tip #9 Compare Prices For Flights & Hotels

 

We all have a flight comparison website we like the most, but make sure you are using multiple sites to compare prices. I’ll check a couple of consolidator sites and then also go directly to the airline website to find the best price. There can be up to a $200 difference in airfares between websites. We have to buy four seats when we fly, so saving $800 on flights can give us several extra days of travel.

 

Travel Savings Tip #10 Book Hotels & Flights Early

 

For the best deals on flights and hotels, book early. Not only will you get better prices, but you can get better dates and locations as well. Having a convenient location can save you loads of money on transportation if you can walk instead of taking a taxi. Take all of these costs into account when planning your travel. You might save $20 on a hotel, but spend that much each day on taxis.

 

These are tips we actually use to save money for traveling. We also stay with friends, which can be a great way to save money when traveling! Check out some of our other travel tips in these videos:

5 Rules for What Shoes to Wear in Europe (as a Tourist)

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What Shoes to Wear in Europe

Wow, who knew shoes were such a touchy subject?! The comment section on this video is riddled with emphatic remarks on my personal 5 Rules for Shoes and I want to clarify and reiterate some things so, here goes…

Rule #1, There are no secret/perfect shoes

There is no one shoe I recommend over another. Why? Because there are loads of right shoes and they are different for every person. For most people the biggest challenge to one’s feet is when they go on a trip they walk (far) more than they are used to.

First and foremost, walk before a trip.  Walk around town, your neighborhood or on a treadmill…for miles. Start slow, gather speed and endurance over time.  If you can walk on hills (or crank up the elevation on the treadmill) this will help with stamina and prepare you for cities like Lisbon or Rome that have several hills.

 

Rule #2 Don’t wear Tennis (Running) Shoes

Running shoes are great for running. But walking for miles upon miles on (often) cobbled streets all that soft squishiness underfoot actually isn’t very helpful. For one, they are usually clunky which can impede walking on uneven surfaces. I swear the thicker the cushion the higher your foot is from the ground and the wobblier you can become.

I personally find my feet are happier in stiff or hard(er) soled shoes. I am not a podiatrist, I can’t tell you scientifically why but, I think it is because rather than squishing down into a foam footbed with each step your foot is actually sensing the ground beneath your feet.

Also, hard soled shoes are sturdy, they hold up to those hard-uneven surfaces well. They are thinner which means you are lifting your feet less. It may be incremental but tell me it’s not hard to pick up your feet after you spending 8 hours walking the streets of Paris.

Here’s the touchy bit… American tennis shoes look different than the tennis shoes people wear in Europe. I stand by this statement. We just have different styles, not a bad thing but, when (unsavory) people can pick you out as a foreigner you are more likely to be a target for pickpockets and scams.

I never want one of our fans to be robbed, scammed or pickpocketed. The more things one can do to ‘fit in’ the better.  Boy, this statement really angered some people. I currently live in the US, I have lived in Europe, I spend months there every year. Some of my best friends are European, and they agree, you can often spot an American by their big ol’ running shoes.

I am not saying our shoes are the only thing that make Americans stand out, our overly loud boisterous nature, giant backpacks and fanny packs are far more obvious clues to our status as tourists. But changing our nature is harder than changing our shoes.

Certainly, some Europeans wear running shoes much like ours. They just wear them for running or sports activities. You rarely see people in running shoes out shopping or going about their daily business, but you do see them in what I call ‘urban street shoes’.

Urban street shoes? Think Converse Chucks or Adidas Superstars. Both have flexible but solid soles.

This is a good ‘tennis’ shoe for those beautiful cobbled streets. And quite frankly, they go with a myriad of other clothing options…would you wear runners with a sundress? Probably not but, you can totally throw a pair of Superstars on with one!

So, think outside the running shoe box to shoes with thinner, stiffer soles that can accommodate more clothing choices. Shoes take up a significant amount of space in a suitcase so try bringing one or two that can go with many clothing options.

 

Rule #3 Wear Good Shoes

If you wear cheap (not inexpensive mind you, but cheap) shoes your feet will not love you. Take Good shoes, sturdy shoes that will hold up to several miles a day for the length of your trip. Cheap shoes will fall apart and then where will you be? Buying shoes. Buying shoes on a trip isn’t a bad thing, I do it all the time and I’ll address that in a bit.

When deciding which shoes to take remember that your feet will likely swell a bit, especially in the heat of summer, so take shoes that will accommodate that. You need shoes with some structure but also resilience. I like leather shoes, they meet that criteria of structure and resilience so well.

I love Birkenstocks in the summer months. They have a perfect sole in my opinion, stiff with a bit of cushion and they have become more fashion forward that those ‘Jesus shoes’ of years gone by.

Good shoes are well made and have excellent support. If you have these in your closet and you love them, take them.

Rule #4 Wear Lightweight Shoes

Heavy shoes suck. They suck the energy right out of you. Unless you have calves like The Hulk wear shoes that don’t weigh a metric ton. Do I need to explain this further?

Heavy shoes get heavier as the day goes by. Start out in those puppies and you think, ‘I got this, they are sturdy and keep my ankles from rolling and they are just great!’ By 5pm, after trekking all over those beautiful marble sidewalks in Athens you’ll think the mob had fitted you with concrete boots and you’ll be begging Tony Two Face to toss you into the sea.

I know, you are going to Iceland or hiking in Lapland and you need boots. Get good ones that aren’t crazy heavy. I bought new hiking boots a few years ago for Iceland. I tried on a lot before narrowing it down to two. Of those two, one was on sale and the other was about 2lbs lighter per foot. Guess which one I bought. My legs weren’t aching, my feet were happy and didn’t feel like they were encased in quickcrete.

Do wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane and pack the smaller ones to save space in the suitcase.

 

Rule #5 Buy Shoes Abroad

I am not saying go to Europe with flip flops on your feet and expect to buy all the shoes you will wear on the trip while you are on the trip. That is silly. But don’t be afraid to buy a pair.

Typically, when I buy shoes on a trip I don’t wear them right away unless I have a day where I am doing very little walking. You know, the day of the 6hr train ride or 2 flights across 7 countries.

You do want shoes that you’ve broken in a bit, shoes that know your feet and that your feet enjoy. My feet appreciate shoes with whom they’ve had a few dates before they are whisked off to another continent with them.  If you do buy shoes on a trip save the daily wearing of them for your next trip when they are on a more intimate standing with your piggies.

One thing to remember when buying shoes, and in all things while traveling, is that people live and thrive in the places you visit. They have shoe inserts and band-aids to help if you do find your feet protesting.

By all means buy shoes on a trip. Buying shoes abroad is fun (buying shoes is always fun for me) and they are a great souvenir. That snow globe isn’t going to serve much functional purpose in your life back home but shoes certainly will.

Remember there is no perfect travel shoe. Walk A LOT to prepare. Choose good shoes that are supportive and well made. Wear shoes that are lightweight and still meet the criteria of having structure resilience and good soles.

In the end take shoes you love and that love your feet.  Savor all the beautiful places those shoes will take you.

Jocelyn

 

See More of Jocelyn’s Travel Videos & Blogs

Travel Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers

 

How to Do Your Laundry While You Travel

 

 

 

 

The Best Family Travel Hacks Out There

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11 Family Travel Hacks That You Can Actually Use

Greetings from Paris, France! We’re here at Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre District; my favorite district in Paris. We always stay in Montmartre when we’re visiting Paris; good prices and great food in a wonderful atmosphere. Today, I’m sharing 11 travel hacks that all travelers should know. These are travel hacks that we actually use to make family travel with two kids much easier, so they are legit hacks that we’ve actually tested.

Family Travel Hack #1: Getting Cheap Airline Tickets

 

We travel a lot, and with a family of four, we always have to look for deals on flights. The trick is to book early and compare websites. We start with a few consolidator websites like Expedia, CheapTickets and Kayak. From those websites, you can see which airline has the cheapest flights for the cities you are flying to and from. Then, go directly to the website of the airline you found in your consolidator search. You might even save a little bit more money by going direct to the airline.

 

Bonus Travel Hack: Clear out your browser cache and cookies before you get online to shop for flights. Set your browser to private, or incognito. This can often get you a better price.

 

Family Travel Hack #2: Roll Your Clothes to Fit More In Your Suitcase

 

Jocelyn swears by this, and it does work. Rolling your clothes means you’ll have much more space – to pack more, or to buy more things on your trip.

 

Bonus Hack: Bring Downy Wrinkle Releaser to use when you unroll your clothes.

 

Watch: Travel Packing Tips & Hacks

 

Family Travel Hack #3: Use Dryer Sheets To Keep Your Clothes Smelling Clean

 

Throw some dryer sheets in your luggage and it will keep your clothes smelling fresh during your trip. Dryer sheets will make everything smell better, especially when you are mixing clean and dirty clothes in your suitcase. This will make a huge difference after a few weeks of travel.

 

Bonus Hack: You can also use Downy Wrinkle Release or Febreze for a quick scent boost on your clothes.

 

Family Travel Hack #4 Avoid Long Lines at Major Sites by Booking Tickets Online

 

Nobody likes waiting in line, but if you visit major tourist destinations in peak season, you can wait up to two hours to get in to places like the Louvre, the Vatican or the Coliseum. Where it’s available, I encourage you to buy your tickets ahead of time and bypass the lines when you arrive.

 

Bonus Hack: Pre-booking online sometimes gives you access to special deals, or perks like early entry or food discounts.

Read: Travel Advice That Every 20-Something Should Know

Family Travel Hack #5: Use a Ziploc Bag to Manage Electric Cords

 

You’ve likely got a lot of cords to manage while traveling. From Ipads, cameras and laptops, you don’t want a tangled mess of cords in your backpack. I recommend using ZipLoc bags to manage your cords. TSA loves this too, as you can easily pull out any electronics when going through security lines.

 

Bonus Hack: Sometimes I use my eyeglasses case to store my cords while flying. Since I’m wearing my glasses, the case offers nice storage for cords.

Family Travel Hack # 6 Call Your Bank & Credit Card Before You Travel

 

You want to be able to buy things when you’re traveling abroad. If you don’t let your bank and credit card companies know ahead of time, your card will probably be declined. If this happens, you might have trouble calling your bank, especially if it’s a weekend and you are eight time zones away. You don’t want to be stuck with no money when you arrive at your destination.

 

Bonus Hack: This also ensures your card is only approved for the countries you are visiting, so you’ll still be protected if your card gets swiped and used elsewhere.

 

Family Travel Hack #7: Borrow a Phone Cord from Your Hotel

 

It’s so easy to forget your phone charger when remembering everything else for a trip. Many people also leave their cords behind when checking out of a hotel, so your hotel likely has a collection of phone cords you can borrow. The key is to ask if you can borrow it during your stay. Since it’s technically someone else’s property, they can’t give it to you.

 

Bonus Hack: If you have the cord but forgot the plug, you can charge your phone in the USB ports on the back of your TV.

 

Family Travel Hack #8: Scan Your Passports and Important Documents to Your Email

 

It can be concerning to carry your passports and tickets and hotel reservations and worry about your bag getting stolen. We recommend scanning everything and having a copy in your email. Put it in a PDF file and email yourself. Then if you lose anything, you can get a backup from your email. I also like to download the PDF to my phone for easy access.

 

Family Travel Hack #9: Keep Your Passport in a Ziploc Bag for Protection

 

Hypothetically speaking, let’s say a bottle of baby’s milk explodes in your purse and gets all over your passport! That actually happened to me, but luckily the rest of the family passports were in a Ziploc bag. Even if you’re just keeping your passport in a money belt, a ZipLoc will keep it from getting sweaty. If you are traveling as a family, keeping them all in one ZipLoc makes finding your passports much easier.

 

Family Travel Hack #10: Order the Vegetarian Meal When Choosing Your Airline Meal

 

Who doesn’t love horrible airline food? To get fresher and slightly better tasting airline food, order the vegetarian option when choosing your meals for the flight. These special meals are made in smaller batches, so they’re usually made closer to the departure time, meaning you have a better chance of fresher food.

Read: The BEST Ways to Eat Cheap AND Well While You Travel

Family Travel Hack #11: Wear Your Bulkiest Clothes on the Plane

 

When you’re coming home from vacation, and your suitcase is full of new purchases, plan to wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane. This will save luggage space and give you extra layers for the chilly plane ride. Wear your heaviest shoes or boots; your bulky jeans, and a few shirts. You can also tie shoes on to your backpack if they won’t fit inside.

 

Bonus Hack: Wear pants with deep pockets that you can fill up with stuff.

 

I hope you find our favorite family travel hacks useful. They help us travel around the world as a family. Check out some of our other travel videos:

Read: Top 10 Cheap European Cities

Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques That Get Tourists

Six Reasons Why You NEVER Get Cheap Fares

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Six Reasons Why You NEVER Get Cheap Fares

Greetings from Granada, Nicaragua! You know how you see low cost flights, or hear about someone who got a great deal on cheap fares, but you can never actually find those cheap fares? Today, I’m sharing six reasons you aren’t getting super cheap low cost flights.

#1 Limited Time Offer

 

Usually when you see the super low cost flights, it’s for a limited time only. It could be limited to a short travel window, or it might be a flash sale that you have to jump on ASAP. Airlines use these low fares to fill seats on a plane and once they hit a minimum, they may increase the fares again. My advice is that if you see a low airfare, jump on it. If you’re flexible with time and not tied to a school calendar or other commitments, you can really take advantage of these kinds of deals.

 

Tip: If you are flexible with your travel dates, sign up for ticket alerts that will alert you to super cheap flight deals.

 

#2 While Supplies Last

 

There is usually a limited number of cheap fares when you see a airfare sale. Much like Black Friday deals on a jumbo TV, there is likely a very limited number of seats at the advertised low price. This applies to using miles for travel also. Sometimes, there are only a few lower mileage seats on each flight. Again, if you see these fares you need to be ready to jump on them before the cheap seats are all sold out.

 

Read: How Pickpockets Work in Europe

#3 Shipping & Handling Not Included (Taxes May Apply)

 

Sometimes you might see a cheap fares advertised, but by the time you check out and add on fees and taxes, you’re paying much more for that flight. Especially with low-cost carriers, like Allegiant, you will get a cheap seat, but you will pay extra for everything, including checked bags, carry-on baggage, assigned seats and more.

 

Tip: Sometimes transport from the airport can be more expensive than your cheap ticket price. Take all costs into account before jumping on a cheap fare.

 

#4 Bait & Switch

 

The cheap fares you see advertised will not match what you see online. We saw $300 tickets to Managua advertised, but once we went online, they were $1000. You might see the deal and get really excited about a destination, only to be disappointed by the higher ticket price. Sometimes those cheap tickets are for very early or very late flights, so once you choose more convenient flight times, those cheap fares disappear. Be sure to check the schedule.

#5 Would You Like Fries With That?

 

This tip refers to all the little things that add up when buying a cheap airline ticket. Similar to tip #3, you might actually see really cheap fares, but then start to watch as all the little charges add up. Want to pay with your credit card? That’s $4. Want to pay with your debit card? That’s only $2. Forgot to print your boarding pass at home? That’ll be $4 to print it at the airport! Snacks and food will cost extra. As a family traveling together, we might want to board early to get the overhead space. That can be another $15. You really have to look out for hidden costs as they might add up to the price of a regular flight and even up not being such a great deal after all.

Read: How to Eat Cheap & Well While Traveling

#6 Buy One Get One Pricing

 

You might see a super cheap ticket from Chicago to Managua, but then when you try to find a deal on a return flight, you can’t. This happens a lot when you see a good deal. It can be really difficult to match up a return ticket to get you to the low advertised price.

 

If you liked these tips, you’ll love some of our other travel advice videos:

 

Food & Travel: How to Eat Cheap AND Well While Traveling

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Food And Travel: How to Eat Cheap & Well While Traveling

Greetings from Granada, Nicaragua. Today I’m sharing tips on how to eat well and eat cheap as well as finding those cheap eats when you travel. Travel and food go hand in hand, but eating out all the time can add up to an expensive vacation! From finding a lunch special, to choosing the street food truck over a restaurant, these are some tips and tricks we use that help us travel all the time without spending a fortune on food!

Budget Food and Travel Tip #1: Don’t Eat!

 

Ok, I’m not saying not to eat at all, but you don’t need to eat three large meals every day. Cut back to two big meals per day. Maybe you have a good breakfast and a hearty lunch, then just a snack for dinner. Traveling with two adults and two kids means we can spend 50 to 100 dollars per meal. A cheap snack can save you up to 80% over a full meal at dinner time.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #2: Look For A Lunch Special

 

Lots of countries around the world have lunch specials where you get the same big dinner meal, but at a much cheaper lunch price. For example, in Spain, you can have a 3-course lunch for about 12 Euros anywhere you go. A normal meal price at dinner might be 20-30 Euros, so you can see how much you’ll save by eating the lunch special.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #3:  Use the Grocery Store

 

Visiting the grocery store while traveling is a great cultural experience and it’s way more fun than hitting up the grocery store back home. It’s interesting to see how people shop and how they live. Not only will you get to see some unique items, but you really can save money by picking up some groceries. In Paris, you really can grab a baguette and cheese and go sit on a park bench. It’s easy to pick up ingredients for sandwiches, and eat at a park. Yesterday, we picked up a package of tamales and ate them while we sat next to a volcano. What’s even better about this is when you find a nice scenic spot, you can just enjoy your lunch without searching for a nearby restaurant.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #4:  Find Street Food Trucks

 

Whether it’s a bratwurst from a kiosk, or grabbing a local specialty from a food cart, you can save a ton of money eating from street food trucks. You can have a 3 Euro bratwurst on the street or pay 12 Euros for the bratwurst plate at a restaurant. For dinner, we usually snack on street food like quesillos here in Nicaragua. In Germany, we might finish off the night with a bratwurst. Not to mention, street food is usually really tasty!

Budget Food and Travel Tip #5: Go Where the Locals Go

 

If the locals are lining up at a place, it’s probably pretty good. It will also probably be more reasonably priced than the restaurants primarily attracting tourists. Tourist restaurants are priced higher because tourists are willing to spend more on vacation, while locals generally look for more reasonably priced options. Don’t be scared to ask a local for recommendations as they can point you to some really good places to eat. In Cancun, we asked the people working at our hotel where to eat. We bypassed the overpriced, mediocre tourist restaurants and found fantastic food at fantastic prices with fantastic service.

 

Budget Food and Travel Tip #6: Free Hotel Breakfast

 

If your hotel doesn’t have a free breakfast, don’t take it. Most of the time, if you pay for breakfast at your hotel, it’s a lot more expensive than if you were to leave the hotel and have breakfast elsewhere. In Berlin, our hotel charged 17 Euros for breakfast. The city is full of great bakeries with so many options, including the little 3 Euro sandwiches that my son loved. For 17 Euros, I could get 17 individual items from a bakery, and feed the whole family rather than taking one pass through the buffet line.

 

I hope you find this advice helpful as you travel and eat your way around the world. If you really want a great destination where you can eat cheap but well, I encourage you to check out Nicaragua!

 

The Don’ts of Nicaragua

 

10 Shocks of Visiting Granada, Nicaragua