Vacations are supposed to be a time to relax and destress, but that can be hard when you’re busy worrying about all the money you’re spending on your trip. Here are five ways you can save money and still have an amazing vacation.

1. Plan Transportation

There are tons of ways to save on transportation. Book flights early to get the best prices, and use frequent flier miles if you have them. If you’re traveling with a large group, use airport transportation services, such as charter buses, to save money on individual cars and have fun riding together. If you’re going on a road trip, use the most fuel efficient car at your disposal to save money on gas.

2. Bring Your Own Food

Before you get to your destination, stop by a grocery store to stock up on food. Having some simple meals and snacks in your hotel room can help you avoid having to eat out for every meal. Some great examples are granola bars, sandwiches and trail mix.

3. Avoid Room Service

Usually, hotel room service will have very high delivery and gratuity fees. You can avoid the added fees by going to the hotel restaurants instead of having food delivered. You can also have takeout delivered straight your hotel in most cases. The cost of food outside of your hotel is often much cheaper, and the delivery fees are usually lower too.

Punta Laguna

4. Be Careful Where You Shop

Shops in hotels, theme parks and airports usually have very inflated prices. They know it’s difficult, if not impossible, for you to leave the property, so they don’t have to compete with the lower prices of outside retailers. Try to bring food, drinks, sunblock, sunglasses and any other little things you may need with you to these places. You can also buy your souvenirs from local stores to get cheaper prices and support small businesses.

5. Do Free Activities

Activities and excursions on vacations can get pretty pricey. Keep in mind that some activities, such as visiting a park, walking around town to see the sights and swimming in the ocean or hotel pool are often free. Try to include some of these things in your itinerary. 

There are plenty of ways to save money while traveling including planning your transportation, bringing food, avoiding room service, being mindful of where you shop and doing free activities. In addition to all of these tips, be sure to create a realistic budget and stick to it to avoid overspending.