Traveling is an inherently costly exercise. Whether we stay close to home or pack our bags and fly away from everyday life, these things cost money. In our opinion, though, it’s money well spent. Travel doesn’t have to create a hopeless money pit that you’ll never recover from. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can save money even before you even leave the airport

Find the Cheapest Flights Around

Image via Flickr by whitefield_d

The internet is a wonderful place. You can find some great flights if you’re willing to be a little creative and flexible. Skyscanner recommends booking a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday to get the best deal. We often fly on Wednesdays to save hundreds before we’ve even packed our bags.

Prebook Your Airport Parking

If you live in a city like Melbourne, with no airport train and very limited public transport options, you may have found yourself handing over a fistful of money for parking. There’s a whole bucket full of ways you can save money on airport parking.

Bring Your Own Snacks

Image via Flickr by meddygarnet

Airport food and airplane snacks can be crazy expensive. You might be faced with paying $4 for a candy bar, $5 for a small tube of Pringles, and let’s not even think about the price of a glass of wine. You can easily save by bringing your own snacks. Even if you’re flying with a full-service carrier, you might need a pick-me-up treat between the time you arrive and the time your flight departs.

Stay Hydrated

Water is life. Staying hydrated on flights is super important for your health. Why pay $5 for a bottle of water when you could easily bring your own? Bringing your own bottle will help you save your dollars, and it will also help you do great things for the environment by not using those tiny, disposable water bottles. Take some simple steps to becoming a more sustainable traveler to do even more for the environment.

Excess Baggage

Packing everything, including the kitchen sink, can cost you big dollars in excess baggage fees. Don’t worry about being charged at the counter. Know your limits for checked and carry-on baggage. If you’re up for a challenge, why not try travelling with carry-on baggage only? It’s rather liberating getting off the plane, grabbing your bag, and waltzing out of the airport without that moment of fear as you wait around the carousel, hoping that the airline didn’t lose your bag. We love and use the CabinZero bag for this exact reason.

Getting to your dream destination doesn’t need to empty out your bank account. By being prepared and using the above tips and tricks, you can save more money on your travel arrangements. You’ll also have a little bit more in the piggy bank to spend on fun activities like grabbing a morning latte.

Have you got any nifty ways to save a penny before you leave home? Let us know in the comments below.