1) Follow hotels, restaurants and bars in the city you’re traveling to on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare
Keep an eye out for discounts! Many businesses post discounts and special deals that you won’t find anywhere else. At the very least, you’ll probably get a head’s up on happy hours and upcoming events that you’d like to check out!
2) Go right before or immediately after “high season”
This is an obvious one, but I usually only see mega-travelers or permanent nomads making use of this. Do some research well in advance to find out when the tourist-heavy season starts, and try to book your vacation for a couple weeks outside of those dates to have the best chances for pleasant weather and cheaper prices. If weather isn’t much of a concern for you, feel free to book right in the midst of low-season to make the most of ultra-low rates.
Examples: I stayed in a ridiculously nice hotel in Newport, Rhode Island with a beautiful view, a massive Jacuzzi bath in the main bedroom, and a California King bed for only $80/night, when the usual rate was $200+ because I went in the beginning of December when there was a tourism-lull. Although there were fewer restaurants open, the area was still beautiful and the quietness actually made the romantic getaway even more romantic.
More recently I rented an apartment on an idyllic island near Sicily for only $47/night, because it was a couple of weeks before high-season started. The restaurants were all open but were mostly empty, so the locals were extra friendly and appreciative of my business, and the beaches were almost completely free of tourists (and all humans for that matter).
3) Use a budget airline and pack extremely lightly
My last flight was with Ryanair from Rome to Crete, was only booked about a month in advance, and only cost 34 Euros. Of course flying budget airlines like Ryanair, AerLingus, and EasyJet means that you’ll have to pay for every little extra, including a checked bag and a bottle of water, but if the flight is only a couple of hours, it’s probably worth it.
To make the most of these ultra-cheap fares, I use space-saver bags (the ones you roll to expel the air and compress your clothes) to fit everything into a carry-on sized bag. I have to admit this is an impressive feat for a female, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to pack, unpack, and repack before heading to the airport.
Also remember to bring snacks and water with you to avoid over-paying for junk food on the flight.
4) TravelPony
TravelPony is a relatively new hotel booking site that claims to offer unbeatable discounts of up to 60% or more.
I recently used it to book a stay in Greece (which is coming up in a couple of weeks!) and the price tag was definitely cheaper than the actual hotel’s site (about $70/night cheaper).
It’s a very simple platform, and although it’s not in every city yet, the city offerings seem to be growing rapidly. It’s definitely worth checking out when planning your trip!
5) Use Foursquare, Plnnr, Peek, and other travel apps to create your own walking tours, get food recommendations, etc. so you’re not wasting money on tourist trap garbage
BlaBlaCar is great for sharing a ride to your next destination, and is heavily used throughout Europe for people of all ages and budgets.
Also try use a financial tracker app like Mint to keep your budget on track, and always be aware of the current exchange rate so you get your money’s worth (Xe is one useful option!)
Here are some great app round-ups from Huffpost, LifeHacker, and Inc if you want to go travel-app-crazy!
