3 Ways To Save on Your 2025 Vacations and How To Book
Written by
Caitlyn Moorhead
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Planning a trip is exciting, but booking travel plans isn’t always budget-friendly. In fact, in 2025, it can be downright expensive. This is why you might need to get creative and incorporate some frugal travel tips.
If you are searching for methods on how to save on vacation this year, you can try some small things like creating a detailed budget, exploring low-cost or free activities, and considering off-season travel. Here are three ways to save on your next vacation.
Be Open-Minded About Where You Travel
Chances are, you have your bucket list of popular places where you want to travel. However, if you want to save money, it might make sense to put that list away.
There are countless amazing spots to travel to on your next long weekend that won’t put a dent in your debit card. Look specifically for locations with inexpensive flights.
Services like Going.com and Dollar Flight Club have teams that are looking for the best deals on travel. If you want to reduce the cost of airfare, a pro tip is to be open to different locations that might not be high on your travel list, but will maximize your PTO.
Use Credit Card Rewards
Credit cards can be a great way to travel for less. The sign-up bonuses and rewards you earn on purchases can help you save a significant amount of money on flights and accommodations. These loyalty programs and points are a crucial part of getting the most out of your limited days of vacation.
When signing up for a card, choose one to help you reach your travel goals and match your spending habits. For example, if a significant portion of your monthly budget goes toward groceries, use a card like the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express, which earns 6% cash back on the first $6,000 yearly at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%). The cash back earned can then be put toward your travel fund.
You can also take advantage of attractive sign-up bonuses. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 bonus points after making $4,000 in purchases during the first three months. You could then transfer those points to several different airline or hotel partners. Or, you could use your points to book travel through the Chase Travel portal. Your 60,000 points would be worth $750 in travel.
Travel During the Shoulder Months
Depending on where you’re traveling, certain times of the year can be more expensive than others. Flying to a Mexican resort or the Caribbean in March will be expensive because of spring break, and unfortunately, flying just about any place is more expensive during the summer months.
If possible, look to travel during the off-season or “shoulder months” (months during the spring or fall). Instead of traveling to Europe in June through August, choose April or October. The weather will be a little cooler, but there will be fewer crowds and the cost will be significantly lower.
Sean Bryant contributed to the reporting for this article.
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