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I’m in my 50s and retirement is at least a decade down the road. This lands me in my pretirement era, the period of life between career and retirement. I love my career but know it’s important to prepare for retirement by saving and planning. I’ve traveled solo for about 30 years and here are a some budget travel tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Value Over Cheapness
Budget travel isn’t necessarily about finding the lowest price, it’s finding the best value within your budget. It’s scoring the best bang for your buck vs. grabbing the least expensive experience. Viking Cruises is a top-tier cruise line but because they include excursions at each port and beer, wine and soft drinks with meals, there’s no need to purchase extra activities or a drink package.
Rick Steves’ Europe is a tour operator offering fantastic, organized tours into the heart of European communities while mindful of the budget. Group sizes are relatively small and focus on authentic, immersive experiences. (Speaking or Rick Steves, I met him in January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the world.)
Context Travel offers six-person tours and private walks in various destinations around the globe. Walks are offered by local experts who are more than tour guides. They are curators, storytellers, and teachers with in-depth knowledge in their respective subject. Tours and experiences vary by city but expect to find food, architecture, and city tours. Context also offers online pre-trip lectures to prepare travelers traveling to specific destinations, such as an overview of Japanese cuisine. At $20, the most economical option Context offers are self-guided audio guides for more than 25 cities, such as a tea quest in Kyoto and architecture of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
I’ve drifted away from AirBnB because the additional fees have priced them out of my accommodation budget, however, I’m a big fan of AirBnB’s Experiences. One of the best tours I’ve ever been on was booked through AirBnB Experiences. It was with a dog walker in Berlin. He only takes two guests at a time, and we walked about a dozen dogs he cares for and trains through a forest in Berlin. It sounds like it would be boring, but I believed the glowing reviews and they were spot on. It was a fascinating experience learning the dynamics of a dog pack and techniques on how to train dogs. The experience wasn’t that expensive, I learned something new, and it’s something I’ll always remember.
I’m an outdoorsy gal and oftentimes, HipCamp is my first stop in my accommodations hunt. Think of the site as the AirBnB version of camping and glamping. I’ve stayed in primitive camping spots to glamping tents to a cute South Carolina cabin. I’ve camped at a drive-in movie theater and slept at several farms and have had memorable experiences and met wonderful people along the way.
Memberships Have Their Privileges
I hold memberships with AAA and AARP and usually receive better hotel discounts with AARP. At $16 a year, this is one of my best investments for traveling. In addition to hotel discounts with specific brands, they work with specific airlines, rental car companies, and cruise lines for discounts.
I’m a big fan of AARP Rewards. This is a section of the website where members can either earn points through tasks (like watching informational videos, playing mind-sharpening games) then either redeem for gift cards or for chances for gift cards.
They also sell discounted gift cards which can be used toward travel, like for specific airlines and hotels. Last summer, they ran a weeklong summer road trip promotion, and I was able to pick up a free $5 gift card to Pilot/Flying J (fuel) and then purchased a $50 Pilot/Flying J gift card for $35. I loaded these up into the Pilot/Flying J myRewards Plus app and activated the 10 cents off a gallon on gas.
I also have my AARP account linked with my Exxon Mobil Rewards+ account. By doing so, I earn twice the points when I fuel up. Points are converted to cash to use towards future fill-ups.
I hold an annual membership to the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens in Punta Gorda and because they belong to the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Garden Network, I receive free admission to more than 360 gardens in North America. Last year, I visited at least four gardens during my travels, in addition to Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, so the membership paid for itself.
Bank of America cardholders enjoy free complimentary general admission the first full weekend at select museums with its Museums on Us program.
Plan with a Purpose and Flexibility
With the above said about AARP and any third-party website, check rates directly on hotel, airlines, and car rental company websites. Sometimes, you can get a better deal working directly with the hospitality entity.
Discount airlines may lure you in with low fares but calculate fees such as seat assignment and carry on and checked luggage. Once you calculate the math, booking with another carrier may make better budget sense.
Look for alternative destinations to stay. Oftentimes, staying in the city center is more expensive than staying in a nearby community. If you do this, take into consideration transportation costs. Will you be parking a car and how much is parking? How much is an Uber/cab to attractions?
Or, sometimes it makes sense staying in the city center that has excellent public transportation, like Washington, D.C.; London or Berlin.
Check the currency exchange rate for traveling overseas to determine where you’ll get the most value. I won a free airline ticket to fly anywhere in the world (on Twitter) and I chose Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. One, because I’ve always wanted to visit and two, a five-night stay with airport transfers and activities was easy on my budget. The city was also easy to get around on my own and the people are wonderful.
Traveling during a destination’s off-season is usually lighter on the budget, ranging from airfare to accommodations. The downside is, attractions may be on limited hours and restaurants may be closed.
Some destinations offer restaurant weeks during the shoulder/off season. For instance, in the first two weeks of June is Savor Sarasota restaurant week and Miami Spice is August and September.
And speaking of meals, many moderately-priced and budget hotels include breakfast with the room rate so don’t skip the most important meal of the day. To save a little on your budget, make a late lunch your big meal of the day and opt for a light dinner.
Visit the local grocery store for provisions like snacks and water and stay out of the hotel mini-bar! My favorite thing to do in France was visiting a local cheese shop ad picking up fresh, local cheese then enjoy it in a park while soaking in the scenery and life.
Get Social, But Not on the Road
Follow favorite destinations, attractions, and content creators online for ideas and inspiration. Sometimes tourism businesses will offer web-only/social media-only discounts for followers.
Check the tourism office website for your desired destination. They will share information about restaurant weeks, special promotions, and attractions offering free activities.
Eventbrite is a great website to see what’s happening in a destination you’re visiting and oftentimes, you’ll find free events not listed on a tourism site.
Many tourism businesses and organizations host contents through their social media platforms, and you don’t need gobs of followers to win. I’ve won an airline ticket to fly anywhere in the world, hotel stays, and attraction visits, and I have retired friends who’ve won even bigger prizes. If you chose to enter these contests, be mindful of what you may be giving up. Will the entity sell your contact information? Do you have a social media buddy you can tag? Be sure to read the fine print before participating in online contests.
And since we’re on the topic of social media, although tempting, don’t post your travel plans and experiences in real time to your social channels. Not only could someone break into your home while you’re gone, but they could also stalk you during your trip.
Travel with a Purpose
In speaking with friends, once retired, they’re looking for purpose. Travel opens new opportunities. Some choose to volunteer during their travels, some popping into a food bank and helping out or joining a beach cleanup while others make long-term commitments. One former colleague now spends his summer in the U.K. volunteering for music festivals and traveling in a rented van. Another spent a month in Romania helping orphaned children with her church group.
Hurricane Ian hammered my community in 2022 and Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton this year were just as bad. However, we have been welcoming volunteers to help rebuild. Many are retirees who now volunteer around the world helping communities rebuild following natural disasters. (World Renew is one of the groups.)
Other friends house-sit around the world, staying in homes and sometimes watching pets for other travelers. Doing something like this offers an opportunity to really get to know the fabric of the community. Live Your Dream: Housesitting Around the World is written by Lisa Chavis and Cheryl MacDonald offers insight and resources.
Road Scholar is an organization offering trips with learning adventures. Excursions typically cost less than a traditional tour company.
Keep That Head on a Swivel
Safety is important because a mishap can add to your expenses. Pickpockets tend to easily pick out American travelers so keep tabs on your wallet, purse, and iPhone. Observe traffic laws such as where to park and speed limits.
Understand how to validate your train ticket. This was a costly mistake I made riding the Berlin U-Bahn (rapid transit system). There were two ticket validation boxes next to each other, they were different, and so I put my ticket in both boxes for validation. When the conductor came through to check tickets, I was fined for double stamping my ticket.
I couldn’t pay the fine while in country, I tried and needed to wait for the fine to arrive by post. When it did, it had been delayed and past due, which doubled my fine. The only way to pay the fine was via bank transfer. My initial $30 U.S. ticket cost me about an additional $160 U.S. due to an ignorant mistake.
Understand local laws and customs to stay out of trouble!
Random Tidbits to Consider
Think local. I live in Florida, one of the top vacation destinations in the world, so I have many, many opportunities. Travel doesn’t need to be a three-week trip abroad, especially when the budget is tight. There are communities across the country offering travel-worthy experiences and they might be in your backyard. Keep your ears and eyes open for opportunities.
Where I live in Southwest Florida, several attractions offer free days or free activities. Every Monday, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota extends free admission into the Ringling Museum of Art.
For big trips, especially traveling abroad, purchase travel insurance. It’s relatively inexpensive and hopefully you won’t need it. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it. Read the fine print to understand what is and isn’t covered. I’ve used it when I’ve missed international flights and had to book an unexpected hotel stay.
If you have a pet, consider them in your travel planning. If they won’t be going with you (or if they will, does the hotel charge a per night pet fee?), will you board them or have someone stay at your house?
How long will you be gone? Will someone check your home so you don’t come home to unexpected home repairs or find someone broke in?
One Last Bit of Advice
Skip the souvenirs and if you can afford it, don’t be afraid to have one splurge on your trip. This may be an activity you’ve always wanted to do, or dining at a restaurant you’ve wanted to try.
Importantly, remember, life’s too short so always say “yes” to adventure!
Interested in solo travel? Check out my book, “A to Z of a Solo Travel Girl: Traits of Women Who Travel Alone, Not Lonely.”
