SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Surveys show that Americans took fewer and shorter trips this summer, mostly to save money. So for our Cost of Living series, we want to offer some tips for traveling on a budget. Travel writer Amelia Edelman gathered some guidance for NPR's Life Kit podcast. She spoke to fellow travel writer Brittney Oliver and financial adviser Nishann LaNata, who recommends starting to save for trips at least six months out, if you can.
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NISHANN LANATA: I often work with folks to set up a dedicated travel fund and contribute to it consistently, even if it's a small amount each month. So it can be a revolving travel fund. Say, you know you're going to take five trips every year, or you know you spend at least $6,000 every year. Well, we know if we're spending $6,000 every year, we probably need to save at least $500 a month.
AMELIA EDELMAN: Even before you save, you've got to know your numbers. Sit down and track your spending over the next few months. Where can you cut back? Maybe you stop eating out so much or you cancel that subscription service you don't use anymore. These small changes add up. But it's not just about saving enough for your trip. Nishann says you should also build in a financial cushion for any emergencies, whether that's unexpected medical expenses or an extra night at a hotel after a canceled flight.
LANATA: When you plan for the unexpected, you have the ability to kind of take the pressure off of yourself. So the most obvious approach for managing those unexpected costs or emergencies is to build up a contingency fund, and that's usually around, like, maybe 10- to 20% of your total.
EDELMAN: There are also travel grants available from nonprofits that you can use to augment your savings. WorldStrides and Travel Niche offer grants for families, and Wish of a Lifetime offers them for folks who are 65 and older in the U.S., for example. As for accommodations, where you stay can eat up a lot of your budget. So where are you going to stay?
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EDELMAN: Be creative and flexible with where you stay and when you go. A little outside-the-box thinking will save you serious travel cash. Flexibility is everything when it comes to flight booking. First off, use flight comparison tools. They allow you to track prices over time, so you can look for deals and book when prices dip. Also, avoid flying on Sundays and Mondays, which tend to be the most expensive due to weekend trips and business travelers.
Meanwhile, plenty of discount hotels are cheap and clean and even have some amenities that might save you money elsewhere. And while you may think of hostels as crowded spots filled with college-age backpackers, a little creative research will help you find the ones that are anything but. One thing you should never compromise on to save a few bucks, your own safety and peace of mind. Here's Brittney.
BRITTNEY OLIVER: For me, like, a hostel - I don't think I'll ever do that - just for me because I wouldn't feel safe.
EDELMAN: Brittney also takes care not just with accommodations, but where she decides to travel.
OLIVER: That is so important because as a Black woman, there's a lot of places that haven't really seen a lot of Black people. We're just rare, unique when we go in those spaces, and that can cause safety risk. A lot of places also have biases - right? - that pose a safety risk.
EDELMAN: Brittney does a lot of solo travel and relies on the usually cost-free online travel communities and affinity groups where she can connect with other travelers of color. Groups like this also exist for LGBTQ travelers, disabled travelers and more.
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EDELMAN: Another great approach Brittney recommends to finding free accommodations is actually taking friends and family up on offers of, hey, come visit anytime. The guest room is open.
OLIVER: A lot of us have, you know, friends who take jobs abroad or just happen to move abroad. And when they're like, come visit, do it. If you're comfortable staying at their house, using the couch, using their spare bedroom and being able to travel and do the things that you want to do.
EDELMAN: And once you're there, getting creative and not being married to the major sites and Michelin-star restaurants can help you save on food, activities and more.
DETROW: Travel writer Amelia Edelman reporting for NPR's Life Kit podcast. For more stories from our Cost of Living series, go to npr.org. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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