These 10 travel hacks can save you cash this holiday season

Whether you’re heading interstate or overseas, there are plenty of ways to cut the cost of travel and free up more money to spend on its rich experiences.

Travel and money are two of my favourite things, ranked only behind family, friends and Star Wars.

Without money, travel is tough, and in the mad rush before Christmas holidays and other trips, many people let unnecessary costs creep in. After two decades with a powerful travel bug affliction and chatting with money experts daily, I’ve been lucky to learn some tips to cut travel costs. Here are 10:

WITHIN AUSTRALIA

1. Book direct: Accommodation comparison websites now dominate the travel booking market and are the first thing you see in online searches, but hotels and resorts are fighting back.

Many offer special deals and discounts for people who book directly through them, so always check.

SHARING: How to turn caravans into cash

FREQUENT FLYERS: Make the most of shrinking rewards

2. Avoid rental car rip-offs: It’s crazy to take up rental companies’ offers to improve your insurance protection by paying them a pile of extra cash.

A much cheaper domestic travel insurance policy will do the job nicely — especially for regular travellers.

3. Card cover: Check your credit card’s benefits, because many now offer free travel insurance.

Researchers have found these policies can be just as good as stand-alone cover.

You need money to travel, but that’s no reason to waste it on unnecessary expenses.

4. Fly free: Millions of Aussies take free flights each year using reward points from credit cards and frequent flyer schemes.

The best value comes from using the points for the flights but paying airport taxes yourself.

5. Share it: Online platforms offering cheap holidays have moved beyond market leader Airbnb — people can now rent other people’s cars, caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes for great prices.

OVERSEAS

6. Currency timing: I’m always asked by future travellers whether they should buy foreign currency now or wait and hope for a better exchange rate.

My answer: It’s a lottery. Your best bet is to buy some now, some later, pay for some stuff now and some later. You won’t get the best rate but won’t get the worst either.

7. Foreign cash: We’re often warned to avoid buying overseas money at airports because they have crappy exchange rates. That’s not true.

Twice this year I’ve visited overseas airports with better exchange rates than pre-purchasing cash in Australia. Check the rates online.

8. Avoid peak periods: It’s becoming harder to take holidays when we want as more employers enforce compulsory leave over Christmas, but travelling outside school holidays will get you cheaper deals.

9. Free maps: If you’re using your phone or tablet as your overseas street directory but want to avoid expensive data charges, you can download maps at home to store offline on your device.

Even if you turn off data roaming when overseas, that little blue GPS location dot lovingly remains.

10. House swapping: Spending a few weeks in an exotic location living in someone else’s home can be a great way to experience life there. And if that home’s owners are staying at your place at the same time, you pay almost nothing.

Home exchange websites have boomed, some of my colleagues love it, and it’s definitely on my to-do list.

Follow Anthony Keane on Twitter @keanemoney

Originally published as These 10 travel hacks can save you cash this holiday season