Save on Transportation

Are you looking to save money on travel? And more specifically, saving on transportation? You are in the right place.

Because travelling does not have to be expensive, I’ll give you tips, so you don’t pay more for transportation.

Transportation, along with accommodation, is one of the main expenses when it comes to travelling. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to minimise this cost. In this post, I will guide you through some practical tips and tricks to help you save money on transportation for your travels.

Before hiring any means of transportation, always compare all available alternatives. Don’t assume one is better than the other until you’ve compared prices, times, and durations. You might be surprised!

Most search engines do not include all means of transportation, so you will have to perform various searches, but anything to save money!

Below, I will classify the advice according to the mode of transportation:

Flights
Trains, Buses, and Ferries
Car Rental

Index

Flights

How to search for flights

✳️ Before purchasing flights, compare several search engines to get the best price. Some great ones are out there, such as Skyscanner, Kayak, Momondo or Kiwi.
✳️ Include stopovers on your flights to reduce the cost, sometimes considerably. It is not ideal, but it can be a viable alternative when prices are very high.

If you have a layover during your flight, try booking both legs separately and adding a few days to explore the layover city.

✳️ If you plan to go to multiple cities on your trip, consider booking a return flight from the last city you’ll visit or one nearby. This can save both time and money.

When to look for them

✳️ Whenever possible, try to be flexible with dates. Compare the cost of booking a few days earlier or later. I have seen variations of 200% between just two days apart.
✳️ Generally, it is best to make reservations on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. It has been studied that people usually have more time to plan vacations on weekends. More people are searching and hiring; therefore, the price is higher. We are talking about something as basic as the law of supply and demand.
✳️ Additionally, on Mondays, companies often analyse how sales have been over the weekend, as well as the competition’s prices, and adjust theirs accordingly. Therefore, it is easier to find better prices midweek.
✳️ Likewise, flights departing in the middle of the week, especially on weekdays, are frequently less expensive. Most individuals work from Monday to Friday and are more available to travel on weekends. While it may cost a little more, they can use their days better. Again, the law of supply and demand, fewer reserves, better prices.

How to book them

✳️ If you have made several searches for the same destination, clear your cookies beforehand. You’d be surprised how prices can vary considerably.
✳️ Remember that top companies use algorithms that can detect the type of device used for a search. It may seem scary, but it’s just how things are. They can determine things such as the brand and model of your mobile phone, which helps them estimate your purchasing power and adjust prices accordingly. Therefore, it’s always better to surf in incognito mode and, if possible, through a VPN (virtual private network).
✳️ Travel with a carry-on suitcase. In the past, most airlines included a checked bag in the ticket price. However, with the rise of low-cost carriers, that has changed. Nowadays, the cost of checking a suitcase can be pretty steep. On some occasions, it can exceed the price of the ticket itself.

In addition, travelling with only hand luggage has the advantage that your suitcase will not be lost, and you will save time at airports.

Be careful with this!

Before purchasing flights, it’s essential to consider several factors to avoid losing your savings:

If your chosen flight leaves or arrives very early in the morning, make sure you have affordable options to get to or from the airport. If you have to pay a high price for a taxi, selecting the cheapest flight may not be worth it.
Check the location of the airport before booking a flight. Low-cost airlines may fly to secondary airports far from the central city or even a different city.

An example of this is Ryanair flights to Brussels. The airport they fly to is in Charleroi (75 km south of Brussels). This is particularly crucial, not just due to the transfer cost, but also if you have to catch another flight departing from Brussels International Airport.

Trains, Buses, and Ferries

The guidelines I suggested for booking flights also apply to trains, buses, and ferries. However, it’s worth noting that the fares for these modes of transportation are generally more consistent and don’t fluctuate based on the time or location of your search, except for last-minute bookings.

Although it depends on the city and country you go to, in general terms:

The bus is usually the cheapest, most uncomfortable, and unpunctual means of transport.
The train is typically much more reliable and comfortable; however, it is also pricier.

My top tips here are:

✳️ Use search engines to get the best price.

✳️ Do not wait until the very last minute to book, as there is less availability and higher costs.

You can use Skyscanner, Omio, DirectFerries, CheckMyBus, TrainLine or 12Go (Asia).

Car Rental

The topic of rental cars is a whole world in itself. I have rented countless cars over the years, but what I am going to share with you is not only based on my experience as a customer.

I worked for one of the market’s most famous online car rental booking services for two years. So I know what I’m talking about.

I have decided to write a specific article about Car Rental, providing you with all the necessary information and tips to avoid any surprises when renting a vehicle. I recommend reading this post if you are considering renting a car.

Furthermore, I hope you liked the article and found it helpful.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me by leaving a comment below or through the contact form. I will be happy to help 🙂

Now that you know how to save on transportation, you can return to the Travel Cheap page or continue with the next travel savings category: Save on Accommodation.