How To Travel For $100 (& Other Travel Hacks)

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Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive! Read on to find out my favorite travel hacks and ways you can fly for less than $100!

Last year was the first year since I was in high school that I didn’t take any flights. One of the reasons I switched careers from engineering to real estate was so that I had the flexibility to travel more but due to the pandemic I avoided all airports for over a year now.

I spent 2020 combing through my Florida bucket list but I’m eager to get vaccinated and start traveling again!

If you have the opportunity to be flexible with your travel planning then you can save hundreds of dollars. Did you know you can find flights for under $100 in America? You’ll need to follow the tips I outline below but it’s possible!

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How To Find Cheap Flights (for less than $100!)

There are several ways to find cheap flights but these are my favorite. Once you’ve found a flight, do not book it right away. Read on to the next section for what to do before booking your flight!

Skyscanner

This is by far my favorite travel hack. The best way to find an affordable flight is by being flexible with both the destination and the time. My favorite trick is to use the “any destination” and “whole month” search options.

Head to Skyscanner and check the boxes near the following options to find the cheapest trips!

Add nearby airports (for both outgoing and incoming flights)
Mark the destination as “everywhere”
For departure date either check “cheapest month” or click “whole month” and choose your particular month.

Those options will guarantee a slew of bargain flights! I even found a direct round-trip flight from Tampa to New York for $24 and a flight to St. Thomas for $140!

Google Flights & Kayak

Google Flights and Kayak are also great tools that scrub the internet for cheap flights. They lack the “whole month”, “cheapest month” or “fly anywhere” options that Skyscanner has though.

Once you’ve narrowed down a flight you’re interested in on Skyscanner, I would recommend double checking with Google Flights and Kayak to see if they find a better deal!

Scott’s Cheap Flights

Another cheap travel hack is to sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flight alerts for your personalized location. They aim to send deals that are discounted by 40-90% of the average ticket price. This is a great service for those who are more spontaneous and constantly looking for new adventures. If you’re more of a planner you might prefer doing it manually.

Do Not Book Your Flight Right Away

Once you’ve come across a great deal, research the flight on a few other websites. Is it truly the cheapest? If it is, then open up an incognito window (if you’re on Google Chrome browser), this ensures no cookies are being tracked.

There’s a theory that airlines are tracking your search history and bumping prices up if you keep revisiting the websites. Make sure to open that incognito window or delete cookies before heading back to that website.

Read: Ultimate Guide To Saving On Impromptu Trips

Are Travel Rewards Credit Cards Worth It?

I flew to England, Maine, and cruised to Mexico FOR FREE! I did all of this through credit card rewards. I pay for everything using my credit card but I pay it off every single month. This has helped me rack up tons of rewards!

My favorite travel rewards credit card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Their current incentive is $750 towards travel if you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months! When I first got this credit card a few years ago, I booked a few flights on it for my family and they reimbursed me. This helped me reach that incentive faster!

The best part about this credit card is that it can be used for multiple airlines. It is not like an airline credit card where you’re only limited to one airline.

They’re also currently giving $60 off for Peloton memberships.

I seriously cannot say enough great things about this credit card. Do yourself a favor and get a travel rewards credit card! This particular one has an annual fee of $95 so it might not be for you, but these ones might be a better fit.

Where To Stay For Cheap When Traveling

Alright, you’ve booked your flight and now it’s time to figure out where to stay! You have a few options but let’s start from the cheapest one- Couchsurfing.

Couchsurfing

I stayed in Amsterdam and Ireland for free when I studied abroad. How? I used Couchsurfing. This service allows you to connect with locals who like showing other adventurous souls around their city! I would highly recommend limiting your search to those with substantial reviews and Wi-Fi. I once came across one that was in the middle of nowhere with no internet access so I quickly scrolled past it.

You’ll also come across some interesting house rules too… be careful where you stay and bring a friend with you!

Home Swapping

Have you seen The Holiday? House exchanges are a real thing! They’re also another cheap accommodation option! I haven’t personally tried this but maybe in the future. I do have a dog and cat so it makes it a bit tougher to swap though.

Most home swapping websites charge an annual membership fee- here is a list of some of the most popular ones.

Hostels

Hostels are my favorite travel hack for accommodations. There are multiple types of hostels, -ranging from ones with single rooms all the way to eight person rooms. You can also choose between all male, female, or mixed rooms! Sometimes a single room at a hostel can be cheaper than a hotel room nearby.

Many hostels are located right in the center of a city and are easy to get to via public transportation.

Hostels are a great way to meet other travelers and make new friends. Most of the time when you’re traveling you’re barely spending any time in your room which is why hostels can be a great way to travel on a budget. Again, make sure you carefully read the reviews and pick one that is near public transportation.

Hostelworld is a useful resource to find hostels all around the world and read past testimonials. When I was in college I just went for the cheapest ones, but now I would prioritize safety and convenience over price!

Airbnb & VRBO

I’m sure you’ve heard of Airbnb and VRBO by now. These help you rent someone’s home which can save you tons of money because they tend to have kitchens. If you’re traveling with a large group of people they tend to be cheaper than hotels.

Hotels

You can find cheap hotel deals on Kayak (mentioned earlier for flights) or Trivago. Cross reference each hotel booking site to ensure you get the best deal. These tend to be the most costly out of the other housing options but there are ways to access good deals!

I hope these travel hacks help you plan your next trip without breaking the bank! Please comment below if you have any questions and share this with your travel buddy!