There Are Plenty of Ways to Save Money on Travel — These Are Not Them

Saving miles for a dream trip used to be smart. Not now. Airlines are quietly devaluing programs: Avianca’s LifeMiles has increased the number of miles needed for award flights, Singapore Airlines is raising its mileage redemption rates 5-15% this fall, and United just axed its free “Excursionist Perk,” a stopover program that once allowed a free stopover on round-trip award tickets.

So if you’ve been saving up for a splurge trip, that stash you’ve been hoarding may be worth less when you decide to use it. Instead, treat miles like a currency with an expiration date before airlines devalue them. NerdWallet, a consumer finance program, also advises redeeming sooner, diversifying loyalty programs to stretch miles and money further.

That safari or boutique stay may already feel like a splurge, but skimping on insurance and relying solely on credit card coverage is riskier than ever. In 2025, wildfires shut down Europe’s trains, a United glitch stranded 1,000 flights, and cyberattacks scrambled European airports.

“Most cards only offer limited perks like trip delay or baggage coverage, not full protection for trip cancellations or emergency medical care,” shared Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip. “The biggest misconception is assuming credit cards provide the same level of coverage as a comprehensive travel insurance plan, when in reality, the benefits are often minimal and come with strict limits or exclusions.” Skipping proper coverage might save upfront, but one missed flight can snowball into forfeited tours and costly rebookings.

A Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy, according to Morrow, adds flexibility, letting you “receive a portion (generally 50-75%) of your pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs back for things like fear of travel, or simply changing their mind, which would not be covered under a standard travel insurance policy.”

Your transfer airport can make or break an “almost free” ticket. Routing through Warsaw or Helsinki often means lower fees and airport taxes than Frankfurt, Munich, or London, where surcharges can erase any savings.

“When you book with miles, you’re only replacing the fare portion with points; the taxes and carrier fees are still owed,” explained Tiffany Funk, co-founder of point.me. “In the U.S., these are minimal (a $5.60 security fee), but in Canada and some parts of Europe, airport improvement and departure taxes can add $25–$240 depending on the route, cabin, and carrier. European airlines also tend to have lower fares but higher surcharges, so the “almost free” seat booked with miles may cost more in cash.”

Think of cheaper transfer hubs as a bonus night’s stay at a hotel or an upgraded dinner. Use this tool to break down fees and surcharges to help you pre-plan before booking.

That $29-a-day compact rarely stays cheap. In Maui, taxes and fees add nearly 50% more to the base cost. Hertz and others now use AI scanners to flag every scuff, leaving some renters with surprise bills in the hundreds. Another gotcha? Crossing state lines can sometimes tack on nearly $30 a day.

Photograph the car inside and out before and after, and time-stamp it using an app like  Proofr. Aside from using a credit card with good rental car insurance coverage, Chip Lupo, writer and analyst at WalletHub, a personal finance website, advises reading the entire agreement before signing and asking questions about anything unclear, especially the total cost based on your itinerary prevent costly disputes later: “Be upfront about where you’re driving and who will be behind the wheel.”

On paper, Europe’s VAT refunds sound great: buy a Chanel bag in Paris, reclaim 20%. In practice, the payout is closer to 10-12% once refund firms take their cut. Add paperwork, long queues, and strict rules—use the item once and you forfeit the refund—and many shoppers leave empty-handed. Luxury brands also price with the refund in mind, dulling the deal.

Elite status isn’t the free upgrade machine it once was. Airlines and hotels are raising thresholds, cutting perks, and shrinking partner benefits. Forget suite upgrades and free breakfasts; these days, you may just receive a complimentary $8 bottle of water. If you’re booking pricier rooms just to rack up points, you might be overlooking better deals outside your “loyalty lane.”

Instead, treat loyalty as a tool, not a leash. Most hotel chains require anywhere from 5,000-90,000 points for a night’s stay, while awarding one point for every $10 spent; so that’ll be a $500 spend at the minimum for a free night.

A weak currency doesn’t guarantee savings. In Argentina, tourists wrestled with dual exchange rates and €3 ($3.52) espressos despite a plunging peso. In Japan, a soft yen drew record visitors, and hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto raised rates to match, neutralizing much of the currency “discount.” So what looks like a bargain can quickly turn into nickel-and-diming to save a few dollars.

What used to be shoulder season isn’t always a bargain anymore. Visa’s 2025 data shows Asia-Pacific’s growth reshaping demand: Tokyo’s fall lull now feels like peak summer; hotel prices in Sapporo have increased 53.3% compared to 2024; Bangkok’s hotel rooms have reached a record high; and Bali’s villas are booked months in advance.

Outbound bookings in Asia are up more than 30% this year. Beyond Asia, Gulf travelers pack Muscat and Abu Dhabi resorts on weekends, while Mexico’s coastal towns–once a shoulder-season bargain for Americans–are increasingly filled with high-spending regional travelers, driving up hotel and dining prices year-round.

In short, don’t count on the off-peak season to save you money. According to Zincasso’s Luxury Travel Report, 41% of travelers said high season now lasts longer than it used to. In many popular destinations, so-called “shoulder” rates are catching up to peak-season prices as demand stretches year-round.

A hop from Dubai to Muscat looks cheap on the map. In reality, Visa’s 2025 data shows affluent travelers now account for 55% of all cross-border trips in the Middle East and North Africa and 65% along routes between the Middle East and Europe, sending fares soaring for quick weekend getaways.

U.S. travelers know the feeling: inter-island getaways in Hawaii or Caribbean hops, once budget-friendly, now price like cross-country vacations. Don’t assume short-haul means cheap. In regions where wealthier travelers dominate weekend demand, short flights and nearby stays are priced into luxury territory.