How to Afford an International Trip (Without Travel Hacking or Points)

If your dream international vacation has always seemed unaffordable, just hear me out. You may be surprised at how many simple ways there are to save hundreds, even thousands of dollars!

There are plenty of admirable travel experts out there sharing complicated credit card strategies and points systems, but that isn’t what this guide is about. Think of this as a simple and practical starting point.

I will share 7 realistic ways to stretch your travel budget. Hopefully, I can convince you that traveling abroad may be more attainable than you think!

1. Book a Vacation Rental Instead of a Hotel

This one is a big money-saving strategy, especially for families.

Hotels are convenient but are often more expensive in tourist areas than a rental house or apartment. A vacation rental such as Airbnb or Vrbo typically gives you more space than cramming into one hotel room.

Additionally, vacation rentals commonly offer features such as a kitchen (we will talk more about groceries in a minute) and a laundry room to help save even more money.

If parking for a rental car is included, you have now saved money on expensive parking fees AND a headache! You see how this keeps adding up?

Aside from the cost savings, vacation rentals also tend to feel more immersive in local culture. Grocery shopping at the market, enjoying breakfast on a balcony, or winding down in a residential neighborhood truly lets you live more like a local.

2. Don’t Eat Every Meal at Restaurants

Dining out for every meal is a fast way to blow your vacation budget.

As someone who often plans travel around food, this tip can be hard to swallow (see what I did there?😉), but let’s talk through this one…

Let’s use Italy for example. A casual dinner out for a family of four in Italy costs $100 USD on average, with a fancy dinner being considerably more. Comparatively, a week of groceries for meals, snacks, and drinks averages $200 USD for that same family of four, depending on the location. Think about that–two meals at a restaurant could cost the same as one week of groceries.

Now all of this doesn’t mean you have to skip restaurants entirely.

Instead, consider cooking breakfast most mornings, packing a picnic lunch for sightseeing days, and making dinner a few nights during your trip. Then, when you choose to eat at that amazing waterfront or Colosseum-facing restaurant, it feels extra special.

Even if we don’t plan on cooking, my family and I love exploring local markets. It really is a fun cultural experience, and it costs nothing to browse!

3. Be Flexible When Planning

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of international travel, it’s that flexibility almost always saves money.

If you’re set on one dream destination, be flexible with your travel dates. If you’re set on specific travel dates, be flexible with your destination. Browse booking sites like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Orbitz for deals.

Let’s say you are dead set on visiting Italy’s Amalfi Coast, for example. You will need to be willing to travel outside of the typical summer vacation months of June-August to save money and avoid crowds.

Traveling during the shoulder season can save a significant amount of money while also avoiding crowds in any destination.

Furthermore, if your vacation dates are fixed but your destination isn’t, let airfare guide your decision. I will talk more about this shortly.

4. Don’t Overload the Itinerary

I love seeing as much as possible when I travel, so I’m definitely not here to tell you to only visit ONE destination.

However, we are talking about saving money here, and it helps to break down and compare costs for the entire trip.

Consider choosing one affordable destination (or your biggest bucket-list destination) as your home base. You can take day trips by train, ferry, or bus to nearby cities, towns, or even another country.

For example, if you’re staying in St. Martin, you can easily hop a ferry over to the swanky island of St. Barth’s without packing and unpacking your suitcase. If you’re staying in Brussels, you can hop a cheap train ride to Paris in less than 2 hours.

Depending on your destination, county-hopping could cost the same as staying in one place. The key is simply to compare all options before booking.

5. Skip the Checked Bag (You CAN Do It!)

I know this one is hard. Trust me, I’m a “just-in-case” multiple-outfit kind of girl, and we almost never check a bag. If I can do it, anyone can!

You may save money by avoiding checked baggage fees. You will also save time by not having to drop off and wait for checked bags. Overall, you’ll just make your trip so much easier.

Dragging a giant suitcase across cobblestone streets, up hundreds of tiny stairs, or having to lift it overhead a dozen times is no bueno on a leisurely trip.

You’ll likely board trains, ferries, buses, and smaller regional airlines where luggage space is much more limited than many of us Americans are used to.

Too much luggage in your group may require a larger, more expensive taxi or rideshare. Many foreign airlines charge for oversized bags, even if they meet U.S. airline size limits. Don’t ever assume baggage limits are the same worldwide.

If you book a vacation rental with a washer and dryer (or even access to laundry), you can simply wash a few outfits and wear them again. I’d much rather do one load of laundry than wrestle a 50-pound suitcase across the world.

If you need to check luggage or get free checked bags, consider sharing one large suitcase with your family and allowing individuals to have their own carry-on and/or personal item.

6. Consider Joining a Travel Group

One common reason some people never take their dream trip is because they are waiting for someone else to go with them.

Not only is it lonely or a little scary, but it can be way more expensive than splitting accommodations with others.

Have you considered connecting with other travelers online? It sounds intimidating at first, but there are well established websites for finding small travel groups such as JoinMyTrip.

This way, you don’t have to plan and travel alone. Sharing costs like vacation rentals or transportation can make international travel much more accessible.

Of course, always take safety precautions when meeting people online, but don’t be afraid. Just be smart, do research, and never underestimate the power of finding a community of people to share life with.

7. Let Cheap Airfare Help Guide Your Trip

Airfare is often the biggest expense of an international vacation, which means it’s also where you have the greatest opportunity to save.

One of my favorite tools is Google Flights because it compares airlines that many booking websites don’t show. It makes comparing dates and prices so easy.

If your schedule allows, use the flexible date calendar. You can set your destination to “anywhere” to search broadly and see where the best deals take you.

Be sure to check out my detailed guide about airfare savings if it is your biggest concern when budgeting your vacations.

Final Thoughts

International travel doesn’t have to be exclusive to the rich and famous. With a little flexibility and a few strategic planning decisions, it’s often much more affordable than you think.

I hope this guide gives you the confidence to start planning that dream trip you’ve been putting off, because everyone deserves to see the world!

As always, thank you so much for trusting me as one of your travel resources. If you have any questions at all, please leave them in the comments below—I’m always glad to help.

Happy travels!

-Amanda K. 🩷