Travel hacking 101: top tips to travel cheaper this year

So, I don’t know if you know this, but we’re pretty travel savvy… Not to brag, but we have this whole international travel down to an art form, so if you’re looking to hack your travel this year, then you’re in the right place.

You deserve to see the world and have unforgettable experiences without breaking the bank, so we’ve compiled some of our top travel hacking tips that’ll help you get the most bang for your buck. From embracing economy flights to obsessing over credit card points and loyalty programmes; start travel hacking today and become the hero your group chat needs.

What is travel hacking?

First things first, you may be asking yourself what even is travel hacking? Well, it’s the subtle art of making your dream vacations as budget friendly as possible by strategically earning and using points and air miles.

It’s all about the right booking days, comparing deals, reading reviews, and making the most of those credit card sign up bonuses and minimum spending requirements. And the best thing about travel hacking is that it’s the gift that keeps on giving: the more money you save, the more you can put towards another fabulous getaway.

Tedious? Sure. But if you don’t work, you don’t play – and trust us the play here is well worth it.

Travel hacking with credit card rewards

Set a goal

Before you start accruing points with airlines and hotels, you’ll need to set a goal for yourself.

Are you looking for cheaper flights so you and your friends can have an all-out vacation bash in Spain? Do you want to head out on some spectacular solo travel and get a free night at some luxurious hotel? Or are you just looking to explore the globe save while you do?

Think about your end goal and set it, otherwise all your travel hacking efforts may be futile. For example, if you’re wanting to get to dazzling Paris for a weekend of culture, make sure you’re collecting points with an airline that’ll actually take you there. 

Careful planning and research is going to be your absolute BEST friend through this!

Join loyalty programmes 

So first things first, you want to find the best rewards and frequent flyer programs for your purposes. Though to be honest, you should sign up to as many as you can since they’re free! What’s the harm? 

Pro tip: you should never stay at a hotel or book a flight without seeing if you can collect some points back! And when looking to book, go on a company’s website and socials to check if they have any kind of promotions ongoing. It pays to be nosy (see what I did there?).

Once you find an airline or hotel or travel company you like, keep booking with them. We love loyalty, and did you know that our past Contiki travellers get a 5% discount off their next trip? It’s true, check it out.

Make the most of travel credit cards

The absolute easiest way to boost your points is with some kind of travel rewards credit card scheme. Basically, once you sign up and get approved, you can earn a tonne of points just by spending your money as you normally would. That’s right! Rent, groceries, your commute, shopping sprees, all that won’t be going down the drain anymore.

After you meet the minimum spends requirement, the points will start raking in, and you can also take advantage of things like annual spending bonuses and category bonuses (all dependant on your credit card provider). Good credit can affect this, so wherever possible make sure to repay all your spends and carry no debt so your credit score will be the best it can be!

Sometimes you’ve got to spend money to save money.

Stack, stack, stack!

Some online store portals offer rewards as well when you purchase through them. An easy win is to make your purchases through these portals, and to pay with your credit card – that way you’re stacking the benefits and reaping what you sow twofold! 

Honestly, these hacks come naturally after you’ve been playing the game for a while.

Redeem your points and miles

So you’ve accumulated all these delicious perks, it’s time to cash them all in baby. This is what you’ve been working so hard towards. Maybe you’ve saved your money in no time, maybe it’s taken you a year or two – no matter, it’s time to celebrate! 

Nothing tastes quite as good as travel hacking success.

Other travel hacking tips

Take a chance on a package deal

Package holidays really are the best thing: flights, transport and accommodation all included into one neat fee, and you can add as many extras as you like. It’s a tailor made holiday without the hassle of planning everything yourself AND because it’s a package deal, you’re guaranteed to save some money. 

When you become an expert at travel hacking you’ll know how to spot a good deal. Look out for those destinations that take advantage of all the stops and that have itineraries specially curated for your kind of travel.

Speaking of planned holidays with immaculate itineraries, 0 hassle, and all the vibes… have you checked out Contiki lately? You want some glitz and glam in Milan? Book Italian Espresso. You want the familiar thrum of neon cities and good food? Book South Korean Soul. There’s something to match your mood anywhere you want to go.

Not sure where to go? We’ve got a fun little quiz you can take to help make up your mind! 

Know the best times for booking flights

You’ll have seen various viral videos going around about the best times to book your flights. It’s no joke! If you think about it, most people will be planning their travel on their days off, which for most of the population is the weekend. It follows then that prices would be at their highest on these days…

Word on the street is that many airline prices are at their cheapest on Tuesday evenings! Why Tuesdays? Who knows, but that’s the hot gossip and I’m just here to relay it to you. 

Pro Tip: When comparing flights, make sure you refresh your cache to get rid of some of your cookies. Returning to an airline’s website often can result in slightly higher prices as well.

Travel off-season

Listen, travel during the summer is obviously great, but have you considered travelling in the off-season? There are fewer crowds, you can actually see the attractions you’ve paid to see, the kids are all back in school, and best of all, everything is cheaper!

Want to read all about the perks of off-season travel and some beautiful destinations for it? We’ve got you covered. But the main takeaway is that you can see more of the world in all its glory, while you save money! From skiing down slopes in Austria and Canada, to catching the cherry blossoms in Japan, off-season is honestly where it’s at.

Thus concludes our ultimate travel hacking guide to turn you into the best international globetrotter you can be. Now go forth, savvy traveller, and live your best life, and don’t forget to send us pics!