Traveling the country or globe can be one of the greatest adventures in a lifetime, but there is nothing worse than unexpected expenses on a trip.

“Let’s face it – traveling can be expensive,” said Amy Moreno, senior travel manager for AAA Arizona. “One of the great things about the travel industry is we are always looking for ways to save you some time and money without skimping on the experience.”

We spoke with senior-level travel experts to get the scoop on a few things to help you save money while you vacation:

• Stay hydrated without draining your wallet

Depending on which part of the country (or world) you are visiting, you may be forced to pay for bottled water that is ridiculously overpriced. Plan for this ahead of time and always bring an empty water bottle through the security checkpoint.

Cost: $2 - 4 per bottlePotential savings: Bonus savings, keep the bottle during your trip. Example: 7-day trip X 2 bottles per day = 14 water bottles at $3 per bottle = $42 savings

• Keep valuables safe.

A money belt, neck wallet, backpack or purse with RFID blocking and anti-theft straps can help keep your money, credit cards and passport safe. Losing your cash, credit cards or passport will cost you time and money, so plan ahead and keep your valuables secure while you travel.

Cost: $12.99 AAA member price for the neck walletPotential savings: A lost or stolen passport can cost you $110-$135 plus expedited fees, and will also cause a lot of headache and stress while you’re trying to enjoy your trip abroad. Losing cash is never fun, especially if you have limited funds to replace it. Getting new credit cards is slightly easier, once reported to your bank they will expedite another card to you and your responsibility for unauthorized charges should be limited, but this still causes unneeded stress and extra work.

• Know your weight.

Before you go, invest in a travel scale and keep your bags under the weight limit to save airline fees. 

Cost: $7.99-$18.99AAA member pricePotential savings: Charges for overweight bags can add $25-200 per one-way trip. Scales are not all calibrated exactly the same so be sure to stay a couple of pounds below the weight requirement to account for the difference.

• Travel with backup.

When you are traveling, especially when it is abroad, consider purchasing travel insurance. Medical insurance most likely will not cover you when traveling outside of the United States. In some countries, you will need to pay out of pocket before you can receive care, so having travel insurance that pays hospitals directly is important.Cost: Travel insurance costs depend on the cost of the trip, what you are insuring and your age.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to consider if free trip cancellation or itinerary change is included with the medical insurance, or if it needs to be purchased separate.

Potential savings: Priceless, if you need it. Policy pricing is based on age and the amount that will be insured (medical and trip cancellation).  The cost will also vary based on the amount of trip cancellation coverage and the type of trip cancellation protection.

• Leave dirty laundry behind.

Packing light? Plan on bringing travel laundry detergent sheets, which will help you save on expensive laundry fees in hotels or on ships.

Cost: $4.99 AAA member pricePotential savings: On cruise ships or in hotels you will pay per piece of laundry $1.25-$6 per item. Example: 7-day trip X 5 pieces of clothes = 2 washes at $3 per item = $20 savings

• Find my stuff.

Bring a Homing Pin and attach it to your luggage, phone, iPad, wallet, camera, etc. This will help you quickly locate your item if you leave it somewhere or it is stolen.

Cost: $15.99-$24.99 AAA member pricePotential savings: Hundreds of dollars to replace your lost phone, iPad and camera. If you’re traveling domestically and have insurance, you can get them replaced at the nearest store where you have your plan. Internationally – you will end up needing to buy something locally or do without it while you travel, which means no selfies, no Facebook, no Instagram, no pictures.

 

By: Kelly Potts

 

Photo via instagram.com/allievandy