Cash Me If You Can: The Savvy Girl’s Guide to Wallet Smart Travel

In need of a fabulous vacay? These tips will help you stretch your coins and get more out of your next getaway.

Looking for a luxe vacation on a budget? Maybe you’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and become a digital nomad. The biggest obstacle to turning your travel dreams into a reality is a spending plan.

If you’re looking for ways to maximize your travel funds – or stay on the road as long as possible – read on. These tips will help you stretch your coins and get more out of your getaway.

Shop the deal, not the destination.

Most of us, when deciding on a vacation destination, start by narrowing down the list of places we’d like to visit. Once we’ve settled on a locale, we then search for flights, hotels, activities, and tours.

If you want your dollars to take your further in our big, wide world, try doing the opposite. Start by searching for deals anywhere.

Be open to locations you might not have considered for a getaway. Most travel sites like Google Flights and Momondo now have the option to “Explore Anywhere” by date.

There are tons of interesting destinations to explore – from major tourist hubs to off-the-beaten-path hidden gems. Choose a destination by cost to value and watch your travel fund take you further.

Grab a great travel credit card.

Before you hit the road, grab a credit card that will protect you as you travel and reward you for your purchases. Cards like the American Express Platinum card and the Chase Sapphire line – both Preferred and Reserve – offer great rewards points rates and the ability to transfer points to hotels and airlines.

Add their purchase protection policies, travel insurance, and lack of foreign transaction fees, and they’ll prove to be useful tools in your travel arsenal.

Make airport navigation a breeze.

If you’ve ever been through a busy airport, you know how important it is to be efficient and minimize stress.

Today, there are tons of modern programs designed to help you navigate security and arrive at your gate worry-free. If you haven’t applied for TSA PreCheck, this is your sign. Having a Known Traveler Number is a strong value-add for any girl on the go.

You’ll enter security through a dedicated lane where wait times are often significantly shorter than the general security lines. Better still, there’s no requirement to remove your shoes or electronics. The $85 fee gives you access for five years, and many top-tier credit cards now cover the cost.

Traveler Pro-tip: If you travel internationally, apply for the Global Entry program instead of TSA PreCheck. Global Entry gives you access to a dedicated re-entry lane when returning from any trip abroad and includes TSA PreCheck. The application fee is $100, and approval also lasts for five years.

Add a little luxe with lounge access.

Have you ever felt like you needed a vacation after your vacation? It’s no surprise – travel can be stressful, and long days spent in terminals surrounded by strangers can be daunting. That’s where lounge access comes in.

Once thought to only be accessible to the business class traveler or the wealthy, lounges have become far more popular in recent years. Partnerships between major airlines and high-end credit card merchants have made the lounge experience more egalitarian than ever.

If you’re looking to relax away from the crowds in the main terminal, a lounge visit may be ideal. Most offer a reasonable food spread, beverage options and more comfortable seating than the main public areas. Some add on rest areas, massages, showers, and other specialty amenities.

Ready to luxuriate in the lounge before your next flight? Check your credit cards to see if you have complimentary Priority Pass membership.

It will give you access to hundreds of lounges around the world. If not, the American Express Platinum card offers Priority Pass and access to its global network of Centurion Lounges.

If membership isn’t available through a credit card, check your ticket type. Many business-class or above tickets include complimentary lounge access.

Some airline lounges also offer day passes for purchase. Be sure to check online for availability before arrival.

However you choose to access a lounge, your trip is bound to a bit more comfy because of it.

Pre-purchase airport transport.

While we recommend experiencing local public transport in the cities you visit, trying to grab a bus after a flight is not the time to do it. Public transport to and from an airport can be challenging – especially if you don’t speak the language.

Put your mind at ease by pre-arranging your airport to hotel transfer. If your accommodations offer an airport shuttle, take advantage.

Otherwise, research transfer options and book prior to arriving. If you make your hotel reservations through a 3rd party booking provider, you’ll often be offered a transfer deal on the confirmation page. Keep an eye out for it.

Become elite (with your favorite hotels).

An easy way to enjoy luxe perks on your next trip is to achieve elite status with your favorite hotel group. Every program is free to join, and you receive credit toward elite status with every affiliated hotel stay.

Why Elite Status Matters

Becoming an elite guest of your favorite hotel group gives you access to additional amenities and features not usually offered to the average guest. Status can give you early/late checkout, complimentary breakfast or dining credit, club level access, bonus points toward free future stays and much more.

If you’re not signed up with all the hotels you regularly visit, do it today. Right now.

You deserve the most bang for your buck when planning a vacation.

In a world where prices seem to be increasing by the day, the luxury of travel may feel out of reach. It doesn’t have to be. If you implement a few of these tips, your travel dollars will take you further.

GO! There’s nothing -including money – stopping you.

Looking for tips on solo travel? Check out Bankable for more.