How We Afford to Travel So Often (Without Being Rich)
People ask us all the time “How do you travel so often?”, and the honest answer is… we’re not rich, we’re just intentional.
Travel didn’t always look like this for us. There was a time when one trip a year (if that) felt like a big deal. And sometimes we would be able to squeeze in a short road trip to a cabin somewhere on a weekend. But now, travel is a regular part of our life, not because we suddenly make unlimited money (although raises and job changes has helped over time), but because we’ve learned how to prioritize experiences and be strategic with our spending.
So today I want to pull back the curtain and share exactly how we’re able to travel more often than we used to, and how you can apply these same ideas to save money on your travel. No gatekeeping, no unrealistic hacks. Just real-life choices that add up.
1. Using Credit Card Points to Travel More Often
This one deserves to be first, because it’s had the biggest impact.
We strategically use credit card points, specifically cards with a purchase eraser feature. Instead of chasing complicated airline programs, we earn points on everyday spending and then erase travel purchases after the fact.
That means:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Trains
- Tours
- Cruises
…can all be wiped out with points.
Important note: this only works if you’re paying cards off in full and not carrying balances. Points are never worth interest.
But when used responsibly? This alone has saved us thousands over the years. Accumulating and spending credit card points is a whole hobby in itself and could be multiple blog posts of info. But to be honest, I am still learning this strategy myself. Once I feel I have a handle on it, you better believe I will be sharing!
If you are curious about the specific credit card we use, feel free to check it out HERE:
2. Traveling in the Shoulder Season to Save Money
We love a good deal, but we love fewer crowds even more.
Whenever our schedules allow, we aim for shoulder season travel (the time just before or after peak season). Prices are lower, destinations feel less chaotic, and the experience is often better.
Examples:
- Europe in late spring or early fall
- Alaska in early or late summer
- Caribbean cruises outside major holidays or school breaks
Flexibility = savings.
I will say this also depends on the location. Sometimes you do want to experience a destination in its full glory (like seeing the tulips in Holland or experiencing the autumn colors in New England). So we try to strategically visit certain places in the shoulder season, depending on our interests in the destination.
3. Saving Money on Food While Traveling
Eating out for every meal adds up fast, especially on longer trips.
We usually:
- Book accommodations with a kitchen (or at least a mini fridge)
- Grocery shop when we arrive
- Eat breakfast and some dinners in
This isn’t about being restrictive. It’s about balance. We still splurge on local food and must-try restaurants, but we’re not paying restaurant prices three times a day.
Bonus: cooking occasionally makes trips feel more relaxed and less rushed.
4. Why Cruises Are One of the Best Budget-Friendly Travel Options
Cruises are one of the most underrated ways to stretch your travel budget.
When you break it down, your fare often includes:
- Accommodations
- Transportation between destinations
- Food
- Entertainment
- Some activities
When we want to visit multiple places without booking multiple hotels, trains, or flights, cruising just makes sense.
This is especially true for:
- Alaska
- Europe
- The Caribbean
5. Tracking Flights to Find Cheaper Airfare
We almost never book flights impulsively.
We track prices using tools like Google Flights so we can:
- See what’s “normal” for a route
- Get alerts when prices drop
- Avoid booking at the worst possible time
Sometimes waiting saves hundreds. Sometimes it just gives peace of mind.
Either way, information is power.
6. Travel Agent Discounts and Perks That Help Us Travel More
This is one most people don’t realize makes such a big difference. And yes, this is where being a travel advisor personally impacts how often we can travel.
As a travel agent, I have access to industry-only discounts and perks that simply aren’t available to the general public.
Some examples of how this shows up for me:
- Deeply discounted hotel rates, sometimes at or near wholesale pricing
- Reduced cruise fares, and in some cases cruises where we’re only paying taxes and fees
- Supplier appreciation perks like bottles of wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, or onboard credits
- Situations where booking myself as a client actually makes more sense, because the commission ends up offsetting the cost more than the agent rate
- Familiarization trips (FAMs) that allows me to experience destinations, ships, hotels, and tours at a fraction of the normal price
All of this adds up to significant savings, and it’s one of the big reasons travel feels more accessible for us now than it ever did before.
And while I absolutely pass discounts and perks on to my clients whenever possible, this behind-the-scenes access is one of the biggest personal benefits of being in the industry.
If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to work as a travel advisor, or why so many agents travel more than they ever did before, this is a big part of the answer. (You can learn more about that HERE)
7. Everyday Money Habits That Help Us Afford Travel
This part isn’t glamorous, but it matters.
We choose travel by making small, consistent choices at home:
- Eating out less
- Keeping subscription services to a minimum
- Avoiding lifestyle creep
- Driving practical cars
- Skipping the newest gadgets
We’re not anti-fun. We just don’t want our money tied up in things that don’t matter as much to us.
8. Keeping Debt Low to Travel More Often
Low debt = flexibility.
The less money that’s locked into payments, the more freedom we have to say yes to experiences.
This doesn’t mean perfection. It means intention.
9. Traveling Without Luxury to Afford More Trips
We’re not bougie, and that’s a very intentional choice.
When it comes to accommodations, we usually book solid mid-range hotels. When we fly, it’s almost always economy (although I try not to book basic economy or the lowest possible ticket, for reasons I’ll explain at another time). And if a destination is within about an 8-hour drive, we’ll usually road trip instead of flying (our Prius definitely helps in the gas-saving department).
That’s not to say you can’t ball on a budget, because you absolutely can. A lot of the strategies in this post (especially credit card points and agent perks) can get you into more luxurious experiences if that’s what you value.
For us, though, it comes down to priorities. We’d rather put our money toward the destination and the experiences than toward where we sleep or how fancy the transportation is.
It’s another reminder that traveling more often isn’t about doing everything at the highest level. It’s about choosing what matters most to you and spending intentionally there.
The Real Secret: Travel Is a Priority for Us
At the end of the day, this isn’t about hacks.
It’s about deciding that experiences matter more to us than stuff.
We say no to some things so we can say yes to:
- New countries
- New landscapes
- New memories
And if you want travel to be a bigger part of your life, you don’t have to copy our exact choices. You just have to decide what you’re willing to prioritize.
If you ever want help planning a trip that actually fits your budget and your travel style, that’s literally what I do.
If you have found ways to be able to travel more, I’d love to hear them. Let me know below!
Here’s to traveling more, intentionally.
