Cheap Travel Trips I just learned that my Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon in Seattle was moved to June 2022. To accommodate runners that I cannot make it during that time (me!) they are allowing us to transfer our bib to any Rock n’ Roll race, which is amazing! After looking at the list, the family decided we are either going to shoot for D.C. in November or Phoenix in January. Thus, planning for a trip begins!
Step 1: Flight
My first step to planning a trip is check-out how much airfare is going to cost. I will head over to Google Flights and see what the damage is. I really try to be flexible in my travel dates, however when I am running or race or working with school schedules I can’t modify my time.
If tickets are more than $200 per person for a domestic flight, I will switch on the “Track Prices” toggle and wait on purchasing. However, it helps me keep my budget in mind.
I will also check out the price graph to see what is the lowest I can expect a ticket to be. According to this graph, tickets will be around $236 if I time it correctly. This amount is roughly $30 more than my budget, so I will need to cut back on accommodations.
Step 2: Getting from the Airport
The other item I put into my budget is how we will get from the airport to the hotel/city. We are huge fans of public transportation. Trains and buses to get from airport to hotel are huge budget savers. An Uber or Lyft averages between $30-$50 due to airport uncharges. Pre-covid split the ride helped defray this while traveling as a pair.
A quick Google search tells me that Phoenix offers a Metro Rail from the airport and even to Tempe where the race is for $2/pp. Score! This means we don’t have to rent a car nor take a ride share service. This means we can stay anywhere in the city with a great deal.
If the city you are visiting as a light rail, train or bus system, check out day passes. These can save even more money. Be prepared that travel time could be double, but it always offers a way to see the city and not have to worry about parking. Plus, hotels usually charge overnight parking costs, which you won’t have to pay if you utilize public transportation.
Step 3: Accommodations
The first thing we do is determine the cost that we want to spend on a trip. We have a golden family rule that we don’t spend more than $200 on a domestic flight per person. We shoot for $400 international. Yes, this is completely possible. For accommodations, I never stay anywhere over $150 a night. This may seem like an investment to some, but if you read about my finding cheap hotels tips you will realize that this number is just the starting point of my trip “negotiations”.
If I can’t find an affordable hotel through my regular sites, then I turned to airbnb. airbnb is fantastic when traveling with kids. In most cases, everyone gets their own bed or sometimes room. This makes for very happy kiddos. Now, not all places are the same. Definitely read all the reviews and feedback. We have stayed in amazing places and dumps.
I will caution that since COVID airbnb costs have skyrocketed. There are still deals out there, however they can be hard to come by. The cleaning fees have become astronomical. You can always split your stay between an airbnb and a hotel.
Trip Planning Tips
I hope these trip planning tips helps you score a great deal for your next great adventure. What process do you do when you need to start planning a trip? Sound off in the comments below!
