3 Ways I Stay Under Budget When I Travel

Years ago when I was still working in an office, a coworker joined me in the lunchroom. I was using my break to plan an upcoming trip and had a big Eurail map spread out in front of me. We got to talking, and she asked me, somewhat incredulously, "How are you able to save up for vacations?"

At the time, I didn't have a very good answer for her other than...I simply love traveling. I'm not a big shopper, I cook a lot at home, and I don't go to many concerts or shows. All that makes it easier for me to prioritize saving for travel. If she asked me now, though, I'd have a few more concrete tips to share about how I make my trips as affordable as possible.

1. I use my United MileagePlus Explorer card to enjoy travel perks

For most of my adult life, my nearest airport has been a United Airlines hub, meaning there are lots of flight options on that airline. Since I'm able to take a lot of United flights, I signed up for the United℠ Explorer Card to take advantage of the benefits.

Using this card provides me and one companion with priority boarding and a free checked bag each on every flight. So if my husband and I each have a bag to check, we save $140 roundtrip just by paying for the flight with my card. I also receive two United Club one-time passes each year, which United values at over $100. That means I can access free food and beverages on those travel days.

My United℠ Explorer Card also covers the fee to apply for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, up to $100. This benefit has saved me a ton of time in my travels as well as money, and I'll definitely be re-upping my membership (for free!) every time it comes due.

2. I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred card to earn and redeem points

I've already written about my experience signing up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. (Now that I think of it, I've written about referring my parents for the card, too.) Suffice it to say, I've found it to be a great all-around travel credit card and I use it for most of my travel spending.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns generous points on hotel reservations, flights, and even dining out. And I can redeem those points in Chase's travel portal for 25% more value than booking elsewhere, which only adds to my savings. Earlier this summer, I looked up how many points I'd redeemed over the past year, and it totaled a savings of nearly $300.

The card also has a $0 foreign transaction fee, so when I'm spending money on a trip, I'm also earning points, fee-free, to apply to my next trip. Twofer!

3. I plan much of my itinerary ahead of time

There are those who enjoy picking a destination and letting the rest of the details come together as they go. I'm not one of those people. But what I lack in spontaneity, I make up for in money saved. Here are a few of the things I plan before I leave home to make my trips smoother and less costly.

• I compare the prices of different travel dates to find the most affordable flight that still works for my schedule.
• I research places to eat to avoid last-minute hangry decisions and tourist traps that end in higher food bills.
• If I'm staying somewhere with a kitchen, I'll find local grocery stores and markets where I can pick up a few staples for simple meals so I don't have to dine out three times a day.
• I factor in rest time -- whether at the hotel or home rental, in a local park, or at an interesting public space -- to avoid burning out and overspending on activities.

Catch a flight, hit the road

Traveling is a joy, and I feel lucky to be able to do so much of it. But there's still so much of the world to see, so it's important to me to spend wisely on my vacations so I can enjoy even more of them in the future.

Whether you're a jetsetter or a roadtripper, see if there are ways you can make your travels more affordable. You could look into getting an airline credit card with a carrier you fly with often, or a general travel credit card to reward a broader range of your spending. And keep your personal finances in mind while you're planning your trips so you can go out and embrace them worry-free.