Money-saving Tips

I am always on the lookout for deals. This post describes how I save money on flights, luggage, rental cars, parking, and food while traveling. What do you do to save money while traveling? Let me know!

FLIGHTS

Get familiar with the routes you are likely to fly and monitor them so you know when a price is a good one. Google Flights is the best website I've seen for this purpose. You can use it to search for flights while filtering by airline, number of stops, price, departure or arrival time, or connecting airport. You can track routes and be notified when a tracked price changes. If you're not sure when you want to travel, you can get a calendar with prices. If you're not sure where you want to travel, you can get a map of destinations with prices:

Exploring flights from Toronto using Google flights

Sign up to airline newsletters so you know when they add or modify routes. For example, this is how I found out that Air North added routes from Ottawa and Toronto to Yellowknife and Whitehorse.

Be aware of new airlines and the routes they fly. For example, the ultra low-cost carrier market is heating up in Canada; new airlines such as Lynx Air and Canada Jetlines have joined Flair and Swoop. Their low airfares pressure Air Canada and WestJet to lower prices on the same routes. Be aware that low-cost carriers make you pay extra for everything - from a carry-on bag to seat selection.

LUGGAGE

I have a credit card that includes one free checked bag on all West Jet flights. You can use ratehub.ca to search for the best credit card for your needs.

I love flying Air North for numerous reasons (most importantly, it takes you north!), but they also include two checked bags in their ticket prices. They also serve warm and yummy cookies.

RENTAL CARS

I constantly check rental car prices on Expedia because rates can vary greatly from week to week. When I find a good price that includes free cancellation, I book it but I keep checking the price. When I find a better price, I rebook and cancel my first reservation. This can save hundreds of dollars.

I book rental cars many months (sometimes over a year) in advance, often before I book flights. As long as you remember to cancel, it costs nothing to lock in at a low rate.

I rent small cars to save money on gas. I own a larger car because I like the space, but I can temporarily make do with a smaller one while traveling.

PARKING

When I fly out of Toronto, I get a coupon for Park 'N Fly.

FOOD

Bringing your own food saves tons of money. For example, when flying Air North (which includes two free checked bags), I include lots of Clif Bars in my checked luggage, which I buy cheaply when I'm at home.