These Simple Travel Tricks Saved Me £1,000 And They Still Works in 2025

Here’s the deal: the travel hacks mentioned in the article saved me over £1,000 last year without sacrificing any of the fun or comfort. I’m talking about full meals, comfy stays, and all the activities you want to experience—no need to crash in an airport or eat nothing but instant noodles. Sounds too good to be true? Trust me, it’s not. If you travel even semi-regularly, this simple shift in how you book and plan could make a huge difference to your wallet. By making one small change in my approach to booking, I managed to save big, and the best part is, you can do it too. Forget all the myths about cutting back on fun or scrimping on your trip—this hack lets you have your cake and eat it too. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone who just loves to get away once in a while, this trick can add up over time. Let’s dive into the details of how you can use this travel hack to stretch your travel budget further and experience even more of what the world has to offer without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Use Flight Alerts (Not Just Comparison Sites)

We all know the drill—Skyscanner and Google Flights are the go-to comparison sites for booking flights. But here’s the kicker: they only show you what’s available in real-time. While that’s helpful, it doesn’t give you the full picture. That’s when I discovered a game-changing trick—setting up price alerts with tools like Hopper and Kayak. These sites don’t just show you current prices; they predict when fares will drop and send you notifications when it’s the perfect time to book.

Let me tell you, this made a huge difference. By using these alerts, I saved a whopping £200 on a round-trip to Thailand. How? I simply waited for the alert to notify me of a price drop at the optimal booking time. It might sound too simple, but the results speak for themselves. Instead of booking the moment I saw a flight I liked, I waited for that sweet spot when prices were at their lowest. If you’re serious about saving on flights, this is a trick you absolutely need to try. It’s all about booking smarter, not faster.

Step 2: Book One-Way Flights Separately

Booking round-trip flights is convenient, but it’s not always the cheapest option. A few years ago, I decided to ditch the round-trip route and start booking two one-way flights instead, even if that meant flying with different airlines. What I found was eye-opening: mixing and matching flights gave me far more flexibility with schedules and often led to significant savings. By doing this, I saved over £400 last year alone. It’s not just about being clever with the airline choices; it’s about optimizing your travel dates and times, too. Flexibility in your travel plans allows you to hunt down the best deals, even if it means a few extra hours of travel or slightly changing your departure time.

The beauty of this method is that you can break free from the rigid constraints of a round-trip ticket. I’ve been able to take advantage of cheaper flights on the outbound leg and then snag an affordable return with another airline, all while fitting it around my schedule. With this approach, I wasn’t sacrificing convenience or comfort; I simply tweaked my strategy and saw my savings grow. So, next time you’re booking flights, consider one-way tickets—this small change could make a huge difference to your travel budget.

Step 3: Travel With Only a Carry-On

This one’s seriously underrated. I used to pay anywhere from £25 to £60 per leg just for checked baggage, which really adds up if you're travelling often. After a while, I realised I could cut out that expense completely by switching to a good quality backpack and using compression packing cubes. It took a bit of trial and error to figure out what I actually needed versus what I thought I needed, but once I cracked the code, I was hooked. Over the course of a year, I saved more than £250 just by ditching checked luggage—and I didn’t miss it one bit.

The perks go beyond saving money, too. Travelling light means I breeze through the airport without wasting time at the check-in desk or waiting around at the baggage carousel. I’m out of the airport and on my way while everyone else is still staring at the conveyor belt. Plus, with less to carry, there’s less stress and way more flexibility. Whether it's hopping on public transport or squeezing everything into a hostel locker, the benefits are massive. If you haven’t tried travelling carry-on only yet, give it a go—you’ll wonder why you ever did it any other way.

Step 4: Avoid Airport ATMs and Exchange Desks

Airport ATMs and currency exchange counters are some of the worst places to get your travel money sorted. They’re known for inflated rates, hidden fees, and poor conversion deals that chip away at your budget before your trip even begins. I used to fall into that trap—convenience over value—until I realised how much it was costing me. Now, I’ve switched to using travel-friendly bank accounts, and the difference has been massive. I personally use Wise and Monzo, both of which offer near-perfect exchange rates and zero foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for travel abroad.

By ditching airport exchanges and dodgy currency kiosks, I’ve easily saved over £100—possibly more—just by using smarter banking options. It’s not just about the money saved either; the convenience of managing everything through an app, getting instant notifications, and being able to freeze your card if needed adds serious peace of mind. Plus, withdrawing cash abroad becomes way less stressful when you know you're not being fleeced on every transaction. If you travel even just a couple of times a year, opening a travel-friendly account is a no-brainer. It’s one of those small switches that ends up making a big long-term difference.

Step 5: Stay in Places With Free Breakfast and Kitchen Access

Choosing accommodation with a kitchenette and free breakfast has been a game-changer for saving money while travelling. It’s not about missing out on great food experiences—I still treat myself to nice dinners—but I’m no longer eating out three times a day. Starting the morning with a hotel breakfast or quickly whipping up oats or eggs in my room means I’m already saving without much effort. Having access to basic cooking facilities also makes it easy to throw together simple lunches or dinners with fresh, local ingredients.

Over several trips, this shift has saved me well over £300, and honestly, it’s made travel more enjoyable. Shopping at local markets gives you a taste of the culture, and it’s fun picking out ingredients you wouldn’t normally find back home. It also gives you more control over your diet, which is a bonus if you're travelling for longer stretches or trying to stay healthy. You don’t need to be a master chef—just a bit of planning goes a long way. If you’re travelling on a budget but still want to eat well and experience local flavours, choosing accommodation with a kitchenette is one of the smartest moves you can make.

Step 6: Use Public Transport Over Taxis

Grab and Uber can be super cheap in some countries, but nothing beats the price—or the experience—of local transport. I used to automatically book taxis for convenience, but I’ve since made a habit of learning how to navigate local buses, metros, and shared rides like songthaews in Thailand or jeepneys in the Philippines. A 10-baht ride or a 50p metro trip might take a few minutes longer, but it costs a fraction of the price and often ends up being way more interesting than sitting in the back of a car.

Since making the switch, I’ve saved a surprising amount—probably hundreds over multiple trips. More importantly, it’s added a whole new layer to my travels. You get to see how locals actually move through their cities, strike up conversations you wouldn’t have had otherwise, and stumble into unexpected moments—like sharing laughs with strangers in a packed jeepney or bartering for a tuk-tuk in Chiang Mai. It makes travel feel more immersive and authentic. Once you get the hang of it, local transport stops feeling like a hassle and starts becoming part of the adventure. It’s cheaper, more fun, and lets you connect with a place in a much deeper way.

Step 7: Book Activities Locally, Not Online

I used to book all my excursions in advance, thinking it would save me time and stress—but more often than not, I ended up paying inflated prices with hidden middleman fees. These pre-booked tours usually came with rigid schedules and big groups, which sometimes took the fun out of it. Now, I’ve completely flipped my approach. I wait until I arrive, then ask around at hostels, browse local tour shops, or even chat with tuk-tuk drivers. It’s a more flexible way to travel, and it almost always leads to better deals.

This change has saved me a lot of money—sometimes cutting the price of an activity in half. I’ve also stumbled upon some incredible private experiences for less than the cost of a typical group tour. Whether it’s a last-minute snorkelling trip, a jungle trek, or a cultural tour, booking locally gives you more control, more options, and often a more authentic experience. Plus, locals usually know the best spots and can tailor things to your interests. Waiting until you’re on the ground might feel risky at first, but it’s been one of the smartest—and most rewarding—travel hacks I’ve learned.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about being cheap—it’s about spending smarter so you can travel longer or plan your next trip sooner. Travel doesn’t have to drain your bank account, and with a few thoughtful changes, you can save big without missing out on the experiences that matter. These seven simple strategies helped me save over £1,000 on travel last year alone, and I didn’t have to sacrifice comfort or fun to make it happen.

By being more intentional—like skipping checked baggage, using local transport, and booking tours once I arrive—I found ways to cut costs while making my trips even more enjoyable. These aren’t extreme cutbacks; they’re just smarter choices that make a big impact over time. If this post helped you or gave you a few ideas, give the blog a follow for more practical travel hacks, budget tips, and destination guides to help you travel better, for less.