If people ask me how I manage to travel as often as I do, they usually expect some complicated system or insider trick.
The truth is much simpler.
The biggest way I save money on travel is by staying flexible.
Flexible about when I travel.
Flexible about where I go.
And flexible enough to let the best deals guide the trip.
For most people, travel planning starts with a fixed idea:
“I want to go to this place, at this exact time.”
Unfortunately, that’s usually the most expensive way to plan a trip.
Over the years, I’ve learned that if you flip that approach around and let flexibility lead the way, you can travel far more often without blowing your budget.
Flexibility With When You Travel
One of the easiest ways to save money is to be flexible about your travel dates. Flights — and even accommodations — can vary dramatically depending on the day of the week or time of year.
For example:
- Flying midweek is often cheaper than weekends
- Avoiding major holidays can save hundreds of dollars
- Traveling in the shoulder season (just before or after peak season) can dramatically lower prices
Even shifting a trip by a few days can make a big difference.
Instead of choosing dates first and then searching for flights, I often do the opposite: I look at flight prices across a range of dates and plan around the ones that offer the best value.
It’s a small shift in thinking, but it can make a huge difference.
Flexibility With Where You Go
Flexibility with destination might be even more powerful.
Instead of starting with a specific place — like “We’re going to Italy this year” — I often start by asking a different question:
Where can we go for a great price right now?
Sometimes the answer surprises you.
A few years ago my husband and I travelled to Paris, London and Amsterdam in January simply based on a cheap $500 CAD flight I found. And spoiler alert — the whole trip was cheap, and amazing!
Looking Beyond the Obvious Destinations
Another benefit of flexibility is discovering places that aren’t at the peak of their popularity. Well-known destinations are popular for a reason — but they’re also often the most expensive.
Being open to less obvious destinations, smaller towns, or places that are just starting to gain attention can lead to incredible experiences at a fraction of the cost.
You often get:
- fewer crowds
- better prices
- a more relaxed experience overall
Sometimes the best travel moments happen in places that weren’t even on your radar when you first started planning. And if I’m being honest, it’s the question I probably get asked the most often. Where to next?
If You Take One Tip From This Blog
If there’s one piece of advice I would give anyone who wants to travel more without spending a fortune, it’s this:
Stay flexible.
Let prices guide your decisions.
Keep an open mind about where you go.
And be willing to shift your dates slightly if it means saving money.
You might be surprised where it takes you. And you might just find yourself traveling a lot more than you thought possible.
In future posts, I’ll share the tools and strategies I use to find these deals—and the amazing trips that come from them.
Trip Savvier 
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