I’ve gone on weeklong cruises for under $1000. I’ve scored cheap flights to Paris, Lisbon, and Morocco — all without a points card or a travel agent. I’m not a travel hacker. I’m not a finance guru. I’m just someone who refuses to pay more than she has to, and has figured out a few things along the way.
Here’s exactly how I do it.
I am FLEXIBLE (I can’t stress this enough)
About when. About where. About everything.
Flights are usually the most expensive part of a trip, so that’s usually where I start. I’m constantly using the ‘Explore’ feature on Google Flights to scope out cheap flights to anywhere in the world. I’ll plug in a couple departure airports near me, leave the ‘to’ field blank, select a 7 week trip in the next 6 months, and see what I see.
Now let’s be clear—I find deals way more often than I book them. I simply don’t have the PTO or the funds to act on all deals found. So instead, I know I usually like to travel in winter, spring and fall every year, and have a list of places I’d want to go to if a deal comes up. When I see something that lines up that timeline and location, I book it! In the last few years I’ve capitalized on cheap flights to Paris, Lisbon, and Morocco.
That being said, it’s also important to do your research on the other expenses associated with travel. If I find a cheap flight somewhere, I then take a deeper look at related spending, like accommodations (which are usually the second biggest expense), as well as activities, which can quickly add up depending on your destination and plans. For example, I’ve been seeing a lot of cheap flights to Hawaii lately, but after digging further, the overall price of staying there outweighs the savings on airfare, so it’s been a pass for me for now.
We’re also avid cruisers, and I’d say I check on the 90 Day Ticker website on average once every couple weeks. It’s the reason I booked a cruise out of NYC last fall, and one from Los Angeles this winter. Neither of those were in my travel plans for the year, but the timing worked out and the deals were just too good to pass up. If you really want a deal on a cruise, you’ll find it there! You just need to be flexible and open to various cruise lines and itineraries.
I look for the cheapest flights. Period.
My bestie? Google Flights. It’s the first place I go when I even think about traveling—and it’s also why I don’t stay loyal to any one airline or points system. While I’ve had some travel credit cards in the past—like WestJet for their yearly companion fare and RBC Avion for points—I’ve found it hard to really maximize the whole points game.
I don’t have a credit card tied to a specific airline, and I’m not collecting points to convert into travel dollars. I know there are savings to be had there, but for me, it adds a layer of complexity I don’t need.
Instead, I keep it simple and stay flexible. I don’t limit myself to one airline, which means I can jump on the best deal—no matter who it’s with. Sometimes that’s a budget airline, sometimes it’s a major carrier, but the goal is always the same: get there for less.
Airline loyalty can make sense if you travel frequently for work or stick to the same routes, but for the average traveler, it can actually box you in. The cheapest flight isn’t always with the airline you’re loyal to—and those savings can add up fast.
For me, going where the deals are will always win. That’s it.
I fly basic economy. Always.
Want to put me in the luggage hold? If it saves me money, I’d consider it! All kidding aside, the upcharge for anything beyond economy is just not worth it for me. Would I love one of those fancy lay down seats, or all that extra leg room? Obviously. But it’s not worth the upcharge for me when I travel multiple times a year. I’d rather travel more often, in a simple manner, than in style less often.
I never pay to pre-select airplane seats. Even with my kids in tow. That’s right, I take what I’m given. Near the back of the plane? OK. Last to board? Also ok. I always try to check in at the 24 hour mark so that if I can change my seat free of charge I have an opportunity to do so. But if I can’t, it’s always been my experience (at least so far!) that when you book together, you’re placed together on the plane for the most part. Even when flying with my kids, I trust that they’ll never be alone. The 3 of them have sat apart from my husband and I before (a few rows separating us), but I know my children, and they’re confident in the air and well behaved on flights. It has never been an issue. And worse case scenario, I’ll ask someone to switch with me… but only if it doesn’t inconvenience someone else (i.e. I’m not offering them a middle seat in exchange for their window seat). I am reasonable after all!
The only splurge I’ve ever considered is a paid seat on a red eye flight where I know I’m going to hit the ground running when I arrive and push through until local bedtime. And I’ll only consider this on airplanes where the seat pattern includes a 2-seater option for my husband and I (window for me, aisle for him). If it’s a 3-seat pattern, I don’t bother.
I consider airports just south of the border
Living in a border town in Eastern Ontario, I’m in a great spot to be able to consider flights from smaller regional airports south of me in the state of NY. For example, I’ve often flown from small airports in Plattsburg, Ogdensburg, Burlington and Syracuse when flying to other US destinations.
In fact, my family of 5 once flew to Florida for $611 CAD total ($122/ea). And that was roundtrip, and direct. Sometimes a little bit of an extra drive can generate some really great returns. And to be honest, those smaller airports are often way simpler to navigate, sometimes only having a few gates and cheap airport parking.
I rarely ever check a bag. Really!
Yup, I’ve become a carry on queen! I think it’s absolute highway robbery that airlines now charge for the pleasure of a bag. I never let an airline talk me into upgrading my basic fare so that I can bring a bag. They sell you on things you don’t need (ability to make changes, picking seats, earlier boarding) just to get you to upgrade. Do the math. Actually add it up for all the people in your party return-trip. Sometimes those upgrades are worth more than the actual fare.
So how do I travel carry-on every time, you ask? Well, all of the items in my carry-on bag and personal bag are carefully chosen for their function. I tend to gravitate towards certain colour schemes that all go together, or at least I try to pack that way. Every item needs to serve more than one purpose. Every bottom and top goes with more than one other item in my bag. I can go the distance in every pair of shoes I pack, and they match with lots of options. A few good pieces can go a long way! Also, if I’m gone for more than a week, I’ll often bring a laundry pod or two to do a sink load or take advantage of laundry amenities in Airbnbs (keep those Costco samples handy!!).
I actually embrace the challenge of packing carry-on now. My kids will remember the time we flew to Florida on a budget airline for 5 days of fun and theme parks in nothing but a small backpack (personal bag). They still talk about it to this day! It’s doable, I promise! Plus you don’t want to be dragging a giant suitcase up and down stairs everywhere you go, especially in Europe where cobblestone is common.
I take public transportation almost exclusively
No fancy taxi rides for this lady! If the city I’m travelling to has a subway system, you better believe I’ll be using it. Buses? Not afraid to hop on board. My kids have learned the ins and outs of travelling this way and have now gotten good at following signage and maps. And this gal has never shied away from a 30K step day. You get to see so much more this way!
Travel like the locals do and you’ll save a ton of money. Now I don’t magically know how to use every subway system in the world. I am a huge fan of the Citymapper app though, which I use religiously every time I travel. It’ll show you all of the transportation options available to you in each city for the route you need to travel (taxis, subways, buses, bikes/scooters, walking), including length of travel and approximate cost. I do my research ahead of time to know about how to pay fares, how to validate tickets, etc. And I’m not afraid of making mistakes or asking a local if I’m stumped. Get on a train going the wrong way? Oh well, get off at the next station and fix your mistake. Not the end of the world!
So while it happens every so often that I have to take a taxi somewhere, either because I’m pressed for time or travel at a time of day that I feel it’s not safe to take public transportation, I certainly don’t make a habit of it since it’s always the most expensive way to get around. The way I look at it, my time is usually free, so if a little bit of a longer route saves me a ton of cash, I’m picking that option each and every time (within reason).
I never pay for expensive roaming plans through my cellphone carrier
If staying connected is all you’re after, there are much cheaper options than paying your cell provider’s daily roaming fee. I use an app called Roamless, and it’s incredibly affordable in most countries around the world.
Unlike most eSIM providers (like Airalo or Nomad), which require you to buy a specific package for each country, Roamless uses a single global eSIM that stays on your phone indefinitely.
You simply add money to your wallet, and based on your location and the local rate per Gb, charges are deducted as you go—down to the Mb. Any unused balance stays in your account for your next trip.
It’s worth noting that this is data-only, meaning you won’t get an international phone number. If you need one, you can still use an eSIM from Airalo—it’s cheaper than most cell providers, but typically more expensive than Roamless.
Personally, data-only works perfectly for me. I use WhatsApp to communicate while abroad (it’s widely used internationally), along with Messenger or iMessage to stay connected.
If you want to try it, you can use my referral code 23PR6 to get an extra $5 in global credits when you add funds within 30 days. Even better—your credits never expire.
I’ve used it everywhere from Sahara desert to Portugal and Greece and it’s never let me down. And the price? My recent trip to Morocco cost me a whopping $9.17 in data. A two-week Mediterranean cruise through 6 different countries? $18.82. Don’t believe me — I’ve got the receipts.
At the end of the day, none of this is complicated—it just comes down to staying flexible, keeping things simple, and being willing to do things a little differently.
I’m not chasing luxury, points, or upgrades—I’m chasing experiences. And if saving money on flights, bags, and data means I get to travel more often, that’s a trade-off I’ll take every time.
Trip Savvier 
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