Summer Travel Tips from Our Friends at TravelPirates

I have a thirst for travel and I love experiencing different cultures. No two places are alike and watching the setting sun in any city gives me all sorts of feels. Sounds wonderful and expensive, right? But traveling doesn’t have to run up a massive bill. There are tricks, tips, and sustainable ways to pack your bags to explore your world every few months.

Whether it’s a 3 day weekend like a last minute Memorial Day trip or month-long adventure. For travelers who need to book something quick and on a budget, TravelPirates.com can be a huge help. Beyond their deals, they like to help inform and inspire travelers as well.

Calvin Iverson, travel expert at TravelPirates, gathered his top 7 tips on how to get the most mileage out of a three (or more) day weekend.

From saving money on your hotel to finding affordable activities to do while on vacation, here’s an inside look at it all ↓

1.    Be flexible with your dates. Most people travel by car for Memorial Day weekend, but if you’re looking to hit the skies, you should try being flexible with your departure and return dates. Departing or arriving a day or two earlier or later than Friday and Tuesday will usually guarantee you a better price.

2.    Hit the road and try glamping. Those of us driving instead of flying need not miss out on glamour this Memorial Day weekend. The deal hunters at TravelPirates have found various kinds of glamping accommodations (that’s glamorous camping, for those you out of the loop) across the country, from the Northeast to Texas, California and Hawaii. Rates can start for as low as $52 a night, making this a seriously affordable option.

3.    Book an Airbnb instead of a hotel. This tip is especially useful for those of us who like to travel with family or a group of friends this Memorial Day weekend. Booking a house on Airbnb with enough beds to fit your party is often more affordable than booking several hotel rooms, and the community atmosphere of staying together in one house is unbeatable for vacation memories. Pack some board games and plan to cook meals together in the house’s kitchen or outdoor grill.

4.    Plan meals beforehand. Whether you’re driving or flying, it’s no secret that dining out adds up quickly on any vacation. Depending on the kind of trip you’re looking to have, plan to cut back on costs by packing some food that will hold for the weekend, or do some research on affordable dining options in your destination beforehand – try using apps like OpenTable to alert you to special offers at local restaurants and UrbanSpoon to select options that fit within your budget.

5.    Stay with family (or friends). Planning to go to a city or town where you know someone? Ask ahead and see if you can stay in a spare room – chances are they’ll be more than happy to see you for the long weekend, and you’ll save big on accommodations.

6.    When you arrive, look for free activities. Download some apps before you hit the road. Apps such as Gravy, Like a Local, and Now will help you figure out what’s free, not free, and everything in between – you can even sort by category. Doing some quick research on apps before you start your day will not only help you save time, but will give you a financial road map of what your day could look like.

7.    Grocery shop before you go back home. No one likes returning home to an empty (or depressing) fridge, and the temptation to order food delivery after a long trip is real. If you took a car on your trip, stock up on some groceries before you head home to ensure that you won’t fall into a lazy spending trap.