Travel on a Budget

Tips for Saving on Airport Parking

Airport parking is expensive and can range from $7 to $25 per day depending on where you live. In addition, a taxi ride to and from the airport can also be to expensive, especially if you live more than half an hour away from the airport. Instead, try using Book2Park.com, a website that provides options for parking at nearby hotels for cheaper (around $6 per day). Also, these hotels typically provide an free shuttle to and form the airport. Book2Park always offers coupon codes online (about $5), so don’t forget to do a quick online search for one before booking!

Easy Ways to Save on Flights

The best time to search for flights is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Ticket prices tend to drop the most on Wednesdays. Google Flights is a great option for finding the cheapest airline to fly. However, booking through Expedia.com with their “Bundle and Save” option really can save you hundreds of dollars. In addition, booking a flight through Expedia drops the price of a rental car to around $1 to $20 dollars a day. Even if you only book a hotel for one night through Expedia and stay in Air BnBs for the rest of your stay, the Expedia flight price will still drop dramatically. Just select for “I only need a hotel for part of my stay”. Washington Dulles, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy tend to be the cheapest airports to fly out of to the UK or Europe on the east coast.

Credit Card Shuffle

Wanna fly for free? There's dozens of travel credit cards available that will reward you points that can be used on travel expenses. All you have to do is spend a certain amount on the card within a specified amount of time (this usually just includes our bills, gas, and groceries). Most travel credit cards will provide 40,000 to 75,000 bonus points/miles for spending anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 within your first two to four months of owning the card. Points can be redeemed for $400 to $800 dollars in travel costs. Here's some of the best travel credit cards:

The current best offer we've ever seen involves our favorite card, the Chase Preferred Sapphire, that is offering 100,000 bonus points. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Learn more here:
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6b/TBJCNWV908

Chase Preferred Sapphire

Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
Earn 2x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Receive up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® fee

Annual Fee:

$0 first year, then $95

AMEX Platinum Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months of card membership.
Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with amextravel.com.
Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
Earn 1X point for each dollar of eligible purchases.

Annual Fee:

$550

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

Earn 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of card membership.
Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:

$75

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership.
3,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary*Same page link to Offer Details
Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
Earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:

$69

Cap. One Venture

Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
Earn unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Annual Fee:

Bank of America Premium Rewards

Earn 50,000 bonus points ($500 value) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 90 days of card membership.
Earn 2X points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:

$95

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Earn a $500 cash bonus when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months and earn $1,500 when you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase.

Annual Fee:

$0 first year, then $95

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership.
Earn 6,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary
Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
Earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:

$99

AMEX Gold Card

Earn 35,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months of card membership.
Earn 4X points at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year in purchases.
Earn 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Earn 1X point on other purchases

Annual Fee:

$250

Bank of America Travel Rewards

Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of card membership.
Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on purchases.

Annual Fee:

Discover It Miles

Earn double the miles in your existing account at the end of your first year. For example, 35,000 Miles turns into 70,000 Miles.
Earn unlimited 1.5 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.

Annual Fee:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of card membership.
Earn 3X points on travel and dinning.
Points are worth 50% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
$300 annual travel credit.
as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.

Annual Fee:

$450

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