If you like to vacation in style but you’re on a budget, you probably know that travel isn’t so cheap. The average cost of a vacation is $1,005 per person, or about $4,000 for a family of four, according to a 2015 survey by American Express.
Fortunately, travel upgrades can come at a great discount — or for free in some cases — when traveling. Here are the lesser-known tricks travel insiders use to upgrade vacations and still save money on all the vacation basics, including hotels, airfare, attractions, dining and more.
SEE ALSO: 5 things I did to save money on a month-long trip through Asia before I even left the US
1. Take advantage of hidden-city ticketing
Airline ticket prices aren’t based on distance traveled, but by market demand, said Jessica Festa, a travel blogger for Jessie on a Journey and the editor of Epicure & Culture, an online tourism and culture magazine.
“Your most direct flight won’t always be your cheapest option,” she said. “In fact, adding an extra leg to your itinerary that you won’t actually fly can save you tons of money.”
Festa said you can play around with what city leg combinations work best, or use Skiplagged.com, a website that does the work for you. “Just make sure to book two one-leg trips, instead of two round-trips, as once you don’t complete a section of your booking, the rest typically gets cancelled,” she said.
Potential savings: Save up to 80 percent on airfare using this method, according to Skiplagged.
2. Use free days and discounts for attractions
Many top attractions in cities are free or can be discounted, said Katie Lara, Forbes Travel Guide correspondent and travel blogger for Travelingpanties.com. “For example, there are plenty of free museums or at least days where fees are waived,” she said. “You just have to do your research in advance.”
In New York City, museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art suggest an amount to pay, but any amount can be paid for entry, even though it isn’t advertised, Lara said. Museums that offer this practice usually use wording such as a “suggested ticket price.”
“Most parks and outdoor attractions are free, and this is often where locals actually hang out,” Lara said. “Central Park, for instance, is the best place to hang in NYC, and it’s totally free.”
A student ID can also help snag discounts on attractions and possibly even free admission. “Even if you’re no longer a student, if it’s not expired, it will work,” she said. “Some museums also offer teacher discounts so bring your I.D.”
Potential savings: The Met’s suggested ticket price for adult general admission is $25 per person. Offer to pay $20 at the door and save $5 per ticket.
3. Upgrade to first class at the last minute
Consider a same-day travel upgrade on airfare, and fly first class for as little as $50 more. Buddy up with check-in agents at the airport and see if you can get an low-fee upgrade on your ticket at the time of check-in. Also, ask for a travel upgrade on any connecting flights, said Meghan Khaitan, a travel expert and the founder of MyBuckleMate, a device that makes it easier to secure seatbelts.
“Today it doesn’t take a hefty chunk of cash or a ton of air miles to upgrade to first class,” she said. “Can’t swing first class? Request business or premium class instead.”
Potential savings: Travel upgrades can be added for as little as $50, according to USA Today.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider