The Main Money-Saving Principle for Booking Tours in a Small Town

April 11, 2018 Erica Ho 1 minute read

It generally doesn’t matter what travel agency that gets booked for a tour. Outside specialty services like super-lux operators, the service will more or less be the same.

Budget Money Technology Tools Trip Planning

Feeling Stuck? Google Flights Lists the Cheapest Destinations for Locked Dates

March 22, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

There’s a lot of things going on with Google Flights. But more specifically, the only thing I care about is fitting in a vacation when I can finally jet from work.

Airports Budget Money Tools Trip Planning

Calculator: Figure Out How Much Booking at the Airport Will Save

January 16, 2018 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Anything to save a dollar. But if that allows us to save for another trip, I guess you’ll do it.

Budget Flights Money Transit Travel Trip Planning

Does Basic Economy Ever Make Sense?

December 13, 2017 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Actually it can. Not in every situation, but for some circumstances, if the trip is short enough and you’re a great packer, basic economy can be a chance to save some money.

Budget Flights Money Transit Trip Planning

How You Really Have Two or Three Days to Lock in the Best Plane Ticket

December 12, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

There’s nothing worse than the fear of missing out. Especially fomo on the cheapest possible airline ticket.

Airlines Airports Budget Flights Money Transit Trip Planning

Can You Save Money by Buying Plane Tickets at the Airport? (Yes.)

October 5, 2017 Erica Ho 2 minute read

But depends on which airline.

Budget Cars Ground Money Transit Trip Planning

Renting a Car by the Week Can Be Cheaper Than for the Days You Need It

August 29, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Sometimes business class plane tickets are cheaper than economy class tickets, and sometimes weekly car rentals are cheaper than renting it for less the week.

Budget emergency Ground Money Trip Planning

How To Pay for Things When You’ve Lost Your Wallet

July 26, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

I believe in defensive traveling. This means things like scanning passports and visas into Dropbox and stashing hidden 50-dollar bills into inconspicuous keychains.

Budget Flights Money Tools Transit Trip Planning

The Best Tools for Finding Mistake Fares

June 27, 2017 Erica Ho 3 minute read

Because who doesn’t want to go to New Zealand for $400? But be forewarned that there’s generally a lot of work in trying to find these deals.

Adventure Budget emergency Money Trip Planning

How To Get Money When You’ve Lost a Wallet Abroad

June 8, 2017 Erica Ho 4 minute read

I believe in defensive traveling. This means things like scanning passports and visas into Dropbox and stashing hidden 50-dollar bills into pillbox keychains.

Budget Money Packing Tools Trip Planning

TOOL: Calculate How Much Bringing Your Own Toiletries Will Save

February 1, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

Because it’s 2017 and it’s reaaaally time to clean up that act. Make it a part of those New Year’s resolutions.

Adventure Budget Family Hacks Leisure Money News

Get the $10 U.S. National Park Senior Lifetime Pass Before Time’s Up

January 3, 2017 Erica Ho 1 minute read

One Mile at a Time recently clued us into a huge discount: Senior citizens over the age of 62 are entitled to a $10 lifetime pass.

Budget Connectivity Hacks Money Technology

Sometimes All You Have To Do Is Ask for a Discount on In-Flight Wi-Fi

December 5, 2016 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Life is simple like that sometimes. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask for what you want.

Budget Culture & Science Leisure Money Trip Planning

The Best Museum Pass That No One Knows About

July 18, 2016 Erica Ho 1 minute read

I’d hate myself if I wrote the words “museum hack,” but I guess I already did it.

Budget Bus Ground Money Packing Transit

Who Knew? The Cheapest Way To Ship Packages May Be Greyhound’s Bus Service

May 10, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 2 minute read

There’s no denying that moving is a major hassle—especially if it’s cross-country. Like, it costs way more than I pay in rent each month. (Depends on where you live, of course. This doesn’t apply to you, Manhattan.)

Budget Lodging Money Technology Trip Planning

A Woof! Over Your Head: Travel and Tails Lets You Pet Sit for a Free Night

May 5, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 1 minute read

Things I like: vacations and pets. Things I don’t like: paying for stuff. What to do?

Budget Flights Money Tools Transit Trip Planning

This Tool Will Calculate the Exact Cost of All Different Flight Options

April 13, 2016 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Different airlines, airports, and days. Not to mention the baggage. That’s a whole lot of variables to track.

Budget Expat Features Money

What You Need To Know To File Taxes as an Expat

April 6, 2016 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Hey guys, it’s tax season! Time to run in fear.

Budget Hotels Lodging Travel Trip Planning

This Is the Best Hotel Search Engine for the Cheapest Rooms, Tested

March 2, 2016 Sam Wright Fairbanks 3 minute read

Hotel search engines, or aggregators, have been around now for more than a decade, but which ones actually return the best prices? Time to put it through the test.

Budget Cars Flights Ground Money Transit Trip Planning

Cross That Border To Save Big Bucks on Airfare, Gas and More

January 6, 2016 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Do almost anything to save money on a flight? Here’s a cost-saving factor people rarely think about: crossing a border—whether that be into a different country or just into the next state—can yield serious savings.

Budget Europe Money

The Backpacker’s Guide to Cheap Cities in Europe

November 10, 2015 Miranda Ashton Less than a minute to read

If there’s a will, there’s a way. And there is a way I’ll make my way across the pond.

Airports Budget Flights Hacks Money Packing Security Trip Planning

Cram the Most Stuff Into a Carry-On Bag as Humanly Possible

October 4, 2015 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Packing light, good. But, hey, I’ve got to cram a month’s worth of clothes into my carry-on allowance.

Budget Itinerary Money Sponsored Technology Trip Planning

Got a Budget? KAYAK Explore Is the Search Tool You Probably Need

October 2, 2015 Sponsored Post 1 minute read

This sponsored post is brought to you by KAYAK.

This is an easy one to write and that’s because long before KAYAK approached me about writing this post, KAYAK Explore was already a favorite tool in my repertoire, even if anyone barely knew about it.

Budget Gear Money Trip Planning

The Cheapo Alternatives To Buying Travel Gear When You’re Dead Broke

September 29, 2015 Erica Ho 2 minute read

Before I cared about $200 suitcases, I was mostly interested on traveling on what I could.. which was, well, nothing. Even the backpack I used was a cheap knockoff I borrowed from my parents.

Adventure Budget Gear Travel Trip Planning

Okay, Can Someone Seriously Explain the Poncho to Me?

September 18, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

Cause everyone I see one in pretty much just looks miserable. There are better options out there?

Airbnb Budget Lodging Money Vacation Rentals

How To Perfect the Art of Haggling on Airbnb

June 12, 2015 Erica Ho 5 minute read

Asking is the quickest way to get a discount but it’s also the quickest possible way to piss off an Airbnb host.

Budget Lodging Money Travel

The Rules for Crashing at a Friend’s Place

June 2, 2015 Erica Ho 3 minute read

My assumption is that you’re poor… because you’re poor. Just calling it like I see it otherwise there’s no reason for you to be on the couch.

Adventure Budget Leisure Money Travel

The Golden Rules for Budget Travel

May 18, 2015 MH Staff 5 minute read

It’s really easy to travel for under $50 a day. All it takes are some powers of observation and a little common sense.

Budget Money Student Trip Planning

Pass Your Driver’s License Off as a Student ID

January 28, 2015 Erica Ho 1 minute read

In my early 20s, I would have probably done anything to save a buck.

Budget Money Travel Trip Planning

Now Is the Best Season to Travel for Savings

January 6, 2015 Erica Ho Less than a minute to read

It’s that time of year again. The holiday travel season is winding down which actually means it’s time to do all the serious traveling.

Adventure Budget Bus Ground

Why It’s Smart To Take the Bus for Regional Travel

December 16, 2014 Karina Martinez-Carter 4 minute read

Just because something isn’t popular Stateside doesn’t mean it isn’t happening elsewhere. In other parts of the world, it’s bus or bust.

Budget Money Student Travel Trip Planning

The Cold, Hard Truth About ISIC Card Benefits

December 15, 2014 Erica Ho 2 minute read

It’s been a few years since I’ve been eligible for discounted student flights but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten — those were my glory days.

Budget Features Gear Money Trip Planning

The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

November 28, 2014 MH Staff 4 minute read

Just because it’s a “deal” doesn’t mean it’s a great deal. Each year we ditch the riffraff to cull the best list evar.

Budget Features Money Opinion Travel

How Tourists Cripple Local Economies by Overpaying

November 5, 2014 Karina Martinez-Carter 2 minute read

I always feel uncomfortable about how much I tip in impoverished countries. Should it be more, just because? That person was nice and attentive…

Budget Money Plastic Trip Planning

The Best Credit and Debit Cards for Traveling

August 18, 2014 Karina Martinez-Carter 4 minute read

I think the time when Ben Franklin’s old adage “a penny saved is a penny earned” rings truest is when I’m traveling abroad. ATM and foreign transaction fees just add up too fast.

Budget Gear Technology Trip Planning

The Poor Man’s Solution to Beach-Proofing Phones

August 5, 2014 Erica Ho 1 minute read

This weekend, I was on the beach sipping a margarita when a volleyball knocked my drink down. I watched in horror as the liquid pooled around my $700 phone.

Budget Money Technology Travel Trip Planning

Splitwise Is the Best Group Travel Expense Calculator

July 31, 2014 Erica Ho 6 minute read

Heading to Colorado and renting out a house with a group of your friends is awesome. But figuring out who owes who what at the end is like entering the seventh circle of hell.