Traveling internationally isn’t as daunting as it seems—and it can even be cheaper than a cross‑country flight in the United States. You’ll often find round‑trip fares to Europe or Latin America for less than an East Coast–to–West Coast ticket. Once you arrive, hotels and meals can also cost far less than California rates.
Yet international trips can quickly become expensive: airfare, tours, hotels, taxis—you can watch your budget evaporate. Some travelers shrug and think, “It’s a once‑in‑a‑lifetime trip, so why worry?” And halfway through, you may decide the splurge is worth it. But with a bit of planning and strategy, you can stretch one epic journey into two—or even three.
Here’s ten strategies for making this happen.
1. Account for the “first‑time” cost of learning.
No amount of foresight eliminates surprises. Every new destination comes with a learning curve—and extra expenses you won’t repeat.
For example, on my first trip to northern Norway, I booked a rental car at Narvik—only to discover at the counter that “Narvik” was actually 45 minutes away from the airport. After paying roughly $40 per person for bus transfers, I still paid an additional $100 fee to return the car at the airport location and avoid the time and hassle of more bus transfers.
By contrast, on my third trip to Spain—after mastering the country’s transport system—we breezed through Barcelona, Sevilla, Córdoba, Madrid, and Valencia in under a week. No mishaps, just smooth travel made possible by hard‑won experience.
2. Be flexible about your departure airport.
A two‑hour drive to a major hub can slash hundreds off your ticket.
When my wife, two children, and a friend booked flights to Egypt from Knoxville, fares exceeded $1,000 each—over $5,000 total, plus lengthy layovers. Instead, we carpooled four hours to Atlanta, where round‑trip tickets were around $600! Parking for two weeks was $150 total—just $30 per person—and gas added another $30 each. We saved over $400 per person simply by choosing a different departure city.
3. Be flexible about your destination airport. Continue reading “Turn One Trip of a Lifetime Into Two: 10 Ways to Save Money on International Travel”
