July 3: Some top tips on how to save on travel
July 3, 2025

With the warmer summer weather now blessedly with us, it’s time to think about vacation travel plans.
Save with SPP had a glance around the Interweb to seek out some money-saving travel tips.
The folks at MoneySense suggest choosing “an affordable destination.” Places where a Canadian dollar can go farther include “Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam,” the article continues.
Traveller Danica Nelson tells MoneySense that “in Vietnam, I could stay in a five-star hotel for as little as $55 Canadian per night.
“In Da Nang, you could get the freshest seafood available and a beer for $5 Canadian, or a banh mi sandwich for about $1 Canadian,” she adds.
Other tips from MoneySense include using a travel credit card “since you may be able to get cheaper pricing on flights, hotels and rental cars through your credit card’s rewards program,” and switching to only carry-on luggage.
“Switching out your suitcase for a carry-on bag can help you save money and time at the airport,” MoneySense reports.
The Money Talks News blog (27 Tips for Saving Money on Your Summer Vacation) offers up a few more ideas.
One idea our late parents always preferred was to try and visit friends and family in other provinces and countries. The blog notes that this will save you on accommodation. “For their hospitality, offer to help around the house while you’re there, consider taking them out to a nice dinner and bring them some gifts as a thank you,” the blog adds.
Younger travellers might find staying at hostels is far cheaper than booking a hotel, the blog notes.
“The low cost of lodging through a hostel is a trade-off: You’ll share your sleeping quarters and bathroom with strangers, and the accommodations certainly aren’t five-star. For instance, you might have to pack your own towel,” the blog reports.
“But if you don’t mind a thin mattress and lack of privacy, hostels can be an easy way to save money on travel. And you just may make some friends,” the blog adds.
A final tip from Money Talks News is this – to “use public transportation” at your travel venue.
“Before renting a car for an international trip, research the country’s train, bus and even ferry network,” the blog advises. “You may be able to get around for all or most of your trip using more affordable means of transportation — and just rent cars for day trips off the beaten path.”
The Penny Hoarder blog presents a few more ideas.
First, the blog suggests, you should save up for your vacation over time.
“First, you’ll need to estimate how much your vacation will cost. Add up everything. Airfare and lodging might set you back the most, but don’t forget about food, activities and souvenirs,” the blog tells us.
“Next, you’ll take that (perhaps overwhelming) total and divide it by the number of months left until you plan to take your trip. Now you’ll know how much money you need to set aside every month to afford your upcoming vacation,” the blog adds.
This is great advice, the idea of prepaying for a vacation. Nothing is worse than going away for a week or two and then coming back to a basketful of bills.
Other tips from the blog – try to book holidays during “shoulder season,” the period between peak travel and the off-season. As an example, the blog notes, “October is a less busy travel month, so you’ll often see better deals.”
The blog advises people to watch out for the cost of meals while travelling. Consider “packing a snack from home” or “visiting a grocery store” while away.
We can add a similar thought from recent experience. Friends advised us to pack some zip-loc bags before our cruise. Why? So that we could make sandwiches at the buffet and then enjoy them on the shore excursions, where lunch breaks were often not provided.
Similarly, we brought some magnetic hooks to add to our clothing storage needs, got some adapters so we could charge our phones in Europe, and got the missus a purse that could be worn like a backpack. We had inflatable head cushions for the long plane rides – they packed up much easier once deflated.
Travelling in retirement will be easier and more affordable if you are able to sock away some retirement savings in the here and now. If you are saving on your own, a great resource is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. You can arrange for pre-authorized contributions from your bank account on payday (so you don’t miss the money) or can set up SPP as a “bill” to pay from your online bank. You can even contribute by credit card.
Once SPP receives your contributions, they are invested in a professionally managed, low-cost pooled fund. And when it is time to start The Big Vacation that follows work, you’ll be able to collect your savings as income through such means as receiving a monthly lifetime annuity payment, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.
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Written by Martin Biefer

Martin Biefer is Senior Pension Writer at Avery & Kerr Communications in Nepean, Ontario. A veteran reporter, editor and pension communicator, he’s now a freelancer. Interests include golf, line dancing and classic rock, and playing guitar. Got a story idea? Let Martin know via LinkedIn.
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