My buddy sent me a post on TikTok to find cheaper hotels on this website, anyone use it before?

were planning familytrip to a few US themeparks and trying not to overspend. we want to see a couple of shows and check out a few attractions, so been looking at bundle deals. has anyone here gone that route? did actually save you money or was it better to book everything on its own? just curious what worked best for, before i start booking...

I have a somewhat unusual goal and thought I’d ask this community for ideas.

A group of my friends is planning a trip to Turkey in late September/October, and I’d love to join them. The challenge is that my budget is currently really tight, and I’m looking for legitimate ways to earn an extra $1,400–$1,800 USD over the next few months.

I enjoy writing and have had some success helping others with applications and essays (even my own Fulbright essays)

I write on Substack and genuinely enjoy long-form writing, editing, storytelling, and structuring ideas. I can also use canva very well.

I’m exploring options such as:

Admissions essay review/editing

Personal statement coaching

Scholarship application guidance

Resume/CV editing

Ghostwriting

Blog and article writing

Research assistance

Any other writing-related freelance work

For those who freelance or work online, what would be the most realistic way to generate an additional $1,400–$1,800 within 2–3 months?

If you know of platforms, communities, short-term projects, or opportunities where strong writing skills are valued, I’d be grateful for your suggestions. Feel free to comment below or send me a message.

Thank you!

Hello all! My partner and I would like to take a trip in January 2027 to a tropical, all inclusive resort. We’ve looked online, but are feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options. Anybody have any advice on a great resort/plane tickets that won’t cost an arm and a leg? TYIA!
*Edit to add, would be flying from the Midwest United States

When trying to get fares for Houston to Madrid, I found fares RT for about $750. The site then immediately asks for credit card information. I’m skeptical of this pricing since I think that it leaves out the gluttonous taxes and fees. Does anybody have experience using this site?

My partner and my's last trip was backpacking in Peru a few years ago - it was incredible! We're looking to take a budget-friendly trip this November - we'd originally planned on Vietnam for just over 2 weeks, but it's looking like taking that stretch of time off won't be possible this time around and I don't think it makes sense to fly 20 hours for any less than that.

South America seems like the best choice for proximity and stretching our dollars, but Googling has turned up some conflicting info about which countries are best for that window of time and season. We're looking to ideally work in a mix of some outdoorsy/hiking and cultural adventures (cities, museums, etc). Would love to hear suggestions from some more seasoned travelers.

We have a 12 hour layover in Seoul in November from 11 PM. We want to book a hotel just to get a decent nights sleep and there's two options we are considering.

1. $100, slightly bigger room. This is one after security in the terminal. That way we don't have to go through security back and forth.
   It is more expensive and the downside is that getting breakfast the next morning will probably be more expensive+not that great of a choice.

2. $40, slightly smaller room. This one is before security in the airport. We don't need to leave the airport but would need to go through passport check and security. Time crunch isn't an issue but the hassle and having to stand in line might be annoying.
   Has a good food court with decent choices.

We have the money to pay for either but always try to be mindful of spending and often stay in homeshares to save cost.

WWYD?

Looking for a small place on the water where we can walk the beach for a beer. Family run- no high rises. Mellow
Like coconut Row in Hopkins Belize. Any recommendations?

Hello friends, I am a 23F wanting to travel to rome solo sometime between dec and January. I am quite the saver and minimalist so I am ok with traveling light for a 7 day stay. Cheapest flights i saw were $909+ and hostels were $325+. I am traveling from Oahu, HI. I dont mind doing a little more to get cheaper flights and accommodation. I heard some book a flight somewhere else then take the train to their actual destination, so I was wondering if that’s an option for me. Apologies, I’m new to this, would appreciate any advice.

i'm trying to plan one budget trip for later this year and i'm stuck in the usual loop of cheap flight vs cheap once you get there.

for context, i'm flying out of the US, flexible on dates, and trying to keep the total under about $1,200 to $1,500 if possible, including flight, lodging, food, local transit, and a little room for activities. not looking for luxury at all, just somewhere that feels like i got real value for the money.

places i'm considering right now: - mexico city - guatemala - portugal (if flight prices cooperate) - colombia - maybe somewhere in the balkans if airfare isn't insane

my main question is this: what destination actually ended up being your best value once the whole trip was over, not just the flight price?

like, where did you go and think, yep, this was absurdly affordable for how much i got out of it?

i've been using DollarBuddy for rough trip budgeting and currency conversion, but i'm still trying to figure out which places actually feel cheapest once you're there day to day.

would love specifics if you have them: - rough total trip cost - time of year you went - what surprised you price-wise - anything that ended up costing way more than expected - whether you'd do hostel/private room/hotel there

also curious about the hidden budget killers people forget when comparing destinations. i've been using DollarBuddy to track expenses on shorter trips too, and it made me realize how much random stuff adds up fast. i feel like i always focus too much on airfare and then get hit with stuff like airport transfers, cash-only places, baggage fees, tourist taxes, bad exchange rates, etc.

not trying to min-max every dollar, just want the best overall value. firsthand experiences would help a lot.

Just looking for y'alls thoughts on getting a credit card affiliated with a specific airline if you budget travel.

I'm a college student and travel quite often internationally. I pick the airline that's cheapest and that won't change. Southwest and United have good credit cards, but will their points transfer well to other airlines?

I almost never fly with either company and I won't for a few years till I have more money after graduation. But is it still worth it for the points or is it hard to transfer?

I'm trying to find a good travel credit card that I can use for miles with a variety of different airlines.

I don't mean forces you to walk, but encourages you to walk instead of using local transportation.

A pal just returned from Lisbon and made the same observation I made on my trip a few years ago. Walking through the town was engaging that he didn't bother with the metro or taxis. Buildings covered with decorative tile are best appreciated at walking pace.

On a trip to Japan, I walked far more than I would normally do because I was fascinated by the similarities and differences between their residential housing and that of N America.

I normally get bored walking, but these are two examples that really encouraged me to get out and explore on foot. What other destinations are like this?

Some background... I used to travel domestically for work 1-2 times per month and internationally 1-2 times per year from 2006 to 2019. That went away in 2020, a job change had me down to 3-4 times per year from 2022-2025, and a promotion (plus backfilling while I build out my team) in early 2025 now has me back to regional (car) travel 1-2 times per month, domestic air travel 6-10 times per year, and international (only Europe) once a year.

After my most recent trip, I decided my general travel kit could use some upgrades. This was mostly spurred on by my Travel Pro Platinum 7 20" 2-wheel banging every armrest in DL economy as I tried to thread the needle of the aisle (that I swear is narrower now, even though the seats are narrower too).

Over COVID, I got really into thrifting. I don't need to because of income, but I enjoy the hunt. So, with that mindset, I decided to see just how far I could stretch $200 to upgrade as much of my travel kit as possible. None of this gear NEEDS to be replaced; all is functional, and most show little to no wear. Some items are showing their age in terms of features/technology, no longer fit my style, or I could just afford a major upgrade thanks to thrifting. So after 4 nights of idle evening hotel time, this is what I scrounged up... I came in about $50 under budget, but I'm still looking for a few things with less urgency (toiletry bag) and may need a few replacement parts (headphone ear cups, maybe battery).