9 TIPS FOR SAVING WHEN TRAVELING
1. Individual instead of package
When we travel, we always book hotels and flights separately. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, the really nice hotels and apartments are usually not available as package tours or through travel agencies, and secondly, package tours are usually even more expensive (unless you get a great deal).
2. Check flights in the incognito browser
Flight prices can fluctuate daily. It's best to take a few days or even weeks to compare flight prices over time. Some sites, like Skyscanner , even offer a price alert function when prices drop. You should also always search for flights in an incognito browser to avoid artificially inflating the prices yourself. Finally, do one last check to see if the price is even cheaper when booking on a mobile device. This can save you a LOT of money. On our last trip to Costa Rica, I saved 600 euros for the three of us using this strategy.
3. Less money through less luggage
This strategy applies more to short trips and flying with budget airlines. If you're only traveling for a few days and therefore don't need much luggage, you shouldn't book the full fare. It's best to first check the basic fare on the airline's website WITHOUT LUGGAGE. Then you can only book the luggage you really need. When three of us flew to Ibiza , we only booked one large suitcase and one carry-on, saving over €150.
4. Genius discount at booking.com
We book all our hotels through booking.com. I find the reviews there informative, the hotel selection is great, and the filters work wonderfully. Booking.com also offers the so-called Genius discount. You reach Level 1 if you book two trips in two years and then get 10% off selected hotels for life. Level 2 is reached after five trips in two years. We also booked our business trips through booking.com for a while and reached Level 2 that way. Here, you get up to 15% off hotels, saving a lot of money!
5. Airbnb instead of 5 stars
I NEVER look at hotel star ratings. It's completely irrelevant to me, as most apartments or boutique hotels don't have a star rating at all and could still be the most amazing accommodations you've ever stayed in. My main criterion when choosing a hotel or apartment is guest reviews . I also read the individual reviews very carefully.
6. Breakfast only instead of all-inclusive
I know a lot of people find ALL-INCLUSIVE holidays super relaxing. But let me briefly explain why I don't like it so much: You eat far too much and often not very well. You don't eat locally and therefore don't support the local restaurants. And the all-inclusive rate is often quite expensive when you break it down on a daily basis. We almost always book with breakfast only. For one thing, it's not such a big financial burden at the time of booking. For another, you can usually get by just fine with a long breakfast (yes, we always take some fruit with us for breakfast), a light lunch (fries, pizza, salad, etc.) and a nice dinner, and then you don't spend that much money. 
Breakfast at the Gilded Iguana Hotel / Costa Rica
7. Alcohol detox
Alcohol consumption on vacation can put a serious dent in your budget. Cocktails and bottles of wine taste twice as good on vacation, though. Why not give your body a detox and largely avoid alcohol? Good for your health, and good for your travel budget.
8. Snacks on the plane
More and more airlines are charging extra for snacks and drinks on board. To save money, simply bring your own snacks . Since we started traveling with Levi, our backpack is always packed with carrots, cucumbers, berries, apples, sandwiches, nuts, and gummy bears. Toddlers are also allowed to bring their own water bottles.
9. Rental car and transfers
In our experience , you can save up to 50% by booking rental cars, transfers, ferries, etc. online in advance. You can do this before your vacation, or directly while you're in the destination country. In Crete, we would have paid twice as much if we'd booked the rental car through the hotel. The only exception: If you're traveling to a less safe country, it's better to book the transfer through the hotel first with a trusted driver. Then ask them for their card and book subsequent trips directly with them. You can usually negotiate well that way.