Tips & Tricks For Traveling
On A Journalist's Budget

Tips & Tricks For Traveling On A Journalist's Budget

Written by Lois Lane
šŸ•’ August 10, 2021

Traveling on the budget of a journalist can be challenging, especially when you factor in the costs of lodging, transportation and food.

But a few hacks I’m going to share with you can make traveling a bit more attainable.

Though time is of the essence for those working in news, your flight doesn’t have to break your bank. A website called SkipLagged quilts together different flight segments at a low cost.

Instead of paying $400 for a flight from Lubbock to Seattle, your flight could be half the cost. The catch? Time in the air may be double. Packing light is also underrated, and can make a big difference in the price of your ticket.

Stick to just a carryon to maximize your budget, and avoid expensive bag charges.

Airbnb and VRBO are nice for finding unique places to stay. But, sadly, the two services have jacked up prices to near hotel rates. If youā€™re not interested in renting a room in a home where your host lives, try Hotel Tonight.

It’s a site where hotels post deeply discounted rates on rooms they donā€™t foresee renting out. A 3-star hotel might usually cost $140 per night. However, on Hotel Tonight, booking the room the night before your intended stay could cost just $89.

In larger cities, meal delivery app services like Grubhub and UberEats offer ā€œperksā€ that require nothing more than browsing restaurants. Filter restaurants in your area using ā€œperksā€ and find a taqueria with $5 off when you spend $15, or a Chinese spot offering $3 off $12. Sometimes, restaurants offer $5 or $10 off any order without a minimum requirement. Try new places, and eat like a local for a great price!

Entertainment can be expensive, especially concerts and the drinks for purchase at the venue.

Put your investigative journalism skills to use, and track down a local list of community entertainment. Most cities present live music, art exhibits, comedy and other entertainment on a nightly or weekly basis at little to no cost.

Check Facebook events in the area youā€™re visiting for upcoming shows or gatherings. Donā€™t forget that journalists get a lot of discounts on services, shops and even theme parks. Some discounts are company specific while others are industry-wide. Want even more tips on how to save money as a journalist? Click here!

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