I used to think travel hacking was only for Americans with complicated credit card churning strategies. Then I flew business class to Tokyo for £300 by booking a positioning flight to Helsinki and catching an ex-EU fare. I’ve stayed in airport hotels for free using Avios points I earned from grocery shopping. I’ve saved hundreds by booking flights on a Tuesday morning instead of a Sunday evening. None of this required special knowledge or tricks – just paying attention to how the system works.
Travel hacking isn’t about gaming the system or finding loopholes. It’s about understanding how flights, hotels, and rewards programmes actually work, then using that knowledge to travel more without spending more. Here’s what actually matters.
Finding Cheap Flights
Flight Search Engines
Don’t just search on one site. Prices vary between booking platforms, and direct airline websites sometimes have deals that aggregators miss.
Best search engines:
- Google Flights: Best for exploring flexible dates and tracking prices. The calendar view shows cheapest days at a glance.
- Skyscanner: Good for “everywhere” searches when you’re flexible on destination. Search “London to Everywhere” to find the cheapest places to fly.
- Momondo: Sometimes surfaces cheaper options than others.
- Kayak: Useful price alerts and “hacker fares” (different airlines for outbound/return).
Direct booking sites:
Always check the airline directly after finding a flight. Budget airlines especially (Ryanair, EasyJet, Norwegian) often show lower prices on their own sites, and you avoid third-party booking fees.
When to Book
Timing affects price more than most people realise:
- Domestic/short-haul: 1-3 months before departure is usually cheapest
- International/long-haul: 2-8 months before, depending on route
- Peak season: Book earlier (4-6 months)
- Off-peak: You can wait longer, but prices don’t always drop
Day of the week:
Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often cheapest. Tuesday afternoons (UK time) are when many airlines release sale fares. Avoid Friday-Sunday bookings if possible.
The Real Tricks
Be flexible on dates: A day either side can save hundreds. Google Flights’ calendar view makes this easy to spot.
Be flexible on airports: Flying into a secondary airport or nearby city often costs less. London-Stansted instead of Heathrow. Paris-Beauvais instead of CDG. Sometimes flying to a different country and taking a train is cheaper.
Consider positioning flights: Sometimes flying from a different hub is drastically cheaper. A £50 flight to Dublin, then Dublin to New York, can beat a direct London-New York fare by hundreds.
Use hidden city ticketing carefully: Booking a flight with a connection at your actual destination (and skipping the final leg) can be cheaper. But airlines don’t like it, you can’t check bags, and frequent flyers risk losing status. Know the risks.
Error fares exist: Occasionally airlines make mistakes and sell fares at absurdly low prices. Follow deal alert sites like Secret Flying, Jack’s Flight Club (UK), or The Points Guy (US) to catch these when they happen. They sell out fast.
Points and Miles
How They Work
Loyalty programmes reward you with points or miles for flying, spending on credit cards, or shopping through their portals. Accumulate enough and you can redeem them for flights, upgrades, or hotels.
The basics:
- Airline miles come from flying with that airline or its partners
- Credit card points come from spending (and sign-up bonuses)
- Some programmes let you transfer points between schemes
UK Programmes Worth Joining
British Airways Avios:
The most useful programme for UK travellers. Avios can be earned through:
- BA flights
- BA Amex credit card (companion voucher after £10k spend)
- Grocery shopping (Nectar partnership)
- Partner airlines (Iberia, Qatar, etc.)
Avios are best used for short-haul flights (London to Europe) or upgrades. Long-haul redemptions exist but availability is limited.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club:
Good for transatlantic flights. Points transfer from American Express Membership Rewards.
Other programmes:
Join programmes for airlines you actually fly. Free to join, and points from a single long-haul flight can cover a short-haul ticket later.
Credit Card Points
The sign-up bonuses on travel credit cards often provide more value than months of spending. In the UK:
- BA Amex: 5,000 Avios sign-up bonus, companion voucher after spending threshold
- Amex Gold: Membership Rewards points that transfer to various airlines
- Virgin Atlantic Reward+: Points earning on everyday spending
Important: Only do this if you pay off the card in full each month. Interest wipes out any rewards benefit.
Accommodation Hacks
Beyond Hotels
Hostels aren’t just for backpackers: Private rooms in hostels often cost less than budget hotels and include better common areas, kitchens, and social opportunities.
House-sitting: Sites like TrustedHousesitters connect travellers with homeowners who need someone to watch their home and pets. Free accommodation in exchange for house/pet sitting.
Home exchange: Swap homes with someone in your destination. Sites like HomeExchange facilitate this.
Airbnb for longer stays: Monthly discounts on Airbnb can be substantial (30-50% off nightly rates). For stays over 28 days, this often beats hotels.
Hotel Booking Strategies
Book direct for perks: Hotels often match online rates and throw in extras (late checkout, breakfast, room upgrades) for direct bookings.
Loyalty programmes matter: Even if you don’t travel often, joining hotel programmes is free and earns points toward free nights. IHG, Marriott, and Hilton all have programmes worth joining.
Last-minute apps: HotelTonight and similar apps offer unsold rooms at discounts. Good for spontaneous trips or when your plans change.
Negotiate: Call the hotel directly. Ask if they can beat the online rate. Works more often than you’d expect, especially for longer stays or off-peak times.
Money Saving on the Ground
Travel Cards
Don’t pay foreign transaction fees. UK options:
- Starling Bank: Free foreign ATM withdrawals, no FX fees, real exchange rate
- Monzo: Similar benefits, useful app for tracking spending
- Revolut: Good exchange rates during the week, free ATM limits
- Chase UK: No fees, good app, cashback on spending
Rule: Never accept “pay in your home currency” at ATMs or shops abroad. Always choose local currency. The conversion rate offered is almost always terrible.
Insurance
Don’t overpay for travel insurance:
- Check if your bank account or credit card includes cover
- Annual policies are cheaper than single-trip if you travel more than twice a year
- Compare on sites like MoneySuperMarket or Compare the Market
- Make sure the policy actually covers what you need (activities, destinations, cancellation)
Eating and Drinking
- Supermarkets over restaurants for breakfasts and snacks
- Lunch specials are often better value than dinner menus
- Street food in most countries is cheap, fresh, and safe
- Tap water is drinkable in most of Europe, North America, and Australia – don’t buy bottles
- Happy hours exist worldwide – research before you go
Planning Your Trip
The Cheapest Destinations
Some places are inherently cheaper than others. Budget-friendly options:
Europe: Portugal, Greece, Balkans (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia), Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania
Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, India, Nepal
Latin America: Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia
Elsewhere: Egypt, Morocco, Turkey (when stable)
When to Go
Shoulder season (just before or after peak) offers the best balance of good weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
- Europe: April-May and September-October
- Southeast Asia: November-February (dry season but not Christmas)
- Caribbean: April-June (after winter crowds, before hurricane season)
- Australia: March-May and September-November
Building an Itinerary
- Slow travel saves money: Moving constantly costs in transport and packing/unpacking time. Stay longer in fewer places.
- One-way flights can be cheaper than returns (especially budget airlines)
- Overland connections are often cheaper and more interesting than flying
- Don’t over-plan: Leave room for recommendations from people you meet
What Actually Matters
I’ve been doing this for years, and the biggest savings don’t come from clever hacks. They come from:
- Being flexible – on dates, destinations, and airports
- Booking at the right time – not too early, not too late
- Using the right cards – for payments and for earning points
- Knowing when cheap is too cheap – the cheapest option isn’t always the best value
Travel hacking isn’t about suffering through terrible flights to save £50. It’s about making informed choices so you can travel more often, more comfortably, without spending more than you need to.
Start simple: set up price alerts for a destination you want to visit, get a no-fee travel card, and join the loyalty programmes of airlines you actually use. The rest follows.
