This article appeared in SoFi's On the Money newsletter. Not getting it? Sign up here.

If your Italian getaway or summer road trip feels like years ago, your next big trip probably can’t come soon enough. But should you travel in this unpredictable economy, when you’re trying to save money?

Only you know what feels right for your budget, but there are cost-conscious travel options. Whether you’re considering a romantic getaway, a solo adventure, or a family vacation over the holidays, here are five ways to keep your expenses in check.

1. Be flexible with your schedule. Traveling when others aren’t can be a great way to lower your costs (and avoid crowds.)

•   Go abroad during Thanksgiving week: This year fares to Western Europe, Canada, and Western Asia are down 10% to 30%, according to Going, a subscription travel site for bargain hunters.

•   Fly on a holiday: Fares tend to be lower if you're willing to fly on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself, according to Going.

•   Fly midweek: Flights on the weekend can sometimes cost more, though it’s not a hard-and-fast rule.

•   Explore the other shoulder season: Shoulder season is often just before or after the pricey summertime peak, when the weather is still nice but school is in session, so fewer people are taking trips. But if you ski or snowboard (or just want a cozy weekend away) some resorts may have a third shoulder season in January-February, when holiday travel is over but students and families aren’t yet thinking about spring break.

•   Go with the flow: Airlines often have low-fare calendars where they show you the cheapest dates to fly with them.

2. Tap into Travel Tuesday. Black Friday isn’t just about shopping deals. Pounce on any Thanksgiving-weekend travel sales, which in recent years have extended to not just Cyber Monday but Travel Tuesday. Just make sure you’ve researched the going rates on potential destinations so you can capitalize quickly when you see a discount.

3. Sleep cheaper. A classic Airbnb rental can easily be more expensive than a hotel, but it may be worth exploring the Airbnb “private room” route, where you’d get your own access to one area of someone else’s house or apartment. This option won’t give you the same run of the place, but according to research from Upgraded Points, the average private room Airbnb was cheaper than the average hotel in every U.S. city they analyzed. (And, it may still be worth exploring renting an entire home, depending on how much you’d save by cooking your own food.)

If you have time to plan, you may also want to consider arranging an apartment or home swap through an outfit like Intervac. A stay might also include borrowing the homeowner’s vehicle or even exchanging pet-sitting duties.

4. Mix steals with splurges. If you go whole hog on tickets for musical theater or a famous amusement park, offset those expenses with free activities on other days of your vacation. Even some of the world’s spendiest cities have great no-cost options like walking tours, farmer’s markets, or museums. For example, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York welcomes visitors on “​​Pay-What-You-Wish Winter Weekdays,” and London has more than 25 museums with free admission.

5. Leverage loyalty. Using travel points and miles you’ve earned on your credit card may be a no-brainer, but members of hotel and airline loyalty programs often get other less-obvious perks too. Even if your points balance is looking meager, you may be able to get hotel freebies like late checkout, free parking, or room upgrades.

(If you’re a SoFi Plus member, you can earn rewards for booking through SoFi Travel, our Expedia-powered travel portal.)

SoFi Travel: Terms, and conditions apply. This SoFi member benefit is provided by Expedia, not by SoFi or its affiliates. SoFi may be compensated by the benefit provider. Offers are subject to change and may have restrictions, please review the benefit provider’s terms: Travel Services Terms & Conditions.

SoFi Plus: SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best APY, discounts, rewards, and more when they set up Eligible Direct Deposit or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.

SoFi Plus members can earn 5% cash back in rewards points on all bookings except air travel through SoFi Travel using any card (“Elevated Earn”). For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

OTM2025110302