I just got back from a trip to Miami and Pompano Beach with my husband, and thought I would share with you a few travel tips that can save you tons of money and headaches while you’re supposed to be unwinding.

1. Travel Rewards – using credit card points to your advantage

The only reason we go on a vacation that includes a flight is if we have figured out a way to get flights, hotels and car rentals, at least partially on points.

On this trip to Miami we saved the following:

Car rental was purchased on travel rewards points from my Bank of America Travel Rewards Card ($150 saved)

One flight was secured via Chase Sapphire Points ($175 saved)

Two nights in Pompano Beach were free on Wyndham Points ($400 saved)

Total Saved: $725 

We have a Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, which is great because it can be used on virtually any flight or car rental and thousands of hotels all over the world and a Chase Sapphire, which can be transferred to Hyatt Points or used for flights. Also, on our last vacation, we toured a Wyndham time share opportunity that gifted us 2 free nights at hundreds of locations around the country.

If you would like me to do a deeper dive into points, let me know or head on over to the man who taught us everything we know: http://thepointsguy.com/

2. Rent a car – even for just the first day 

Before you go, do a quick google maps check to see how far the airport is from where you are actually staying. Most trips I have taken (San Francisco, Maui, Miami, etc.) a cab can be up to $50 from the airport to where I am staying and even with Ubers, the trip could cost you $30.

If you don’t plan on having the car the entire trip, look to see what rental places are both at the airport and near your hotel so you can pick the car up for the day and drop it off the next near your hotel. Since you can get a rental car for as low as $25 a day- or even find a way to use credit card points to get one for free (like I did my last trip), not only are you saving $15- $25, you can also use the car to run errands on the first day which leads me to my third point below.

Also, you can use the car to your advantage the first day and explore places that aren’t within walking/ubering distance from your hotel. We went to Little Havana in Miami before we dropped off our car (parking was $40 a night at our second hotel, making Ubering to places way more affordable) and ate at an amazing Cuban restaurant called Versailles.

Cuban sandwich at Versailles 

3. Shop ‘til ya drop

My husband and I are complete opposites in most aspects of our life- he works in finance and I’m more into creative. He hates plans and I have a planner on my person at all times, however, we do agree on saving money where we can.

Even on our honeymoon, when we landed after 15+ hours of traveling to Maui, the first thing we did after getting into our rental, was hit up Costco on our way to the hotel. We were going to be there for almost 2 weeks, so Costco made the most sense, especially since they sell alcohol there for a price that was about the cheapest thing on our entire vacation. Most other vacations, we look for a walmart, target or even just a grocery store to buy the following:

• Case of water for $3 (water at hotels can be $5 a bottle) and buying them here and there at drug stores or grocery stores can add up quickly.
• Juice and seltzers to make cocktails in the room and juice can be had with breakfast
• Alcohol for the room, we always buy a fifth of rum or vodka (or both) because a fifth of Stoli is $25 and one drink at a hotel pool bar is $16. We just bring ours in …
• Drink tumblers (coffee mugs if you want to be real sneaky)
• Healthy snacks & breakfasts- which I will get into on the next bullet
• Sunscreen – since we never check bags, we always just buy this when we land

We got these tumblers at a dollar store for $1 each and threw them out when we left. 

4. Be healthy, at least a little bit

This time we tried something a little different and decided to only bring healthy snacks and breakfast things into the hotel room. Vacation is generally a time to let loose, you are eating out most of your meals and they are a lot different then the chicken breast and veggies or lean cuisines you are sluggin’ at home. Therefore, except maybe one day where we choose to go out for breakfast, we tend to have breakfast and snacks be our cost saving and healthy times of the day. At the store, we stock up on the following things to have in the room:

1. Fruit – this may be the only time you will eat fruit on vacation so we buy bananas, apples and blueberries to have with breakfast.

2. Veggies – we bought some spinach, baby carrots and tomatoes to whip up quick salads for lunch and snack on with hummus

3. Granola bars and trail mix – healthy, easy breakfasts and packable snacks that aren’t salty or full of chemicals

We never felt too full or like we were wasting calories with these healthy snacks in the room.

5. Bring a pillow case

This is a bizarre tip, but I like to bring a pillow case or soft cotton bag to put all my dirty laundry in after I am done using it. There is something about plastic bags and dirty laundry that grosses me out, and this way, if there is anything you didn’t wear on vacation, it will remain separate from the dirty clothes and you’re not doing double laundry duty when you get home.

6. Get organized

I was always a live out of my suitcase on vacay kind of girl until I met my husband, who has the organization skills of our grandfathers who fought in WWII. I remember looking at my pop pop’s beautifully worn, leather dopp kit with adoration when he spent the night at our house- how could this man be so organized? Toiletries clean and standing up straight in a row, socks folded together perfectly and his “around the house dungarees” ironed and starched so well they could stand up on their own. There is something so calming about being organized that I never fully grasped until now.

As soon as we get to the hotel, we immediately unpack our clothes now, hang up what needs to go on hangers, put the suitcases in the closet and toiletries we use the most are organized in the bathroom.

I even use extra wine glasses in the room to store my makeup that comes in stick form. Having all the chaos put away makes me so much less stressed and happy while I’m away.

 

7. Research before you go!

Before we go to a new place, we scope top rated places in the area. We will watch an episode of Anthony Bourdain exploring the city, browse yelp and  we take advice from people on social media – “Hey going to Miami, anyone have any restaurant suggestions?” on your Facebook page works wonders.

I would have never tried the Peruvian Restaurant, Chalan on the Beach in Miami had it not been recommended by someone since it looks like a little hole in the wall and there are so many restaurants to try in Miami, but it was one of our favorite meals!

I keep a running notepad in my iPhone of places I want to try with little notes next to them as to what they are and check them off as we go. I also write down places we tried and liked if we go back or for friends. We ate so much seafood in Miami that finally one night we were like, all I want is a burger- by researching and looking on Yelp, we ended up at the 11th street diner that had one of the best burgers I’ve ever had!

Fried snapper and mixed seafood ceviche at Chalan on the Beach

Next time you order avocado toast, ask them to add smoked salmon. Delicious combo at Tasty Beach Cafe, was like a Kosher Cafe Gitane in Miami.

8. Finding a Hotel

Using travel search engines like Expedia and Priceline are an excellent way to get a grasp on hotel costs. I start the research a couple months out to see where hotels are, what they are listed for and my wish list. Here’s how I usually find the best hotel for the money.

I list my requirements, Miami for example I wanted:

• The hotel to be on a beach with pools and beach chairs
• To have some walkability
• In South Beach or within 3 miles of South Beach
• All 3 nights to total under $800
• 4-star hotel minimum

Start Researching What is Obtainable for the Money:

As I started doing research, I noticed the hotels in South Beach were clocking in between $300-$400 a night, which was just not in my mindful budget so I realized I had to head north. I was able to compromise my wish list to stay within my budget by booking a 4-star hotel that was on the beach and an $8 Uber away from South Beach.

I booked the Grand Beach Hotel, a newly renovated hotel just north of the Fontainebleau- the rooms were spacious and clean with water views- had two bathrooms and a sitting room separate from the bedroom. The service was a little lacking, but other then that, it was a great hotel!

Book Via the Hotel Website:

My last tip I will share with you regarding hotels is that although Expedia is a great tool to look and compare prices, it is always best to book directly through the hotel. Often when you book directly through the hotel, they might be running discount programs even greater then the travel sites or you can sign up for emails to get a discount or even advanced payment can shave off some dollars.

I also find that when you purchase through the own company site, you are treated a little better then when you purchase via a travel site.

sitting room looking into the bedroom at the Grand Beach Hotel

Bedroom of the Grand Beach Hotel

Tranquility rooftop pool at the hotel. 

So there you have it- Hallier Home Travel Tips. I know this is a long post, so if you made it this far, I salute you.

Happy and Safe Travels!