Happy Friday: Saving for a Trip to Italy
Sent from reader, Suzanne:
I just wanted to submit our family pic for your next Happy Friday photo! Thank you so much for helping us save. Since I started following your blog, I started a special vacation savings account. And finally we were able to travel to Italy for a dream vacation! We even took our 4 year old daughter and 20 month old son (tickets are free for kids under two!).
We live very frugally so we can travel–our favorite thing to do… but a trip to Italy was not possible until we started our special savings. We even used a coupon in Florence, Italy! So it’s even possible to follow frugal habits when you are ON vacation (going to museums on free days, fly during down seasons, bargaining when purchasing souvenirs, etc.). We chose Italy to visit my sister-in-law who is teaching art there on a fellowship. She was the perfect tour guide!
HAPPY FRIDAY! 
Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique photo to share?! Email us at happyfriday@hip2save(dot)com. Every Friday, I will post one photo, submitted by you and/or another Hip2Save reader, that gives us a glimpse into your frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If your photo is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon e-card!
** Check out all the previous Happy Friday pictures here.
Good for you! I always wanted to go there! Love to see how brave you are taking the two little ones!
Ditto what Ann said! Enjoy your travels.
Hi Suzanne–that is amazing and inspiring–thanks for sharing! And you fit right in with your cute outfit 🙂
Thanks Ann, Linda and Mary!! 🙂
I can totally relate to you! 🙂 We used to travel (frugally) but since our 2 children were born traveling became more difficult.
I have always used coupons and have bought clothes from the clearance rack and thrift stores my entire life, but since I discovered Hip2save, my savings have gone through the roof!
Now we are saving for a vacation next year to Peru and I am positive that with the help of Collin, we will make it! 🙂
OMG Peru!!!!!!! Have FUN!
Thanks Heather, so far we got the guide book, haha! 🙂
And I agree with your comment about Europe being affordable. We went to Italy when I was VERY pregnant with our first child and we stayed at camping sites through Camping Plus. Although their website looks like it targets backpackers, we chose the private tents. Their camping sites are in nice locations and include many services such as clean showers, swimming pool, restaurant, info and booking desk, etc. We had a blast and saved tons of money!
Rebeca, it’s me Suzanne, from the Happy Friday photo above! We went to Peru for our honeymoon. We were able to use FF miles going during the ‘down season.’ It is VERY inexpensive there. 6 days of hotel in Cusco was around $40. Yes, I’m serious! Have a wonderful time!
Hi Suzanne. It’s been 3 days since this post and I’m not sure if you’ll even see this but I haven’t stopped thinking about your crazy hotel deal in Peru. Can you tell me how you found such an amazing deal?
I am from Peru. The food is amazing there. Have fun!!!! And Peru is more than Cuzco trust me.
Watch this video on you tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=fAqFJP4N4ME&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_141552&v=qo_2vq8Gm_A
What happens when Peru brings its culture to the small town of Peru, Nebraska?
The new ambassadors of Peru, a collection of musicians, artists, chefs and athletes, eat ceviche, dance huaynos, drink pisco and more with the 569 residents of Peru, Nebraska.
Discover more about Peru (the country) at www(dot)livinginperu(dot)com
Everyone has this idea that Europe is expensive – and it’s not that bad! We go to Europe once every three years and if you plan ahead, search for deals and YES buy Rick Steves book (haha) for $ shortcuts….you can go for less than Disney. Tips…fly into Dublin and fly Ryan Air for travel within Europe! We did this on our honeymoon that was in Italy and saved $600 a ticket! Also, fly during the “low times”. We tend to go in May….sales on airline tickets are in March…..in 2010 we went to Ireland for a week and paid $282 r/t! Anyone can do this, it just takes time, time time! Do it ladies! (I think I need to write a book on frugal travel, b/c I’m the girl for that LOL)
Write the book, Heather, I will buy it!
Or start a blog!! 😉 Good tips! Thanks!!
I agree!
Please start a blog!
I cant find any tickets that low!!! Help!!!
We’re a family of five who desperately want to go to Greece!!
Tickets this year have not been that low, which is disappointing. Greece has been high for a few years, just had a good friend go in November and the price she paid was horrid.
I am in NO way bragging about our adventures, but I want to tell people that YES you can go on the vacation of your dreams and you don’t have to lose the bank to do it! My hubby is a career firefighter and I’m an underpaid instructor for a failing state (financially). But we save, find deals and plan! 🙂 I do probably about 30-40 hours worth of research before going on any big trips….find good deals on places to stay but ALWAYS check with tripadvisor before booking. LOL!
ANother tip, we travel around a lot with our two little ones…and need inexpensive hotel rooms. If your hubby (or you) are a fire or police officer, you get “state rate” on hotel rooms which are sometimes 40% off the lowest advertised rate. Also, if you priceline – check out betterbidding.com to see what people paid for actual hotel rooms (recently) so you don’t overpay. *hehe*
How do you get the ‘state rate’ on hotel room? I have a friend who is a police officer. I want to tell him about this!! Thanks!!
Hi Diane! When you are reserving a hotel room online through the actual hotel chain website, they offer a variety of discount options (ex. AARP) One is state rate or federal rate (sometimes a variety of terms are used)….and police/fire and some ems are employed by local municipalities. We were told by one hotel chain that we qualified for the “state rate” (of course you are technically supposed to be doing business the town you staying)….and when we called up several other chains we were told the same thing. Note….sometimes when checking in they will ask for your city/state identification card – so be prepared for that. (Just an ID card that is given by the city that shows you are a firefighter/police officer)
oh my goodness heather, I have been trying to plan a trip to Ireland for years and years and years and years, but I just don’t see how I can afford it! Please start a blog. Or a book. or be my travel guide! haha.
Oh what part are you wanting to conquer? First trip we just did Dublin and second we rented a car (an adventure in and of itself – ha) and drove to the Dingle Peninsula. (My profile pic shows me wandering the coast near Dingle). I fly out of Chicago, you probably need to fly out of a larger city to get the best rate. Do you have any larger cities near you? Note that I tend to see flights to Dublin going on sale in March and usually ending by the end of March….I don’t think this year the sale was so awesome but I’m particular. haha
I’ve thought about just (haha) going to Dublin. I’ll more then likely travel alone, and I figure it would probably be best to stay to a larger city. I am in NC, so RDU is my “large” international airport :\. Good to know about watching for flights in March, is that buying tickets in march, or flying out in march?
The great thing about it being just me is i’ll really be able to go anytime. I like the advice from everyone about just make the commitment and DO IT! I think I get so discouraged every time I start to plan and I realize that lodging and airfare is going to be so much I wonder how people have any money left once they get there 🙂
Okay darling, what I’ve found is that the sales are in March, and travel is thru the end of May. Last four years American Airlines has had pretty fantastic rates. This year wasn’t as “grand” as the last few years, but compared to their normals rates – not too shabby. If you want an escorted tour, keep an eye on the Travelzoo top 20 sales, sometimes I see some pretty good Dublin rates…..including airfare, hotels, tours, etc. Here’s the link, and make sure to check it out each week for savings! https://www.travelzoo.com/top20/
Remember, if you avoid the summer months, you are not traveling at peak seasons (for the most part) and you will get better rates. Downfall of going in May (what we have done) is it’s sorta damp, not as warm, etc. But it didn’t dampen our spirits at all! 😉 🙂 Oh, and as far as lodging there, I LOVE Bewley’s hotels. Overall, the hotels were nice (and nice sized) and they OFTEN run sales! They have pay ahead rates, they have sale rates, and they have just unexpected sales. We have got rooms for as low as 79 Euros a night, but this last trip I think I just did the pay ahead sale and got it for 99 Euros a night. https://www.bewleyshotels.com/
Danielle~ My dream vacation is ireland to and in the past 15 months I have managed to save enough for almost 3 flight tickets. The rest I figure is down hill from there. I started doing my weekly shopping with cash and every new pay period I take the left over cash and put it in my secret savings account. Any money I make of ebay and craigslist goes into the account as well. By this time next year I think I will be packing my bags and taking my family. If you don’t just make a point to do this it is something that will slip by. Due to what savings I have from extra money I made last year it has paid for a ticket to England this year for me to just visit friends. To top it off I’m a stay at home mom, I don’ t have a steady income but where there’s a will there’s a way:) Good Luck!
https://www.livingsocial.com/escapes/324156-8-day-ireland-trip?msdc_id=133-grand-rapids (I’ve seen cheaper, but thought of you)
OMG!! My parents are planning their first trip to Copenhagen, Denmark this July (visiting my brother & family). My question to you is, where or how do they go about getting the lowest airfare. They’ll be flying out of LAX (Los Angeles Airport, CA). Only round trip tix, no car rental nor hotel (mind you, they’ll be staying w/ Bro & Co). Please, please help!!
Just booked England through orbitz and got a fair price, stop over in Amsterdam. Not a bad flight either about a straight shot:)
Vanessa, well their best bet is to stalk the internet. That’s what I did. Take up some of the sites people recommended here on the page, and just look…daily. I’ll be honest, in July, the rates aren’t going to be really inexpensive. It’s the peak travel time, and deals will be few. 🙁 But if you really spend a lot of time just searching and stalking, you might run across a deal. Good luck darling, hope they have a blast.
Kellis, that’s AWESOME. Have a ball.
My parents pay over $400 just to visit me in Nashville (they are in L.A.) and that’s one of the cheapest rates!
That’s per ticket.
Oh goodness. Have they looked into Southwest? Granted, it not a glam way to fly, but I always fly that way….also check out rates leaving on a Tues/Thurs and staying over the weekend. Rates seem lower that way. Man, that rate is horrible…..and now most the airlines are charging for luggage too. blech!
That IS the Southwest rate! They can only leave on the weekend which is probably why it’s high.
Holy crap! They have flash sales, you may want to watch for those. That’s usually how I snag good tickets.
Heather, I am checking right now Rick Steves blog about Peru! I usually go by Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor. Thanks for the tip! 🙂
My favorite site for cheap airfare is momondo . com. They organize ALL of the travel sites (including kayak, priceline, cheap fares, and others) with a fantastic calendar feature. My husband and I flew roundtrip from Denver to Lima, Peru for only $400 a piece in June for our honeymoon! I’ve gotten tickets to Ghana for $1200 (from NYC) and to Spain for $500 (from Denver) and other great bargains! It is a great resource! For anyone who is down for more of an adventure, check out couch surfing . com where people offer up their couches (or spare rooms if you’re lucky) to travelers headed through. I have met some wonderful people through them!
Granted, some HATE Rick Steves, but I found his books to be useful when out in the cities. (I always try to hide the fact that I’m using them, as I didn’t want to announce to the world that I was a tourist HAHA) And tripadvisor is my savior right now. About ten years ago we had a HORRRRRRRIBLE experience in a hotel in Kansas City, so now we use it BEFORE we book, always. hehe.
And Sara, that’s awesome! 🙂 Go see the world!!!!! 🙂 🙂
I totally agree with Heather. We went to London a while back and we stayed in apartments typically used by college students. It was huge and way cheaper than a hotel, plus it came with a kitchen. Here is the website for the UK housing organization Acorn https://www.acorn-london.co.uk/study-abroad/
Heather, I’ll co-write a blog with ya! Seriously…
And for those of you interested in Peru, when we went (cheaply) for our honeymoon, we brought only old clothes with us and things to trade. So before we left, we donated the clothing we brought to the disadvanged/poor we came across. Then I took a few nicer things (ie, silk sweater, jeans, etc.) to a local market and I traded for gifts to bring back home! It was win-win!
Love this community!
~Suzanne (from the pic above :))
LOVE! We were supposed to go to London a few years back (was visiting my aunt who was living in Germany) but our flights got cancelled. boohooo! Have a girlfriend who is loving the single life..went there for a NYE celebration with a certain fellow with whom she met thru work. (Oh to be single and no obligations…running off to go on adventures…hehe. On second thought, I enjoy my life as it is so much more heehehehe!) London is SO on my list….
And you guys and your talks of Peru are making me droooool! We were supposed to go in 2009 but I found out I was pregnant with our second child, and our doctor recommended I not go (as I would have been in the 3rd trimester). I was so bummed because I REALLY want to see Machu Picchu. How much fun you must have had!
Airfare is more now because the EU is making flights to/from the US pay the same taxes as the Europeans have to pay. So the $282 r/t tickets are a thing of the past. But you can still save $$$ by doing the Ryan Air trick. BE SURE TO FOLLOW BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS or those cheap tickets will get expensive very, very quickly.
I saw some flights going into Dublin (sale was in March) that were in the $400 r/t price range, still not too shabby I don’t think. 😉 And YES watch weight. I went a little limoncello crazy and bought too many….and paid dearly for it lol
What an awesome story! Good job with the savings Suzanne! I am saving to take my granddaughter to Hawaii.
Rick Steves’ book is excellent, for example, buy food from the supermarket where locals shop, then take them to the park or piazza for a picnic. Great for people watching too. Stay at 3 stars hotel usually run by locals, inexpensive and you get to practice their language.
In Italy we would buy pizza slices from the street vendors (usually floated around 3-4 Euros) which were HUGE and filled us up….or would hit up the little panini shops for 6-8 Euros. We would eat breakfast at the hotel/b&b and lunch inexpensive,then for dinner we would BIG! 😉
Thats amazing.
Heather – Definitely love hearing travel tips and ways to save.
Whenever we travel to another area or a different state, as soon as we plan to go we order a coupon book online. My husband and I went to Colorado in July and I ate and did everything for free! They are full of buy one get one coupons 🙂 On that trip we spent 20 for the book, and easily saved over 600
How do you find coupon books online? Is there a particular site you’ve had luck with?
Please, please, PLEASE let me know what you did to save so much and how you did it! Also, let me know of anything fun you did in Colorado…I have been wanting to go there for a while, but I finally may get the chance to in the summer and I am already super excited! I would be going out of Houston. Thank you so much!
I’m pretty sure she’s just talking about the entertainment book. It’s great- I buy it whenever I go on any kind of lengthy trip 🙂
Colorado is fantastic (not that I am biased at all….Colorado born and raised!). E-mail me if you want any advice on places to go! sara.l.buckingham@gmail.com. Also, Steph – the Entertainment guide is great and available for order online!
I just booked my London trip and used a Living Social deal to stay in a brand new 5 star hotel. I am so excited, it is to celebrate my son’s college graduation. I got a cheap flight out of Toronto (direct)….I am so excited!!!!!!!!!
Have fun! 🙂
Thank you very much! 🙂
Did you fly to Europe with your 20 month old on your lap? Brave!
Lisa: Yes, our son Henry was on our lap, but my husband was with us so we split the job 🙂 And it doesn’t hurt that our little guy is a real sweetie!
My husband flew to Greece by himself with our then 21 month old boy and although he was concerned, they had a great time. They flew overnight and the little one slept most of the time 🙂
I have a 2 and 3 year old. I’m overwhelmed just taking them to see my parents and flying from CO to CA. I can’t imagine doing what you are doing. Travelling with little ones is so tough! You are a super-mom!
LOL traveling with kids is a challenge but worth it. I took my 3 kids on a plane from UT to AZ by myself and 2 of mine are disabled. I took my 8 year old to Wisconsin to be part of a research study on early learning and it was a trick changing his diaper on the plane. But we had a blast spending time just the 2 of us.
Joan: Keep in mind my husband was with me and we had my S.I.L. once we arrived in Italy. It was not easy, but still worth it!
Kath: YOU are a super mom and person. Wow!
Suzanne–Oh, I forgot to mention that my husband is with me and I’m still overwhelmed!
Wow love this! Suzanna not sure if you will ever see this but would love to know which program your sister’s fellowship is through? My sig. other is finishing his Masters of Fina Arts and has been SEARCHING for a fellowship in Italy to no avail! I’d be happy to post my email if you don’t mind sharing 🙂
Julietta27 (my daughter is Juliette). YES, I can share with you. Click on my name here and send me a convo via Etsy or post your email here and I’ll tell you how my SIL got her fellowship! 🙂 Suzanne
I have an Amazon credit card…50,000 pts gets you a free flight to Europe (not airline specific and up to an $800 value). I’m 500 points away! Convinced the hubby to go back to Italy since the flights should be free or close to it. I pay it off monthly, but put grocery purchases, cell phone bills on there. Also doesn’t hurt that I get triple the points for Amazon purchases. Also, but adoption expenses and part of a car purchase on it. If you can use it and pay it off, it’s a great way to earn tickes or gift cards.
Also, for Italy, alot of people rent out rooms in apartments. Alot of them are really nice and much cheaper. In Venice, the owner built a room with a separate entrance, had a private bath and little kitchenette. He even had food in it for our breakfast….cost $75 a night. And if you’re spending most of your time out and about enjoying the Italian lifestyle, why pay so much for a hotel room.
WOW… love all the comments about traveling and where to find great deals. Keep them coming!!! And yes, heather, start a travel blog!
Love your story!!
Yes, I agree. Tha “time of the year” is coming up, might not be the best time to travel, but these are great ideas. Thank you and, please, keep them coming.
Collin, seems like with similar Happy Friday pictures from the past (legit stay at home jobs, etc) it would be worth an entry just for hipsters to share their frugal traveling tips and then compile this wealth of knowledge to achieve that “dream come true” vacation! I am sure you are not busy enough already 😉
We travel by truck and camper and always stop at interstate rest areas when get near our destination and stop at chambers of commerce. Between signing up the web site for the vacation city, brochures, guides and menus we get discounted admissions to area attractions, food, shopping, you name it. The trill of hunting bargains is just the same as couponing!
Suzanne….Good for you! You look so cute in that picture. Enjoy your babies. They will grow up fast!
I’m going to Peru this summer – I’m so thrilled to be taking my family of four all on miles! Our hotels (luxury) are being paid for by points! Our expenses will be the 4 day Inca Trail hike and 4 day Amazon Tour and food. If you want to travel, follow The Points Guy, Mommy Points, and Frugal Travel Guy blogs. Read religiously like you read Hip2Save and in no time you will be able to travel!
what camera and lens shot this photo? it’s beautiful!!!!
Kim – iPhone an instagram filter (the best free app!) Thanks!
Kim: I meant to say I used my iPhone with a filter from Instagram, a free app. I use it everyday!
LOOOOVE all of the great comments. My dream is to travel to Europe but I never seem to make the plung. I am trying diligantly to stick to my budget and efficiently learn to coupon. I love the idea of also applying the savings to traveling and using part of the money I am saving to make my dream come true.
I have to agree with Heather about Travelzoo. Since being signed up for their Weekly Top 20, my boyfriend and I have gone on an Alaskan cruise and also to Ireland for a week. The Ireland trip was awesome–it was out of Chicago and was just a tad over $1000 a person and included r/t airfare, car rental and a 3 bedroom/3 bath townhouse. I thought that was very reasonable. We shopped for food/snacks at the local market and grabbed sandwiches, etc. if we were out and about.
I second the suggestion about staying in apartments. About 7 years ago, my ex-husband and I spent 3 weeks in Italy. We rented apartments in all 3 cities (Rome, Florenece and Venice) and the locations and price were AWESOME!! Plus, we were able to do laundry at each apartment so we were able to pack pretty light. And if you want to visit any popular tourist attractions, often you can purchase your tickets here for a savings.
Hello everyone, I have some questions about going to Italy. We are planning a trip mid March 2013. What are the cheapest flight routes to take? How much do you think a 10 day trip would cost? One thing about this trip we are not using any credit cards(we don’t have any). Most people say they would never travel without one, but I feel if you have one you are apt to spend what you don’t have. What are your thoughts about not having a credit card? Our destinations are Rome and Florence. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.