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    Here's How I Afford To Travel Well And Often Without Spending A Fortune

    *Sees flight deal, books vacation*

    I'm Hannah, and traveling is my absolute favorite thing. I find that I can only function at work when I have a trip to look forward to, and I take advantage of all my long weekends and days off.

    While I wish I could travel all the time without a care in the world, the reality is that traveling can be expensive. And as a Manhattan-based writer, I have limited funds to use on my adventures. But I've figured out a handful of tricks that allow me to travel well on a budget. Here are a few money-saving tips that work for me:

    1. Travel during the shoulder season.

    2. Take advantage of credit card rewards points.

    3. Stalk the internet for the best flight deals.

    If you have time to spare before booking a trip, never, ever settle for the first flight price you see. There are a handful of great apps you can use to track flights for the absolute best deals. I always rely on Hopper to tell me what dates are cheapest to fly, and I subscribe to Scott's Cheap Flights newsletters, so I get emails all the time with amazing flight deals. I also set up Google notifications so I get emails whenever a flight I'm tracking goes up or down in price.

    4. Don't just assume Airbnb (or a home rental) is your best option.

    A cute Airbnb terrace in Paris.

    5. Look for early bird hotel deals.

    The courtyard at the Four Seasons in Mexico City.

    6. Be flexible with your travel dates.

    A screenshot from google flights.

    7. Rent a car, and try doing so through an app.

    My dog sticking his head out of a Jeep Wrangler.

    8. Research free activities in each city you're visiting.

    The Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

    9. Picnic, picnic, picnic.

    A picnic in Paris by the Eiffel Tower.

    10. Take out foreign currency from legitimate ATMs.

    11. Pay attention to airline rules and know what you're signing up for.

    12. Ask locals for their recommendations.

    A plate of tomatoes and basil in Nice, France.

    13. Start a savings system that works for you.

    Putting a coin in a piggy bank.

    14. Plan out your travel itinerary ahead of time.

    A woman writing in a journal.