No one loves coming home from vacation broke.Â
I sure don’t! As a self-proclaimed frugalista, I hate paying full price for anything. IÂ love snagging deals…especially on activities and vacation getaways. The best vacations are the ones that make memories, not debt!
I love being able to pay for everything ahead of time. On vacation, I only want to pay for food and souvenirs…not think about how I am going to have to sacrifice my Starbucks to pay for the fun when it is all over. Â
When it comes to planning a trip, or even a fun weekend activity, these websites are my money-saving go-to’s. Several on this list are Florida/Orlando specific, but there are a few others that will be great tools regardless of whether you want a cheap vacation to Florida or elsewhere. Â
Groupon
Seriously….if a website could be a BFF, Groupon would be one of mine!
We are always finding super cool activities via Groupon. They have everything from huge international trips, to quirky little local activities that we may not otherwise check out except for the deal. PLUS, they seem to always be running sales with promo codes for extra doneros off. It makes my heart happy.
Several of the activities I mention in my post, 8 Awesome Budget and Kid-Friendly Orlando Activities, often run Groupon deals to give families more bang for their buck. For example, by checking Groupon first now, you could easily save 10% on admission to the Crayola Experience! Yippee!
Groupon has expanded to areas nationwide. So, whether you are planning to visit Florida, or your own backyard, chances are you can check out Groupon and find something fun!
Find a great Groupon deal here!
Undercover Tourist rocks my socks off!
When we traveled to Florida for our 3rd anniversary trip ( before the magic of becoming actual residents occurred), we used Undercover Tourist to save big money on Universal tickets. The site has since expanded and it offers awesome discounts for Disney, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Legoland and beyond. For example, simply going through Undercover Tourist can save you up to $20 off a single-day ticket at Sea World, tax included!
They also have deals for attractions in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The site is reputable, secure and they offer free shipping of actual tickets (if you purchase enough in advance). Plus, their site is chock full of awesome resources like crowd calendars, to help you plan the best days for certain parks. Even as a local expert, I still use this resource and find it very accurate. I highly recommend everyone checks out this site before planning their Florida Vacation!
Check out UnderCover Tourist here!
TravelZoo
Yeah…buddy. This one excites me. TravelZoo is so totes amazing at finding getaway deals I can’t stand it. If you don’t know where you want to vacation and are open to suggestions based on deals-this is your stop. At TravelZoo, you can search deals based on your current location. Plus, whether you want a short trip, long trip, last-minute trip, domestic, international getaway or local activity—the site is categorized and easy to navigate.
My fave feature on TravelZoo is their Top 20 newsletter. A quick email sign up will get you their weekly newslette, which will include their creme de la creme deal picks that make even the most exotic locations seem within financial reach!
Search the TravelZoo deals here!
HomeAway or AirBnB
Hotels can be costly if you have a larger group or like the flexibility and privacy of suites. This is why I love vacation rentals and sites that let you rent out a home for a short period of time.
We jumped on this bandwagon while traveling and have never had a bad experience. Oftentimes, homeowners even provide extra information and support in finding out the best ways to experience a destination. Shop around and read reviews, but you could definitely score a great deal like this ocean beach condo that sleeps up to 5 for just $85/night.
Orlando on the Cheap
The peeps over at Orlando on the Cheap do an amazing job of hunting down local deals and posting them in an easy to navigate blog site.
This resource is incredibly thorough. You can navigate through a variety of free and cheap activities for kids and adults alike. Plus, you can even custom search for deals available during your stay. They also have a free email where you can have deals directly sent to your inbox.
If you are not set on Orlando, this site is an extension of a larger network…FloridaOnTheCheap. This site will provide the same thoroughness of resources for deals statewide. Super cool!
Check out Orlando on the Cheap Here
VisitOrlando.com  
VisitOrlando is probably the most comprehensive resource online for planning your Orlando vacation.
This site has it all. Events, things to do, places to stay…and, yes, a page completely dedicated to discounts. Noted as the “Official Travel Source for Orlando Travel Planning,” VisitOrlando even has brick and mortar visitor centers,where you can purchase discount attraction tickets and speak to local experts in person.
Go to VisitOrlando.com now
Money Saving Airline SitesÂ
So, technically this isn’t one site, because there are several good ones.
The cost of airfare tends to be the barrier that stands between people and their dream vacation…or even just their long overdue weekend getaway.
Fortunately, there are some great budget airlines and online tools to help you save a few bucks on the journey. CheapOAir is just one of the great, one-stop shop to price compare airfare and hotels at any and all locations that are on your #bucketlist. Long about Wednesday of every week, I find myself frequently checking out the site to review their last minute vacation deals and trying to finagle excuses out of my weekend plans!
Sites like AirfareWatchdog, Priceline, and Skyscanner will also help you easily hack your airfare and get a bargain.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is my favorite site to check traveler reviews before booking hotel rooms when traveling! You would be hard-pressed to find a hotel, airline or destination activity that doesn’t have a review.
Travelers are also able to upload their own photos. So, you can be sure to get accurate visuals of the locations you are considering.
I do suggest you take some reviews with a grain of salt. We recently stayed in a hotel in Paris, that had good reviews overall, but there were a couple bad reviews and we booked anyway. It turned out to be a great experience for us, but I was glad that I went in with some varied expectations.
Click here to find some great Orlando Hotel Deals from TripAdvisor
AllTheRooms.com
This site was just recently introduced to me when they reached out and asked me to check them out. Since I was currently searching for a room in Venice, I gave it a shot.
I found the site to be incredibly helpful. With an easy search navigation, you can curate hotel deals from multiple sites, to help you find just what you need at the price you want. I ended up finding a great place on AirBnB, but I was able to compare it against other accommodations and feel confident that I was getting a good deal.
Plus, alltherooms.com also hosts a blog with some great travel tips and posts, like this one on currently trending travel destinations.
Flavio
This is a great resource! As a new resident in Florida, I can really use all these resources for my family!! Thanks
klawrence518
Thank you, Flavio! I am glad you found it helpful!
Deb B.
These are such awesome websites to have in my back pocket! Thanks for putting them all in one post for easy access :). I absolutely don’t want to have to worry about coming home from vacay broke. No one wants that stress! Thanks for all the recommendations 🙂
Shareen
Great posts and these were some awesome tips. TravelZoo is my fav! Will have to check out some of the others listed.
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