The United States is a great country. It has it all. It has glaciers and deserts. It borders with three oceans. Enormous variety of wildlife. It has rapid moving cities, and countryside villages. However, traveling in the US might be an expensive business. Hotels, car rentals and attractions tend to be highly priced. Hotel prices start at $100 per night per person. Renting a compact SUV will cost an extra $90 per day in the major cities, without insurance. The cities that are ranked highest on the cost of living index (New York, San Francisco, Maui and Miami) are also some of the most popular cities. Hence, budget travelers might find it difficult to travel in the US without emptying their budget. After traveling for a total of 6 months in the US in 10 states, I gained a trick or two to help me save money. Here are my top 10 tips of saving money while traveling in the US:
1. Shop at Walmart and Costco
Although groceries are usually not overpriced in the US, buying at a cheaper retail store can save you a bunch in the long term. I usually shop at cheaper retail stores such as Walmart, Costco, Market Basket and Trader Joe’s for food. Walmart is my favorite because it has it all: I can purchase tomatoes, a sweatshirt and a fishing pole in one place. Comparing it to Target for example, Walmart is usually cheaper in all categories, perhaps except technology. However, the quality of the products in Target is usually better.
2. Open a US bank account and credit card
US banking system is among the best in the world. It’s fast, secure and cheap. Importantly for travelers – many US bank account and credit cards don’t have foreign transaction fees. Meaning, when you buy with any different currency than US dollars, you won’t be charged any fees.
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