OK GUYS, I’VE CONTEMPLATED POSTING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WAS ALWAYS WORRIED I’D BE BLACKLISTED BY HOTELS & TRAVEL BRANDS. HOPEFULLY, THAT’S NOT THE CASE! BECAUSE I’M GOING TO SHARE MY “NOT SO SECRET NOW” MONEY SAVING HACK WHEN TRAVELING!

THE BEST MONEY SAVING HACK WHEN TRAVELING

I MENTIONED MY FAVORITE TRICKS FOR SAVING MONEY WHEN WE VISITED ZION RECENTLY. BUT I THOUGHT MY FAVORITE HACK DESERVED IT’S VERY OWN BLOG POST.

AMAZON. THAT’S IT.

OK, SO YOU’RE PROBABLY LIKE “YEA I LOVE AMAZON, HOW DOES THAT HELP ME?”.

EVERY TIME WE TRAVEL – WHETHER WE’RE STAYING AT A HOTEL, AIRBNB, GLAMPING SITE OR WITH FAMILY, I SHIP SUPPLIES USING AMAZON.

BACK WHEN I WORKED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, I USED TO SHIP GEAR AND REPLACEMENT PARTS TO MUSICIANS WHILE THEY WERE ON TOUR. A LOT OF THE TIME, I WOULD SHIP THEM TO WHATEVER HOTEL THEY WERE STAYING AT NEXT. I WOULD MAKE SURE THE SHIPPING TIMES LINED UP AND HAVE THE BOX ADDRESSED TO BOTH THE HOTEL & “ARRIVING GUEST NAME”.

IF THERE WAS ROOM IN THE NOTES SECTION, I’D ADD THE ARRIVING DATE. I’D ALSO CALL THE HOTEL A LOT OF TIMES AND LET THEM KNOW THERE WAS A PACKAGE ARRIVING FOR WHOEVER THE GUEST WAS. MOST OF THE TIME, THEY WOULD HAVE THE PACKAGE WAITING IN THE ROOM OR HAVE IT SITTING BEHIND THE FRONT DESK FOR PICKUP.

A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE TRAVELED TO CANADA, I FORGOT A FEW THINGS AND THINGS AT HOME AND OPTED TO SHIP THEM TO THE HOTEL VIA AMAZON PRIME (THERE WEREN’T ANY STORES NEARBY).

NORMALLY, WE STOP AT A GROCERY STORE ON OUR WAY TO A HOTEL OR VACATION RENTAL AND STOCK UP ON THINGS LIKE WATER, SNACKS & DRINKS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION, I’LL ALSO HOLD OFF ON BUYING THINGS LIKE SUNSCREEN & TOILETRIES THAT TAKE UP EXTRA SPACE.

BUT I HAD A GAME CHANGING IDEA… IF I USE AMAZON PRIME AND AMAZON PRIME NOW FOR ALL OF OUR GROCERY DELIVERIES, COULD I HAVE THE SAME STUFF DELIVERED TO A HOTEL OR VACATION RENTAL?

THE ANSWER… YES!

HOW I USE AMAZON PRIME TO SAVE MONEY TRAVELING

ALRIGHT, HERE’S HOW IT WORKS…

A WEEK OR SO BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR A TRIP, I MAP OUT WHAT WE NEED. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER.

there’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night in a hotel room, dehydrated & knowing you’re about to crack open a $10 bottle of water.

i save a lot of money traveling by stocking up on food & drinks – not to mention it makes our stay so much more comfortable and relaxing.

WHAT AMENITIES ARE THERE WHERE YOU’RE STAYING?

WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR STAY, FIGURE OUT WHAT AMENITIES ARE IN YOUR ROOM OR RENTAL.

• IS THERE A REFRIGERATOR? IS THERE A FREEZER?
• IS THERE A KITCHEN OR KITCHENETTE?
• WHAT KIND OF COFFEE MAKER DOES THE ROOM HAVE?
• WHAT FOOD, DRINKS OR MEALS ARE INCLUDED?
• ARE WATER BOTTLES PROVIDED?
• IF IT’S ALL INCLUSIVE – IS ALCOHOL INCLUDED?

how long is your trip?

THE AMOUNT OF FOOD OR DRINKS YOU’LL NEED VARIES DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF YOUR TRIP. IF YOU’RE STAYING FOR A WEEK VS 2 DAYS, YOU’LL WANT TO ADJUST THE QUANTITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WATER!

WHAT SEASON ARE YOU TRAVELING DURING?

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING DURING THE SUMMER, YOU’LL WANT TO REMEMBER SUNSCREEN, MORE WATER, MORE REFRESHING ITEMS.

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING DURING THE WINTER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO INCLUDE THINGS THAT WILL WARM YOU UP!

A SAMPLE LIST OF WHAT I ORDER

• COFFEE & TEA PODS – CHECK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF COFFEE MAKERS ARE IN THE ROOMS FIRST!
• SOUP, HOT COCOA & BROTH PODS FOR EASY COFFEE MAKER MADE SNACKS
• A PACK OF WATER BOTTLES
• SPARKLING WATER FOR DRINKING & MIXED DRINKS
• INSTANT COCKTAIL MIXERS
• ASSORTED SNACK BOX
• SOME CANDY OR COOKIES FOR LATE NIGHT TREATS
• INSTANT SMOOTHIES, OATMEAL OR PROTEIN POWDER
• LIQUID IV PACKETS FOR STAYING HYDRATED

OTHER HELPFUL ITEMS TO PACK

• PORTABLE NESPRESSO MAKER (NO POWER NEEDED)
• PORTABLE / TRAVEL SPARKLING WATER MAKER
• YETI OR REUSABLE / INSULATED CUP FOR COFFEE OR COCKTAILS (THESE COME IN HANDY FOR MAKING DRINKS IN THE ROOM OR FOR BRINGING DOWN TO THE POOL / HOT TUB)
• INSTANT SOUP, NOODLES, MAC N’ CHEESE, ETC.
• CAR VENT AIR FRESHENER – YOU CAN CLIP THIS ONTO THE AC UNIT IN A HOTEL ROOM TO MAKE THE ROOM SMELL BETTER
• OR BRING A TRAVEL SIZE DIFFUSER AND YOUR FAVORITE ESSENTIAL OIL
• CHROMECAST OR FIRE STICK – THAT WAY YOU CAN STREAM YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS & MOVIES
• TRAVEL POWER STRIP & EXTENSION
• TRAVEL SHEET SET – JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO SLEEP IN YOUR OWN SHEETS
• HOTEL ROOM LOCK / ALARM
• ON THE GO LAUNDRY DETERGENT YOU CAN USE IN THE BATHROOM SINK
• TRAVEL BLENDER

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