4 Under-the-Radar Ways To Book Cheaper Bucket-List Travel

Bucket-list destinations tend to get ruled out for cost before anyone checks whether a cheaper path to get there actually exists. However, in many cases, the biggest savings come not from giving up the dream destination entirely, but instead rethinking your approach.

From underutilized airfare perks to alternative lodging, there are many strategies to stretch a travel budget. Below, we've outlined some underused tactics for creating your dream holiday for a much more affordable rate.

Learn More: 21 Costly Travel Mistakes That Can Drain Your Vacation Budget

Be Smart: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too

Book a Repositioning Cruise Instead of a Standard Sailing

When cruise ships move between seasonal regions in spring and fall, cruise lines sell those transitional voyages at a steep discount to fill cabins during an otherwise empty crossing. Repositioning cruises can go for as low as $41/night, according to YouTube travel channel KirkToriStory — and these are for desirable itineraries. Just a word to the wise: These sailings tend to run longer than typical cruises and hit ports that don't normally appear on standard itineraries, since the ship is relocating rather than running a fixed loop.

Use a Home Exchange Instead of a Hotel

Platforms like HomeExchange.com and Kindred let members swap homes with other travelers worldwide for either a flat annual membership fee or a nominal pay-per-stay rate. You can save quite a bit of money that way, especially if you factor in kitchen access and other costs a hotel stay wouldn't cover.

Book a Flight With a Free Stopover Program Built In

Several international airlines let passengers extend a layover into a multi-day stop at no additional airfare, some with a free hotel included. Icelandair allows a stopover in Reykjavik for up to seven days on any transatlantic route between North America and Europe, according to online travel agency AranGrant. Turkish Airlines offers up to three free hotel nights plus a city tour for connections over 20 hours through Istanbul, per UpgradedPoints.com. TAP Air Portugal allows up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto at no extra fare. A single international ticket effectively becomes two destinations for the price of one.

Target the Shoulder Season on Purpose

Repositioning cruises and many stopover deals cluster specifically around spring and fall shoulder seasons when demand drops, but weather is usually still fantastic. Building a bucket-list trip around this window rather than peak summer or holiday travel compounds savings.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

More From MoneyLion:

• 11 Subtly Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money — That You Should Do, Too

• I'm a Mechanic: 5 Sports Cars I Would Never Buy and Why They Aren't Worth It

• 5 Costco Furniture Items That Deliver a Big Home Upgrade for Less

• Discover a Smarter Way to Keep Unexpected Expenses From Derailing Your Budget