Affordable Adventures: Travel Tips That Won’t Break the Bank

Let’s bust a myth right away: You don’t have to be rich (or retired) to travel well. With a little intention and some strategic planning, you can enjoy incredible adventures without draining your savings account. From cash back tools to credit card perks to point strategies, here’s how we make travel work for our budget — and how you can too. We’re breaking down the practical and the lesser-known ways to save, plus real-life examples from our own trips.

1. Points Are Your Passport: Make Your Spending Work for You

One of the easiest ways to make travel more affordable is to earn points or miles on the money you already spend. Two of our favorite cards for this are the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the American Express Platinum.

• Capital One Venture offers 2x miles on every purchase. The real win? You can erase travel purchases using points, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners.

• Amex Platinum is ideal if you fly often and value perks like Centurion Lounge access, airline credits, hotel upgrades, and 5x points on flights booked through Amex Travel.

Real-Life Example: We booked round-trip flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico using American Express points, covering over $500 in airfare with points alone. I can’t remember exact flights at the moment, but I know we’ve used points for free airfare before we even started Shutter and Compass. So, If you aren’t using those credit cards in this way…here’s your sign to start. NOW!

Tip: Keep an eye on sign-up bonuses. These often range from 60,000–100,000 points when you meet minimum spending requirements — enough to cover one or two round-trip tickets!

2. Rakuten = Free Money for Travel

We try to use Rakuten every time we shop online. We’re getting better, but you can see that we have a long way to go to fully maximize it — but, we still believe every little bit helps! Rakuten is a cash back platform that gives you money back just for clicking through their site to see if where your shopping is a partner, before you buy from stores like Sephora, Walmart, or even travel sites like Expedia and Booking.com.

If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s our referral link to get started and score a welcome bonus:
👉 Rakuten Referral Link

Insider Tip: Link your Amex or Visa card to earn in-store cashback at places like Ulta and Walgreens, and if we just realized it works for Giant, too! So…all those groceries…Dominion Valley and Haymarket people, I’m talking to you…go ahead and link it for those points!

RAKUTEN POINTS

It’s not a ton, but honestly, we’re still excited we’re getting paid for literally our regular shopping trips.

If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s our referral link to get started and score a welcome bonus:
👉 Rakuten Referral Link

How we use it: When we started our Rakuten account in November, 2024, we earned 4,000 points just to start, and then we quickly added points, without even realizing it! From our regular purchases (some even in-store!) at Adidas, Giant (again - how cool!), Shutterfly, Madison Reed (because…hello, we’re in our 40’s) and legit, I JUST saw that my TACO BUENO purchases in Oklahoma earned me points…all because my American Express is linked. Like really, why would one NOT do this?! while you can convert the points to dollars, we actually send them right over to American Express to keep as points for our travel. I know that there’s a mathematical or better way to figure out what works best, but this is what we’re choosing for now. While I know I still need to thank her, I know I’ve read a lot of my travel credit card information from Jen Woodhouse - https://jenwoodhouse.com/category/travel/ - I’ve known Jen for somewhere around a decade, and she’s the real deal. Excited to hopefully connect soon (once she’s in the country for a hot minute from all of her travels) so we can learn more from her! But we highly recommend checking her site out — she is incredibly knowledgeable. Like really — not just in travel. She does it ALL!

3. Stack the Savings: Cashback + Points + Coupons

Combine these methods for serious savings:

• Use Rakuten (or a similar browser extension like Honey or Capital One Shopping).

• Book with a rewards credit card.

• Search for discount codes or use hotel loyalty programs (e.g., Hilton Honors).

Pro Tip: Book your hotel through Rakuten, use your Amex to pay, and make sure it’s a property you can earn hotel points on. That’s a triple win.

4. Fly Smart: Timing is Everything

• Fly midweek. Tuesdays and Wednesdays often have the best fares.

• Set fare alerts with tools like Google Flights or Hopper.

• Travel off-season or during shoulder seasons (e.g., late April or early October).

You can score $49 one-way fares on Southwest just by flying on a Wednesday in October — peak weather, low prices.

5. JGOOT: Just Get Out of Town

We’re just diving into JGOOT (Just Get Out of Town) — a subscription-based platform that teaches you how to use points and find mistake fares. So far, we’re impressed by how it encourages thinking differently about travel. Definitely legit, and depending on your needs, they can walk you through an amazing process for making your travel not only more affordable, and also getting you into those business class and luxury flights!

JGOOT teaches:

• How to book flights with fewer points by transferring to partners.

• How to find deals where points are valued 2-4x more than booking directly.

We haven’t booked a full trip using it yet, but we’ll report back when we do! It’s worth checking out if you want to level-up your points game.
https://www.jgoot.com

6. Look Local First

Adventure doesn’t always require a passport.

• Check your state’s tourism board for discounts and deals.

• Plan a short road trip to a nearby vineyard, historic town, or hiking trail.

• Search Airbnb Experiences or Groupon for things to do within 2 hours of home.

Some of our favorite days have been 45 minutes from our doorstep. If you’re in Northern Virginia, this is your healthy reminder that you are likely within an hour or two from our Nation’s Capital, Washington DC. There is always so much to see and do there. And what we’ve noticed is that a lot of people who have lived here the longest, STILL haven’t been to our Nation’s Capital. Y’all are missing out! BUT, no fear. If the DC traffic and city life are either intimidating or just aren’t your thing, there are so many beautiful wineries, breweries, restaurants, hiking trails, and so much more close by.

7. Use Travel Communities for Deals and Ideas

Facebook groups, Reddit threads (like r/travelhacks), and even TikTok are full of travelers sharing real-time deals, itineraries, and budget tips. Join the conversation, ask questions, and share what’s worked for you. And as always, hop on over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/shutterandcompass to share your thoughts and questions, or even share about your latest travels and awesome finds.

8. Create a "Travel Fund" Jar (Seriously)

Yes, we love points. But nothing beats cash.

• Start with $10/week.

• Add every time you skip a takeout meal or cancel a subscription you’re not using. Also, if you haven’t canceled those subscriptions you aren’t using…go do that!! You may be shocked by how much you’re not even realizing you’re spending. >>>ask us how we know<<<

We’ve funded everything from cruise excursions to a new carry-on just with what we stock l away over a few months.

You Can Afford to Go

Whether it's a luxe cruise booked with miles, or a weekend Airbnb funded by cashback and a travel jar, there are so many ways to make adventure more accessible.Start where you are. Use what you have. Learn a few new tricks along the way. And remember, a good hike, a free museum…those are still in our travel realm! Enjoy what you can, when you can. And remember: it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Just go and make the memories. You’ll thank yourself (and us!) when you realize how much you love it.

XO,

P.S. We’re working on a future post specifically about how to maximize credit card points like a pro — so stay tuned! Let us know what questions you have so we can get some guest speakers lined up and so we can share more with you!

Disclosures: We may earn a small commission when you use our affiliate links, including Amazon and Rakuten. This comes at no cost to you and helps support future content for Shutter and Compass. Thank you for your support!

She Goes Anyway: Why Women Deserve the World (and How to Start Exploring It Now)

There’s a little spark in many of us — a moment when we hear the name of a faraway place, or scroll past a breathtaking view and think, "I want to go there." But for women, especially those who wear multiple hats — mom, partner, caregiver, professional — that spark can quickly be buried under the weight of responsibility or fear.

I’ve felt it too. As a mom and small business owner, the idea of leaving my daily responsibilities behind for a week (or even a weekend) felt selfish at times. But here’s what I’ve learned: travel isn’t an escape — it’s a homecoming. A return to the you that existed before the to-do lists, the diaper changes, or the late-night conference calls. And that woman deserves to be seen, heard, and inspired by the world around her.

Whether you’re a young mom with toddlers, an empty nester rediscovering your freedom, or someone who has always dreamt of going somewhere — this is your nudge.

1. Why Women Don’t Travel — And Why We Should

Let’s start by naming it: fear. Fear of traveling alone, of something going wrong, of leaving our families, of spending money on ourselves. Sound familiar?

According to a 2023 study by Condé Nast Traveler, 72% of women express an interest in solo travel, but far fewer actually go. Time, safety concerns, and guilt are the main culprits. But here’s the thing — travel doesn't have to mean disappearing for weeks in Bali. It can be a weekend road trip to a nearby winery, a solo cruise, or a girls’ getaway.

Travel builds confidence. Research published by the Journal of Travel Research found that travel improves emotional well-being and cognitive flexibility. Translation? It helps you breathe deeper, problem-solve better, and reconnect with your sense of self.

2. You Don’t Have to Go Alone (But You Can)

One of the most powerful travel moments I’ve ever experienced was standing on a quiet beach in St. Lucia, just me and the waves. I wasn’t lonely — I was full. Full of gratitude, clarity, and peace.

That said, traveling with others can be magical too. Virgin Voyages, for example, is a favorite of mine for women in all stages of life — especially moms who want a no-kids getaway. (Check out our blog post on their restaurants here). Whether it’s a best friend, sister, or travel group, finding your people can ease the fear and double the fun.

3. Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

One of the biggest myths is that travel is only for the wealthy or retired. Not true. With smart planning, even international travel can be accessible. A few tips to start:

• Travel in shoulder seasons. Prices drop significantly just before or after peak travel times.

• Use travel rewards credit cards. (We love this one to track points and perks — affiliate link.)

• Set fare alerts. Google Flights and Hopper are great for this.

• Cruise! It sounds counterintuitive, but cruises can be cheaper than many land-based trips, especially with meals and entertainment included.

We’ll share a more detailed “How to Travel for Less” guide in our next blog post — stay tuned.

4. For Moms, Empty Nesters, and Every Woman in Between

If you're a mom: traveling sets an example. Our kids watch us. When they see us value our joy, our friendships, our sense of curiosity — they learn to do the same. Whether it's a weekend with girlfriends or a family trip that includes a moment just for you, every mile matters.

If your kids are grown: this is your moment. You've given so much to others — now it's time to re-meet yourself. What better way than with a passport in hand?

If you’ve never traveled much: it’s never too late. Start small, start smart, but start. Join a group trip, pick a destination close to home, or follow a favorite travel blogger (like us!) for tips and ideas.

5. Practical Ways to Begin

• Start a travel fund. $10 a week adds up fast — and you deserve it.

• Make a vision board. Seeing your dream destinations daily can fuel your motivation.

• Join travel communities. Facebook groups, Instagram pages, and local meetups are great ways to connect with like-minded women. Of course, we are fans and encourage you to join us at www.facebook.com/shutterandcompass or at our group page, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shutterandcompass

• Pack smart. You don’t need 12 outfits — you need 3 that mix and match. We have found these packing cubes for keeping things organized - we were skeptical, but have grown to see true utility in them!

She Goes Anyway

You don’t need permission to see the world. You don’t need the perfect time, a fancy wardrobe, or a travel partner. You just need a spark — and a little courage to fan the flame.

So here’s your sign. Take the trip. Book the ticket. Or at the very least, start dreaming louder.

And when you do, we’d love to hear about it. Share your story with us at @shutterandcompass on Instagram, or tag us in your travel photos. Let’s build a movement of women who go — and grow — together.

Until next time, keep exploring.

xo,

P.S. Don’t miss next week’s post: “Affordable Adventures: Travel Tips That Won’t Break the Bank”