The following is a guest post from Kathryn Vercillo of Promotionalcodes.org.uk.

Although a lot of people are smart about getting discounts when planning a trip (such as using voucher codes for flights) most people don’t think about making use of coupons during the days when they are actually on vacation. This is really unfortunate because coupon use during a trip can be one of the best ways to save money on a vacation.

Use the following tips to help you save money when using coupons during a vacation:

Plan to take some coupons with you on the trip. Smart coupon use during a vacation does require some advance planning. You’ll want to do some research to find coupons for all of the things that you might be doing during the trip. The top types of coupons to stock up on before a vacation are coupons for local attractions, coupons for restaurants and grocery stores that are in the area and coupons for transportation. Use a coupon organizer to make it easy to find what you’re looking for during the trip.


Ask for additional coupons everywhere that you go. You will also find that there are coupons available at your destination when you get there if you just ask around. The local visitor’s center is the best place to start. Also ask for coupons from the cashiers of any stores, restaurants or attractions that you visit. These people will know whether or not their place offers coupons and where you can get them.

Check the local newspapers. Another great place to get coupons when you are in a new destination is the local newspaper. Check the weekly papers as well as the daily papers. This is also a great way to learn about local events that you can check out!

Take your laptop or web-enabled mobile phone with you. Whenever you get to a store or attraction that you don’t already have a coupon for, check the Internet for a coupon code or printable coupon before you make the purchase. This is particularly a good idea when you find yourself suddenly having to shop for an item that you’ve forgotten (such as a swimsuit or umbrella) since these are often purchased at national chain stores which usually have coupons available online.

Give yourself plenty of time to compare prices on deals. One of the reasons that people fail to use coupons during a trip is because they feel rushed at every attraction and don’t want to take the time to deal with coupons. It can certainly be overwhelming to try to figure out if the daily special is more or less cost effective than the deal you get with your coupon. However, those savings are usually worth the time spent on them. Pad your itinerary with enough time to do this type of coupon comparison shopping at each destination on the trip.

Supplement your coupons with additional discounts. There are numerous discounts available to travelers and you shouldn’t forget about these just because you’re using coupons. Always ask for AAA, AARP, military and other discounts at hotels and attractions. You can also get some money back from the trip by purchasing everything on a credit card with a great cash back rewards program; just make sure that you pay that card off as soon as you get back from the trip to avoid interest charges!

Take coupons home with you from the trip. During your trip, there is a good chance that you’re going to pick up extra coupons. For example, the programs handed out at entertainment venues and theme parks are filled with coupons. You may also get new coupons with your receipts from places where you have just used a coupon. Don’t throw these out just because you’re on vacation. Take them home with you and see if they can be used there.

It’s tempting to leave our good coupon habits behind when we go on vacation. However, we end up being able to enjoy a lot more if we spend less money. Smart coupon use during our trips can help to make that happen. If you’re a true coupon lover, you’ll be able to enjoy this additional part of the vacation!

Kathryn Vercillo is a writer for Promotionalcodes.org.uk which gives away free voucher codes  and also publishes money-saving tips.