3 Ways to Get a Cheaper Flight

The U.S. dollar is weakening a bit and with travel already being expensive, that's not going to do you any favors. We're all out here trying to visit cool places, while also not going broke in the process, so how do you even accomplish that when things are so uncertain? Well, luckily, the dollar only dipped slightly, so unless that changes drastically, we're all still pretty okay. 

If you don't want to travel within the U.S., and I certainly can't blame you, even though there are amazing things to see and do in this country, here are 3 ways you can a cheaper flight. Don't worry, you can also use these tips domestically:

Travel during off- or shoulder-season

Everyone wants to go to Paris in the Springtime or Germany in September or Greece in the Summer, but what that means is that everyone is there. It's crowded, it's expensive, and it's kind of a nightmare. You can't see everything you want, your flights and hotels are going to cost more than you want to spend, and you'll have to stand in All. The. Lines. Instead, go during less in-demand times, because not only will you save money, you'll also save time and sanity. You may have to pack a light sweater or enjoy shorter opening hours, but it may ultimately worth it. 

We almost always take our big trip in September/October, and while the weather may be cooler and things aren't open as long, we get more things done, don't have to contend with massive crowds, and we save money overall on our trip.

Use your points

If you use the same airline(s) for your trips, chances are you have a lot of points built up. Get online and book all or even just part of your flight with points. I've used points to go round-trip to Vegas, we've used points to travel one way and paid for the way back, and we've also covered one person's flight and paid for the other. Maybe you have frequent flyer miles through a credit card or have accumulated a bunch of cashback through one. That's free money for your flight.

Book mid-week flights

More people want to be at their destination on the weekend, so they're flying on Thursday or Friday, the most expensive days to fly. Friday and Saturday are also the most expensive nights at hotels. Aim to fly Tuesday or Wednesday and early in the day. Sure, you may hate getting up at 4am to take that first flight of the day, but you'll also get to your destination earlier and you have a much lower chance of your flight being delayed or cancelled by something other than weather.

I'd much rather sleep on the plane or take a quick nap when I arrive than take a later morning flight that then gets delayed due to late flights and then I lose a good portion of my first day. Suck it up and take that first flight and you could save hundreds sometimes. Learn how to make your trip more comfortable so you can get some rest and enjoy your time right off the plane.

Did you find an awesome deal on a flight for any of your trips?

What's Everyone Doing for Their Summer Travels?

Summer travel is fast approaching and with the economy kinda tanking and people having problems of all kinds, 2025 is shaping up to be different than other years, especially in terms of travel. I know we aren't spending as much as we usually do on travel, and definitely not as much as we did in 2024, where we took 3 trips over the summer. This year we'll be heading back to Vegas, but we will probably do less or eat at less expensive places (or both).

So, how do your travels stack up to other Americans?

While we won't be going to any of the most popular destinations

this summer, we will be headed to France in the fall and will be staying in both a vacation rental and hotel.  Tell us where you're going and if you're spending more or less than average.

Places to Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is AAPI Heritage Month, where we try to learn more about those people who helped build the country that we live in. I frequent a handful of AAPI-owned businesses just in the town where I live, but I try to find others in greater Portland and also when I travel, because when minority-owned businesses are uplifted and thrive, the whole community benefits.

Here are some places to visit on your travels to celebrate and support the AAPI people there:

Chinatowns

Most large cities have a Chinatown, but there are some that aren't that well known that are steeped in history and have amazing food that should be on your radar:

• Las Vegas - Believe it or not, amongst all the other crazy things in Vegas, you can visit a completely separate Chinatown that's not on the Strip. It has over 150 restaurants and is home to 6 supermarkets. This has been on my list for over a year, and I hope to spend some time here on my summer trip.
• Oakland - Often overshadowed by San Francisco's Chinatown, Oakland can be a bit more chill. It's mostly a neighborhood rather than a tourist destination, but there are 45 restaurants and 9 tea shops, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Madison Park, where you can see people doing Tai Chi in the mornings, and Oakland Fortune Factory, where you can customize your own fortune cookies.
• Honolulu - Hawaiian/South Pacific culture is different than Chinese culture, and Honolulu's Chinatown is it's oldest and most artistic neighborhood, with an eclectic mix of Asian vendors, from lei makers, dim sum restaurants, the Japanese Izumo Taishakyo Mission Shrine, and Chinese Kuan Yin Temple.
• Houston - Although it seems like an unlikely place to find authentic Chinese culture, Houston has a younger, thriving Asiatown, as it brings diversity, instead of just Chinese merchants. You'll also find Malaysian, Vietnamese, Korean, and more within the 6 square miles, including the Hong Kong City Mall and Teo Chew Temple. You can also take a bus tour of this sprawling neighborhood through Asiatown Houston Bus Tour.

Japantown

At one point there were many Japantowns, like Chinatown neighborhoods, but they got pushed out of towns, so now there are only three: San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. There is also a Japantown in Vancouver, BC. I had a goal to visit two others besides San Francisco, but I didn't have time in my schedule when we traveled to LA and Vancouver, so they are still on my list. 

Museums

I love a good museum and when I can learn about a new culture or heritage (or even my own), even better. There are some great ones that can educate you on the history of Asians in America. Here are just a few:

• Wing Luke Museum in Seattle - Located in Seattle's Chinatown, this museum is named after a city council member who was the first Asian American to hold a public position in the Pacific Northwest. Inside you can view paintings, photos, other artwork, and textiles. The museum also offers programming and city tours.
• Angel Island Immigration Museum on Angel Island, California - Thought of as the West Coast's Ellis Island, an estimated one million immigrants came through Angel Island, though Asian immigrants were discriminated against, so not nearly as many were allowed in as wanted to come. Now, Angel Island is a state park that is home to a recreated detention center that will show you what life was like for those Asians who were forced into these types of centers due to the Chinese Exclusion Act.
• Hmong Cultural Center Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota - You might not think of a large Asian population calling the midwest home, but make sure to visit this museum that tells of the Hmong people from Laos who sought refuge in the US after the Vietnam War. Even know, there are around 90,000 Hmong people living in Minnesota, as they were given help through the University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service to set up farms in the Great Lakes area.

Can't afford to travel and you're not near any of these things? Well, you can always check out your local Chinatown or Asian cultural center, go eat at a local Asian restaurant, coffee shop, or bakery, or you can throw a destination date night or party at home. Here are a few we've done:

• China
• Japan
• Myanmar/Burma
• Polynesia/Pacific Islands
• Tokyo
• Vietnam

Another great idea is to get ready for a future trip by learning a new language, like Mandarin, Japanese or Korean.

• Babbel allows you to buy a lifetime subscription at up to 55% off, but you can also just pay for a monthly membership. We plan to travel to a lot of international destinations and I jumped on a really good lifetime sub sale in 2021 as a Christmas present to us.
• Pimsleur has been around for a long time and I've used it when they were individual CDs, because I'm old, and that's what was around the second time we traveled to France. Now you can have all their offerings in one spot. Choose one language with Premium Monthly or get access to all 51 languages with All Access Monthly/Annual.
• Rosetta Stone is another one I used before everything was online. I still have Spanish CDs from them somewhere. The online RS is much better, because it's easier to use. You can choose from one language with three month and twelve month plans or all 25 of their languages with a lifetime plan.

Previously, I recommended Duolingo, as I used it in a pinch, it was fun, and it can be free, but they have announced that they are going to be using almost exclusively AI, which means, you never know if you are getting the correct language education, so I immediately dumped it from my phone.

Over the course of the next few months, I'll be posting facts on Facebook about Asian and Black history in destinations I'll be going to over the next year, because I think knowing more than just white history is important, even outside of the US.

Do you have a favorite Chinatown, Asian Market, or Museum that you would like to add to this list? I'd love for you to share.

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