Travel Smart and Save Big: How to Book Cheap Flights, Trains & Buses (incl. Payback Tips)
✨ My Personal Story: The Vacation We Thought We Couldn’t Afford
A few years ago, our little family desperately wanted to spend spring by the sea.
I started searching for flights — and the cheapest option to southern France was over €300 per person. For the three of us, that was way out of our budget. I was about to give up.
But I’m a saver at heart 😄 — so I kept digging:
- I shifted our travel dates by two days.
- I compared different airports.
- I checked train and bus connections as alternatives.
- And I combined it all with Payback points.
Here’s what we ended up paying:
✅ €49 per flight (instead of €300)
✅ €12 for the long-distance bus
✅ €0 for 1 hotel night (thanks to points)
👉 Total savings: over €600 — for the same vacation.
Since then, I’ve booked every trip strategically — and saved hundreds of euros every year. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how you can do the same. 🧳✨
🛫 1. How to Book Flights Cheaply – Timing Is Everything
The biggest factor in flight prices is when you book. Many people book too late — and end up paying twice as much.
⏳ Best Time to Book
- For European flights: around 6–8 weeks before departure is usually cheapest.
- For long-haul: around 2–4 months ahead.
- ✨ Tuesdays & Wednesdays often offer the lowest prices.
👉 Price differences can reach up to 60% depending on when you book.
📅 2. Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates
- Midweek flights (Tue, Wed, Thu) are often significantly cheaper than weekends.
- Avoid holidays & peak seasons or travel just before/after.
- Use tools like Skyscanner or Google Flights to track price trends.
✈️ Example:
Frankfurt – Rome on a Saturday: €179
Frankfurt – Rome on a Wednesday: €62
🏙️ 3. Compare Airports
Don’t just look at your nearest airport — check regional alternatives too (e.g., Frankfurt & Cologne).
Low-cost airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair often fly from smaller airports at lower prices.
🧾 4. Set Price Alerts
Use Google Flights, Skyscanner & Kiwi to activate price alerts.
You’ll get notified as soon as your desired flight gets cheaper.
🪙 5. Pay With Payback & Miles
Turn everyday spending into free travel:
- Collect Payback points and transfer them to Miles & More.
- Use “Meilenschnäppchen” deals (e.g., Europe from 15,000 miles).
- Fly partially or fully for free (only taxes apply).
👉 Start collecting free travel points today — Sign up for Payback here and earn your first bonus points. ✨
(Yes, this is my personal referral link — it helps me keep creating free guides like this for you 💛)
🚆 2. Save on Train Travel – Smart Ticketing Hacks
Especially in Germany, smart planning can save you a lot on train journeys.
🕒 1. Book Early
- Deutsche Bahn offers Saver Fares up to 6 months in advance.
- The earlier, the cheaper.
- Flexible times = better prices.
👉 Example:
Frankfurt – Hamburg 2 weeks ahead: €89
3 months ahead: €29
📆 2. Travel on Cheaper Days
- Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday are often cheaper than Friday & Sunday.
- Early mornings or late nights cost less than peak hours.
🎫 3. Use BahnCard
- BahnCard 25 pays off after just a few trips per year.
- Can be combined with saver fares.
- Partner cards are also available.
👨👩👧 4. Use Regional & Group Tickets
- Ländertickets (e.g., NRW Ticket) are great for families and groups.
- Kids under 6 travel free.
👉 Example:
Bayern-Ticket: from €29 for 1 person + €10 for each additional person → 5 people = €69 total.
🧭 5. Check Alternative Providers
- Flixtrain is often cheaper than Deutsche Bahn.
- ÖBB Nightjet night trains can also be a great deal.
🚌 3. Long-Distance Bus – Cheapest Option if You’re Flexible
Long-distance buses are often the most affordable option when your schedule is flexible.
✅ Advantages:
- Very low prices (from €5–20 per trip)
- Frequent connections between major cities
- Free Wi-Fi, sockets & luggage included
👉 Providers:
- Flixbus (Germany & Europe-wide)
- BlaBlaCar Bus
- Eurolines
🕒 Money-saving tips:
- Book early
- Travel midweek → cheaper
- Turn on push notifications for sales & flash deals.
🚌 Example:
Berlin – Munich with Flixbus: €19.99
Train: €59
Flight: €130
🧳 4. Combine Bus, Train & Flight for Maximum Savings
You can save a lot by mixing transportation methods:
- 🚆 Take the train to a cheaper airport.
- 🚌 Bus + budget flight = great combo.
- ✈️ Fly from a cheaper city rather than your own.
Example:
Saarbrücken → Paris (Flixbus €15) → Marrakesh (Ryanair €49)
vs. direct flight from Germany (€300+)
👉 This strategy can save you 50–70% of your total travel costs.
🏨 5. Hotels & Accommodation – How to Book Smart
🏨 1. Book Early & Flexibly
- Use early-bird deals.
- Choose flexible rates — often cheaper if booked early.
📆 2. Travel Off-Season
- Shoulder seasons save up to 60%.
- Midweek stays are often cheaper than weekends.
🪙 3. Use Payback & Bonus Programs
- Redeem Payback points with Expedia & travel partners.
- Many Booking.com hotels offer cashback or bonus points.
👉 Sign up for Payback here and start turning your bookings into free nights.
🏘️ 4. Consider Alternatives
- Vacation rentals, tiny houses, or family rooms can be cheaper than hotels.
- Platforms: Airbnb, Fewo-direkt, Booking.
🧠 6. Extra Travel Saving Hacks
✅ Be flexible with dates & destinations → book where it’s cheapest.
✅ Combine one-way flights → often cheaper than round trips.
✅ Use incognito mode or a VPN → avoid price tracking.
✅ Travel hand luggage only → avoid costly fees.
✅ Combine cashback & rewards portals (e.g., Payback + Shoop + coupons).
🧮 7. Real Savings Example
👉 Example: Weekend trip to Barcelona for 2 people
| Cost Item | Regular Price | Smart Booking Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €600 | €198 (Ryanair + Flex) | €402 |
| Bus to airport | €80 | €30 (Flixbus) | €50 |
| Accommodation (3 nights) | €450 | €220 (early booking + points) | €230 |
| Total | €1,130 | €448 | €682 |
🧭 Final Thoughts: Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive — Just Smartly Planned 🧳
If you:
📆 Book at the right time
✈️ Stay flexible with dates & airports
🚆 Mix buses, trains & flights
🪙 Use Payback points & travel deals
…you can save hundreds of euros without missing out on amazing trips.
✨ It’s not about traveling cheap.
✨ It’s about traveling smart.
👉 Join Payback here and start collecting points for your next vacation today.
