Summer vacation feels out of reach for many Americans. Here's how to save

Travel experts say rising costs are genuinely reshaping how American families approach summer — and Denver is no exception. Gas prices hit road trips hard. Hotel rates spike in July and August. And flights out of DIA can feel brutal if you're booking late.

Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge, who runs TrueTrae.com, says the shift is real but manageable. 'Gas prices are affecting so much — road trips, flights. We're seeing a real change in how people think about summer travel,' Bodge said. The good news: there are concrete, proven strategies that can shave hundreds off your bill.

Are You Leaving Travel Money on the Table?

5 quick questions. Find out how smart your travel savings strategy really is.

Do you set price alerts before booking flights?

On road trips, do you use an app to find cheaper gas?

How far in advance do you book hotels?

Do you use hotel or airline loyalty programs?

What's your food plan on vacation?

I set a price alert and when I got the notification, I made my move. I ended up saving $500 per ticket just by doing that.Trae Bodge, Smart Shopping Expert, TrueTrae.com

Road Trip vs. Flying vs. Staycation: What's It Really Cost?

🚗 Road Trip✈️ Flying🏠 Staycation
Transport (family of 4)$120–$300$800–$2,400$0
Lodging (5 nights, mid)$700–$900$700–$900$0–$200
Food (5 days)$300–$500$400–$600$150–$250
Activities$100–$300$200–$500$50–$200
Total Estimate$1,200–$2,000$2,100–$4,400$200–$650
Savings vs. flyingUp to $2,400—Up to $3,750

Financial advisor Steven Conners, president of Conners Wealth Management, is direct about the math: carrying vacation debt month to month isn't worth it. With high interest rates affecting borrowing costs across the board, he says a charged-up credit card from a summer trip can haunt your finances well into fall.

'Have a staycation instead, and put that money into savings. Make sure all your expenses are covered,' Conners said. He argues that skipping one trip — and banking what you would have spent — can actually set you up for a bigger, better vacation the following year through compounding savings.

Vacation Spending: Two Approaches

❌ No Strategy

✅ Smart Savings

Denver Traveler's 6-Step Savings Playbook

  1. Set Flight Price Alerts Today — Use Google Flights, Expedia, or Kayak. One alert, properly timed, can save $300–$500 per ticket. Set it and forget it until the deal lands.
  2. Download a Gas App Before Any Road Trip — GasBuddy, Waze, or Google Maps all show real-time gas prices. On an I-70 mountain run or Plains road trip, you could save $30–$60 in a single fill-up.
  3. Book Lodging 2–3 Months Out — Mountain town hotels in Colorado fill up fast. Estes Park, Breckenridge, and Steamboat see prices spike 40–60% closer to peak dates.
  4. Sign Up for Hotel and Airline Loyalty Programs — They're free. Many hotel chains run summer bonus-point promotions. A cashback credit card for gas purchases adds another layer of savings.
  5. Do One Grocery Run on Arrival — Snacks, breakfast items, and lunch supplies. A family of four can save $50–$100 per day by not eating every meal at a restaurant.
  6. Consider a Denver Staycation If the Budget Is Tight — Denver has Red Rocks, 300+ miles of trails, world-class museums, Elitch Gardens, and Meow Wolf. Treat your hometown like a tourist destination — it usually is one.

Denver itself is an underrated staycation destination — and not just because of the mountains 30 minutes west. The city's zoo, botanical gardens, art museum, and concert venues rival what many Americans would fly hours to experience. Financial advisors suggest treating a hometown weekend at a local hotel as both a cost-saving move and a reset.

The key mindset shift, Conners says, is reframing 'staying home' as 'choosing smartly.' Money not spent on a trip this summer can be saved, invested, or used to fund something bigger next year. 'Look back a year from now,' he said, 'and that decision might feel very smart.'

Denver Staycation by the Numbers

Free & Cheap Denver Summer Activities

Travel Myths vs. Reality

Flying is always cheaper than a road trip for a family.

Verdict: false

For a family of four, a road trip typically runs $1,200–$2,000 all-in. The same trip by air often hits $2,100–$4,400 once you factor in baggage fees, airport transport, and hotels.

Booking last-minute flights gets you better deals.

Verdict: mostly false

Last-minute deals exist but are rare in peak summer. Price-alert tools on Google Flights and Expedia consistently outperform last-minute searches — one traveler saved $500 per ticket using them.

Staycations are a compromise, not a real vacation.

Verdict: false

Financial advisors say a staycation done right — treating your city like a tourist would — reduces financial stress AND can fund a bigger trip the following year through compounding savings.

Hotel loyalty programs aren't worth the hassle for occasional travelers.

Verdict: mostly false

Loyalty programs are free to join and often include member-only pricing that beats third-party sites by 10–20%. They cost nothing to maintain and pay off on any qualifying stay.

The Full Picture: Why Travel Costs Are Up in 2025

The Deloitte survey showing only 45% of Americans planning a paid vacation is the lowest reading in six years — a notable drop from pre-pandemic levels when roughly 60% planned summer trips with lodging.

Economists point to several compounding factors: elevated gas prices affect both road trips and airline operating costs (which get passed to consumers), hotel rates in popular destinations have risen 15–25% since 2021, and high interest rates make charging a vacation feel riskier when balances carry over month to month.

For Colorado specifically, mountain towns like Breckenridge, Telluride, and Estes Park have seen significant lodging price increases driven by short-term rental demand. Early booking and flexibility on dates remain the best tools for getting ahead of the surge pricing.

Sources & References

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