Considering all the research that goes into planning a budget-conscious vacation, it’s easy for unexpected expenses to pop up and put a strain on your trip. You’ve already saved big on hotels with your Travel Set Go membership, but you arrive at your destination and run into problems trying to affordably rent a car or use local currency. So, here’s a few ways for getting the most out of your money in a foreign country and booking car rentals.

Cost Cutting Car Rental Strategies

Car rental companies and the packages they offer can be complicated. Being an informed consumer is one of the best ways to get where you want to go for less and take the stress out of the process at the rental counter.

When traveling, often your pickup and drop off locations are different. These are referred to as one-way car rentals and are twice the cost of standard rentals, especially when driving state-to-state or through different countries. For example, if you’re vacationing for 7 days and will be in one city for 5 days and another for 2 days, ask the rental company about splitting the rental time in two and book one, 5-day same location rental and two, one-day rentals. This strategy can save a few hundred dollars.

Size matters when choosing a rental car. If you’re not traveling with a large amount of luggage, choose a smaller, less-expensive model and save money at the gas pump as well.

Now that airlines are charging for extra luggage, including car seats, check into the savings of renting a child safety seat from the car rental company instead.

Currency Tips for Traveling Overseas

Currency rates differ drastically from country to country so being abreast of the specifics can save you money when traveling. For instance, when you need to get cash to use at a venue that only accepts cash, avoid the usual exchange centers and search the web for better alternatives to get money in the local currency. One example is using ATM’s at airports which offer a better exchange rate. And, when booking a tour or event, it’s often much cheaper to book it using the local currency through the local version of the website.