21 Travel Hacks Only Frequent Flyers Know (and You Should Too)

15. Gift Registries or Crowdfunding Travel

Modern travelers with big milestones—think honeymoon, graduation, or special anniversaries—increasingly harness gift registries or crowdfunding to offset travel expenses. Platforms enable you to create a “travel fund” where friends or family chip in instead of buying traditional gifts. Some couples forgo wedding china in favor of flight vouchers, hotel stays, or activity credits, letting loved ones help fulfill their travel dreams. Crowdfunding sites also let you highlight a personal journey’s significance, from pursuing volunteer work overseas to fulfilling a bucket-list expedition. While not everyone feels comfortable asking for direct financial support, well-presented pages showcasing your itinerary and heartfelt reasons can garner enthusiastic backing. In exchange, you can offer backers postcards, travel logs, or special mementos. This approach isn’t restricted to weddings—birthdays, retirements, or any major milestone can be an occasion to crowdsource the cost of your adventure, saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars on flights and lodging.