Wouldn’t it be great to spend more time traveling while parting with less cash? If you’re venturing out on a trip, the good news is that it is possible to find cheaper ways to do more while spending less. Here are five tips for keeping more cash in your pocket, even while on the road.

1. Talk to the locals.

A financial planner by day and travel blogger by night, George Papadopoulos of TravelBloggerBuzz.com enjoys buying groceries from a local shop no matter where he travels. He and his family then have a picnic at a park. “We have done this in many cities and we especially loved it in Paris, Madrid and Buenos Aires, as we love mixing in with the locals.” It also suits his active family of four.

If you don’t want to waste time or money on pricey touristy spots, Papadopoulos points out that being friendly with the lounge staff is beneficial and suggests asking them for the top three to five things to see while visiting. He explains that the best tip he received was on a vacation in Quebec. He was clued in on how to see Cirque de Soleil completely free. “There was an outdoor show running in the summer and we just happened to be there in the very final show, it was spectacular!”

2. Schedule a gourmet tour.

If you have some time to plan, take in a scenic view while restaurant hopping. Sign up for a guided tour with predetermined stops where you can enjoy gourmet bites or sample wine from the best restaurants in the area while getting a peek behind-the-scenes of how things are made.

Popular tours tend to book up quickly and you’ll need ample time to plan. If you go at a time of year when there are fewer people, you might be able to snag a deal from Groupon, Living Social or Amazon Deals when it isn’t as crowded. Also, pay attention to the expiration dates on this type of purchase, as the offer might be for a limited time and you don’t want to lose money.

3. Make a pit-stop part of the itinerary.

There are also unguided tours to get a peek at how things are made. If you’re traveling by car and you anticipate stopping once or twice, why not plot out where to go in advance? If you know of a desirable destination along your way, make it your first “rest stop.”

If you happened to be driving through Connecticut, plan to make a stop at Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk. While it’s currently popular to bring farm to table, Stew Leonard’s built its business on bringing farm to grocery store.

Touted as the world’s largest dairy store by the Guinness Book of World Records, the store has entertaining robotic characters that sing throughout the store. There’s also a petting zoo and you might even catch a celebrity book signing while visiting. If you like to mix entertainment and grocery shopping, then this dairy megastore is for you.

4. Use an app for your appetite.

When Eric Rosenberg of PersonalProfitability.com is on the road traveling somewhere new, his go-to smartphone app to find a meal is Yelp. “I can find the highest-rated local restaurants and get an idea of menu options and price.”

While recently out of town, Rosenberg and his wife chose to stop in Hood River, Oregon. He used the Yelp app to find local restaurants. “I limited the list by places that were vegetarian-friendly and open for lunch. We ended up with a great meal at a local cafe that we would have never found without the app!”

5. Plot out a walking tour.

Travel by foot and go on a sightseeing adventure. Select either a guided tour or explore an area on your own for free. My family and I do this every time we go to Newport, Rhode Island. We visit the well-known Cliff Walk. The public has access to this beautiful shoreline location strewn with mansions. We take in the ocean view while getting some exercise. You can discover interesting locations to walk on your next road trip, too.

With a little time, effort and planning, you’ll be well on you way to stretching your hard-earned dollars and making your travel plans more enjoyable for less.

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5 Ways to Save Money While You’re on the Road originally appeared on usnews.com