A question I get asked quite frequently is "How do you afford to travel?". Traveling can accrue expenses very quickly, especially if luxurious accommodations and Michelin-rated restaurants are high on your priority list. However, smart travelers know there are insider tips on how to save while living it up, and although the rule of "working hard to save money and afford your travels" exists (or being born filthy rich), here are some rule benders to get the most value from smart spending, to make the financially impossible...possible!

**10. Eat at Michelin-rated restaurants for lunch.**

If a $700 dinner for two is too hard to stomach but you dream about experiencing a certain Michelin-rated restaurant on your bucket list, then consider going for lunch or high-tea-- usually half the price of dinner or less. Going for cocktails at the bar may also be a way to gain entrance into some of the most exclusive venues. Although these meals might be smaller, it will still give you a large glimpse of the service and flavor profile that you would expect at dinner service. In addition, there is a huge advantage in that typically the views at daytime have higher chances of being incredible, since most views are not appreciable in the evening after darkness sets in.

For example, when I was in Dubai, the only way to access the Burj al Arab, the world's only 7-star hotel, is either by staying there or eating there. Since Maldives was our next destination and most of our budget was spent on accommodations in Maldives, we didn't want to spend a ton of money while in Dubai, but were curious to check out the famous Burj al Arab. Reservations for high-tea at the Skyview Bar was our ticket in. Located on the 27th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows all around, Skyview Bar boasted amazing views of the Dubai skyline, the Palm Jumeirah, and The World islands. The selection of teas was large and unlimited and the sandwiches and cakes were delicious. Looking out the window while sipping a glass of champagne here, I took a moment to savor the sweetness of the experience.

Afternoon tea at Skyview Bar at Burj Al Arab

View from our table at the Burj al Arab

Lunch at Chateau Eza, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the French Riviera

Spectacular view from our table at Chateau Eza, Eze, France

9. travel during shoulder season.

Peak season is typically when the weather is most ideal and when most people are off work or school and are able to travel. Thus, traveling either a month before or after this period is worth considering. Weather is usually similar enough, however, hotel rates may be slightly less expensive and the resorts not as crowded, making the hotel stay more enjoyable and transportation more convenient. For example, traveling in early September is a great time for Positano, Italy or the French Riviera as the weather is still warm, but the beaches are not overly crowded. Not only will you be able to peruse the landmarks with the comfort and tranquility of smaller crowds, most businesses in Europe will be back from their own vacations and ready to serve you as their guests.

Positano

Villefranche-sur-Mer

8. let them know if you are celebrating something special.

If you are celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary, make sure to let your hotel know. Oftentimes, luxury hotels offer various perks for these special occasions from a bottle of champagne to desserts, sometimes complimentary dinners or activities and excursions, and turn down service with flower petal designs on the bed or in your bath tub. Most hotels that are 5-star and above understand that their clientele are there to celebrate a special event, so they are more than happy to accommodate any celebration you are at their resort to enjoy.

Anantara Kihavah, Maldives

7. ask for complimentary upgrades.

When you check in, ask if any complimentary upgrades are available. On occasion when hotels are not fully booked, they may upgrade your room to ensure you have an extra special stay. Amenities or rooms with better views can sometimes cost hundreds more per night when booked ahead of time, but if they are available at time of check-in, some resorts allow a significantly discounted add-on fee if not completely complimentary. Sometimes, it just takes asking to get what you want, so make sure you check in with a positive attitude and smile. You don't know what they will give you unless you ask.

6. splurge on accommodations during luxury trips; choose cheaper alternatives for active trips.

If your trip is going to involve a lot of sightseeing or outdoor activities, then you will not be spending much time in your hotel room except to shower and sleep. For busy trips, consider staying at a mid-level hotel or airbnb/VRBO and save your money for the portion of your stay when you will have time to relax in your room and enjoy your resort's amenities. It is easy to balance fun and relaxation if you set a balanced budget to spend per day-- on days you will stay at cheaper resorts, allow yourself to splurge on the activities that day. Likewise, on the days you intend to splurge on resort accommodations, be sure to maximize your time on the amenities the resort offers to maximize your use of dollars. Sometimes a trip involves numerous excursions outside the resort (ie. a trip to New Zealand), but sometimes when your hotel stay is the highlight of your trip (ie. Maldives), a more luxurious hotel might tip the scale towards spending more on the resort versus outside activities.

5. buy plane tickets Mid week and book tickets between one to four months in advance.

When looking to purchase your flight, look to book tickets early on in the week, such as on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when the rates are the lowest. Prices normally go up by the end of the week. Also, booking between one to four months in advance is considered the "prime booking window" for the lowest average fare according to CheapAir.com.

4. take advantage of layovers.

If you are flying out of Los Angeles (LAX), for example, to Maldives, there is no direct flight. Usually, there is a layover in Singapore or Dubai, which is a great opportunity to spend a few days somewhere different to shorten what would otherwise be a 30-hour journey. Extended layovers (sometimes multi-day layovers) are also a great way to add countries onto your list of traveled places, since they generally do not increase the costs of the plane tickets and allow you to venture through countries you might not have originally planned to visit solely on their own. By enjoying an extended layover prior to a main destination, you can avoid wasting time with jet lag on your main trip and feel more relaxed and ready to go once you arrive at your final destination. On my first trip to Maldives, I spent 2-3 days in Dubai (read more here). On my second trip to Maldives, I actually had booked a round trip ticket to Thailand first and then ended up adding Maldives to my trip later on. Interestingly, a round trip ticket to Maldives from Thailand was only around $300, so sometimes it's almost less expensive to fly out of a different country to your end destination than from your own country of residence.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Trisara, Phuket, Thailand

3. take the red eye.

It would be nice to be able to fly first class with a pull out bed, however, that luxury comes with a hefty price tag. An idea to reduce on the cost of your trip would be to take the red eye. For easy sleepers only, this will save you a night on accommodations and allow you to start the day the moment you land. Personally, I like to land at night because flights are exhausting for me, but one way to save would be to stay in a less expensive hotel the night you land especially if it's a late flight and then check into your luxury resort the following day (request early check in) to enjoy your luxurious room to the maximum.

2. beach villa instead of bungalow.

Want to travel to Bora Bora or Maldives, but don't want to spend $1600 a night? If you stay at a 3-star resort, then you could get a less expensive overwater bungalow, but the hotel amenities might not compare to the 5-star resort you were originally interested in. One compromise would be to stay in a beach villa instead of an overwater bungalow. During my first trip to Maldives, I spent a couple days in a beach villa at one hotel (read more about my stay at Lux South Ari Atoll here) and then flew to a second hotel and stayed at an overwater bungalow there for several days (read more about my stay at Baros here). This helped to reduce the cost of the trip overall and allowed for a more varied experience.

LUX* SOUTH ARI ATOLL BEACH BUNGALOW

1. choose a country where you can stretch your dollar.

You can find relatively less expensive ocean view rooms in destinations like Bali, Cancun, or Thailand, for example, compared to Maldives, Bora Bora, or Hawaii. For example, in Bali, you can hire a personal driver to take you to all the popular tourist spots for less than $45 per day. If you are looking for something closer to North and South America, any city or island bordering the Caribbean sea can offer warm turquoise waters that are consistently rated top beach destinations throughout the world.