Budgeting for a trip can be really tricky as traveling itself is quite an expensive hobby to have. You have to foreign transaction fees, exchange rates, and everything else that you need to take care of without burning a hole in the pocket. Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks using which you can travel around the globe without facing the risk of emptying your pockets!
Here are a few tips to help you travel across the world while being on a budget:
Travel Tip No. 1: Explore on foot
Exploring a new place is important for you to understand its culture and heritage that it offers. So, why not walk while you’re doing exactly that?
There are two ways in which you can save money when you’re traveling. First, walking to different places that you would want to visit. Second, learning and using the public transit system instead of opting for private services.
A little bit of self-powered locomotion will not only help you save some money, but you will actually be able to experience the place much better.
Travel Tip No. 2: Skip checked-bag fees
A checked bag – or more – can you set you back by at least $100 which can increase your overall travel budget. This is one of the main reasons why expert budget travelers save money by avoiding checked bag fees.
Instead, make a point to travel light and opt for a capsule wardrobe – apparel pieces that can be mixed and matched – and some basic necessities that you would need to make your stay comfortable. There is also the advantage of more room to bring home some souvenirs from your trip.
Travel Tip No. 3: Select a budget-friendly destination
Being on a tight budget doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to curb your wanderlust. One of the best ways to make sure that you keep traveling is to select budget-friendly destinations.
There are so many places that are cheaper than other destinations, and yet can offer you an enriching and fun experience. According to Forbes, some budget vacation destinations include Greece, Zanzibar, Vancouver, Naples, Croatia, Greece, and Saint Martin.
Why you‘re at it, you can save some serious bucks if you travel during the off-season of your destination. For example, if a particular place is renowned for its beautiful summers, make a plan to visit it during winters. You will be shocked at seeing the prices as nearly everything will be far cheaper – flights, accommodation, meals, rental car prices, and so on.
Travel Tip No. 4: Replace hotels with hostels
While safe accommodation remains undebatable, if living in a hotel looks financially out of reach, you can always opt for living in hostels. Not only are these places rather cheap to stay for days at a stretch, but you also don’t have to worry about safety issues.
While it is also true that you might not experience the luxury of superior comfort as living in a private suite, you can always carry some of your essentials such as a sleep mask and earplugs for sleeping to ensure comfort. In fact, we would highly recommend you to invest in a neck pillow that can double as a traditional pillow when the need arises.
Travel Tip No. 5: Be thorough with your research
Research – thorough research – can be really helpful to help you save money at your destination.
Knowing which neighborhoods to visit or stay in, places where you can eat at a lower price, malls where you can shop, and specific days where you might be able to score discounted fees, are well-concealed tricks of a seasoned budget traveler.
Yes, we are aware that it may not sound as glamorous as we’d want it to but being prepared with complete research is imperative to make way for budget-friendly travel.
Travel Tip No. 6: Consider alternate airports
Not many people are aware of the importance of considering alternate airports. After all, where you fly is as important as when you fly. The United States of America has many major cities and even places abroad that have alternate airports that often offer low-cost airlines. So, if your final destination is somewhere outside the main city, try to find an outlying airport that is cheaper and might bring you closer to your destination.
One of the best ways to score deals is to consider the one where you depart from. Keep your eye out to look for better prices whenever you are benchmarking prices to your destination.
Travel Tip No. 7: Use travel credit cards
Signing up for a credit card that offers travel miles can be your first step to save money for travel. Who knows, your flight might just be completely free!
But as good things come at a price, you have to use your credit card for everyday purchases and then pay off the bills at the end of every month. Remember, the catch here is to pay off the balance entirely and not only in partial payments. Once you follow this successfully, you’ll be able to earn free miles and points that you can use for travel.
Before you use credit cards, don’t forget to compare different credit cards to make sure you are securing the best deals with regards to miles and points.
Travel Tip No. 8: Always have a flexible approach
One of the main keys to being a budget-savvy traveler is to have a flexible approach. We are talking about situations where you might need to drop certain plans to take advantage of a last-minute deal that can help you explore the destination you haven’t ever seen before.
Being rigid or simply not being able to change your everyday schedule may not be useful for your travel plans. So be on the lookout for better deals that can help you explore a place without being too heavy on your pocket.
Resources – Smarter Travel, Adorama, Reader’s Digest