If you are looking for some useful money-saving tips for your vacation days, you’ve come to the right place.
The tourism industry seems to be up on its track again, after a long period during which many people were apparently reluctant to leave their homes. Global tourism suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that the world has seemingly become accustomed to living with the virus, it might be time to once again consider a trip abroad.
However, prices are on the rise. This should make you more conservative with your finances. If you are looking for some useful money-saving tips for your vacation days, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get to it.
1. Book activities ahead of time
One of the most efficient ways to save a lot of funds is by booking activities ahead of time. If possible, make sure to buy plane tickets, rent a hotel room, and book anything else you plan to do early on. Especially now, companies are offering discounts, so there is no reason not to take advantage of them.
The only negative consequence is if you need to cancel the trip for an unexpected reason. However, refunds are usually granted to some extent, so don’t be afraid to schedule your trip in great detail from an early stage. You can also opt for insurance, just in case.
2. Make sure to benefit from optimal currency exchange rates
When traveling to a foreign country, exchange rates are definitely something you should keep in mind. Make sure your bank offers attractive rates so when you convert your local currency, you will get the best price.
The currency markets are based on a floating exchange mechanism, so all currencies are moving 24/5 against each other, influenced by various factors. If you know where you’re planning to vacation ahead of time, it may not be a bad idea to exchange some cash before departure, so currency fluctuations don’t affect your purchasing power.
3. Travel in the off-season
Although most people choose to travel around major holidays, especially Christmas, there are several drawbacks associated with that. You might have to deal with big crowds of tourists and, more importantly, higher prices, due to elevated demand.
In case you are more of a ‘peace and quiet’ person, maybe it would be better for you to consider traveling in the off-season. That will certainly make it easier to book a plane or hotel room at affordable rates.
4. Look for ways to save money with accommodation
With regard to accommodation, there are several ways you can save more money. First, you can choose house-sitting or couchsurfing, as many people do these days, and it can save you hundreds of dollars per night.
Secondly, discounts on accommodation are provided when you book for an extended period of time. Hotels, and even AirBNB hosts, usually prefer to avoid having new guests sign in every few days, so they sometimes offer up to a 50% price cut on their charges. There are many mobile apps these days where you can find attractive prices. All you need to do is look.
