While there are hundreds of ways to save (or even make) money while you travel, this article outlines 7 practical ways to do so.
If you are on a tight budget, going on holiday may seem out of reach for you. But the truth is, it can be done on a budget. While there are hundreds of ways to save (or even make) money while you travel, this article outlines 7 practical ways to do so.
Subscribe to travel newsletters
Many travel newsletters will have cheap package deals that include flights and accommodation. It can be hard to find these on the internet and you may feel overwhelmed by having too many options. So it may be better that you sign up for a travel agency’s weekly or monthly mailing list.
These will have package options far into the future, which can give you a set amount of time to save up for the holiday. You may have to choose a region that is more affordable to travel to.
Don’t worry, most locations have budget options. You may just need to wait for specific times of the year. If you don’t like getting a lot of emails, you can create a separate folder specifically for travel correspondence.
Plan ahead and budget
Once you know where you want to visit, you can draw up a budget. You don’t need to plan every hour of your stay or be militant in any way. However, you must have a clear idea of how much money you need to save before you go on your trip.
Also, you should decide on how long you’ll want your stay to be. If you find that you have enough money to stay longer, you can always make adjustments later. Here are some expenses you must consider when drawing up your budget:
- Airline tickets/Train Tickets/Fuel Costs
- Daily Food Budget
- Accommodation Costs
- Excursion/Activities Costs
- Destination Transportation Costs
- Emergency Money
- Visa Costs
- Wifi/Sim Card/Data Costs
- Credit card charges when used abroad
- Travel insurance (in the case of medical emergencies etc.)
Research the rough cost of the above for the destination you want to visit. This is important because it differs greatly from place to place. If you have any friends where you plan to go, ask them directly as they’ll know better.
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Book flights in advance
Your flights may be the largest part of your budget. If you can save on this you could extend your stay. The most reliable way to bring the cost down is to book your flight several months in advance.
You should compare flights between the different airlines, or allow a travel agent to do this for you. If you can stomach it, consider indirect flights. Sometimes the stopovers can be very long, but they end up being considerably cheaper.
You may also be allowed to explore the country you’ve stopped over in, or sleep in an in-airport room or hotel, so you may save heaps!
Weigh your luggage
If your luggage is over the specified limit, you will have to fork out a lot of money for excess luggage charges. Of course, it’s great to carry what you need, but it’s not worth the usually massive fees. If you weigh your baggage at home, before you get to the airport, you’ll save yourself a lot of anxiety and money.
Be prepared when packing
Usually, if you’ve forgotten something important on holiday, you end up buying it at your holiday destination. Things like foreign plug point adapters, phone/laptop chargers, and weather-dependent clothing. You don’t want to have to spend on things you can avoid buying.
Make a complete packing list that factors in things like weather conditions, essential vaccinations, common medication, and even visa requirements. This way, you’re unlikely to need to buy any non-essential items other than some souvenirs or keepsakes.
Choose cheap accommodation
There are so many ways to save money on your holiday accommodation. You can choose to stay in vacant dorm rooms, share accommodation costs with a large group of friends, or even do couch surfing.
Another popular option is to use Airbnb. But this isn’t always the cheapest option. Also, if you have a live-in host, pick their brain on the best spots to eat and tour. Of course, if you have close friends in the area, they may offer to let you stay at their place for free!
There are also some more unique options. You could choose to do a ‘house-swap’ if you live in a tourist-centric location, or you could try house-sitting in your destination of choice. Just remember this will need prior registration and screening.
Be smart as you move around
Travel costs at your holiday destination can really add up. Ideally, you want to walk everywhere as much as possible. Some secondary options include renting bicycles or scooters to get around. Of course, that depends on the location.
For some cities, you can get weekly or even monthly train and bus passes. This is a massive money saver if you plan on travelling a lot for sightseeing or excursions. Students and retired people can also get special discounts, so make use of them if you can!
A very drastic measure could be to choose a holiday in which you stay in one small region the entire time. An example is a beach vacation or one close to a ski slope. You could lounge on the beach endlessly or ski every day for your entire stay. This could allow a lot more flexibility in your budget.
Don’t be too rigid
Sometimes being too strict in your planning can suck the joy out of the process. While it’s good to maintain a budget, you still want to have fun on your holiday! Leave some room for flexibility and everything should go smoothly.
Going on holidays is such a great experience, and it’s often worth spending a bit of money on. If you need some financial help to make your travel dreams a reality, Credit24 can provide you with a fast and easy loan. If you’d like more information don’t hesitate to contact us today!
