How to Save Money on Travel- Tips
Want to travel the world for a while? Or just take an epic vacation? You don’t need to be rich, but you’ll need to get creative about saving money for travel. Here’s how I did it. There’s a popular myth floating around that travel is an expensive hobby. Certainly, people who travel a lot must have rich parents, lucrative lottery winnings, or work high-paying jobs. Normal people can’t afford to travel! It’s far too expensive for the rest of us… right?
Don’t worry, I understand where you’re coming from. I used to think that way too. I thought international travel was only for the rich and privileged.
Preparing For Your Trip
One of the key success factors in budget-friendly travel is proper planning. So, before hitting the road or jumping on that flight, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Plan ahead
Book flights and hotels early for cheaper prices. You should also look into local eateries and other places you may want to stop at so you can choose ones that both sound good and are reasonably priced.
Opt for Off-Season
Accommodations, tours, and even food will be much higher if you’re traveling during high season or the holidays. We’ve traveled in the off-season many times. It’s winter, and we’re currently working our way through Eastern Europe. And guess what? The weather has been pretty good, there are basically no tourists, and we’ve gotten all our apartments and hostels at a discounted rate. We’ve also traveled through the Caribbean during the summer, which is considered hurricane season, but have yet to come across a hurricane. All we’ve found are cheap hotels, ferry discounts, and half-price tours.” – Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift, full-time travelers behind Goats on the Road
Research About Your Destination
Once you have your mind set on a particular place, start gathering details on their local life. This research will give you an idea of their standard of living and kind of expenses you’ll face on your trip. And importantly opt for inexpensive places to stay there, like hostels and homestays like Airbnb or motels. Instead of staying at Hilton, Westin, this way you will hence get a feel of the local city without burning a hole in your pocket!
Use Public Transport
Take full advantage of the public transport systems in your country and save money on intra-country travel. Using your own vehicles and taxis will only lead to you spending more money or better yet, getting yourself a bicycle for short distances; environment-friendly and a workout for earth-conscious people. If you find all this a bit extreme, you can opt for ride-sharing services by companies like Uber, Lyft, Ola, and more. Every bit of money you save inches your dream of traveling closer.
Spend Less on Food
Cooking for yourself and eating it is always going to be self-gratifying and cheaper. If there is no way you can cook for yourself, choose a food catering service or a food mess in order to save money as eating at different places is just going to cost you more money. Cut down on those fancy coffee and luxury food, indulge in local delicacies and street food, and go back to the roots. Remember, the idea is to cut down and spend less, not starve yourself; so eat to your heart’s content keeping the end goal in mind which is to travel.
How to Save Money While Travelling
Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the fun. It’s about making choices that keep your wallet happy. Here are some money-saving tips to help you keep those travel costs down without missing out on the adventure. Whether you’re venturing out on a day trip, planning a long weekend getaway, or setting up a round-the-world travel adventure, saving money is key, especially when it comes to flights, hotels, meals, and attractions. Here are five easy ways to keep your travel budget in order on the road.
Be as flexible as possible with your travel dates
The more malleable your schedule is, the easier it’ll be to find deals on flights, hotels, and activities during your trip. Think about when most people will be traveling to your destination and try to plan your own visit around that time. Consider doing weekday getaways instead of a weekend escape or going during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall versus busier times like summer and winter. It also helps to fly, drive or take trains or buses during off-peak hours (early in the morning or later at night) to avoid the rush, whenever possible.
Opt for public transportation
Cabs and short hops booked through ride-sharing apps can really add up, so it’s worth checking to see if there’s public transportation available where you’re headed. While the effectiveness of this trick varies by city or locale—some places just aren’t as well connected as others—you’ll generally be able to find a local bus, train, metro, light-rail line, ferry, or bike-share service. While all of these methods might take a little longer to take you from Point A to Point B, they’ll almost certainly be cheaper than opting for a taxi or ride-share and allow you to travel alongside the people who live there.
If you are visiting an area without public transit options, be sure to download the apps for multiple ride-sharing services so you can at least compare the prices between them before you head out. On a recent trip from Washington, D.C. to Woodbridge, Virginia, the difference between Uber and Lyft was a whopping $20, so it’s always worth a look.
Aim for Restaurant Week Deals to Save on Meals
It’s a great habit to check the tourism board’s website for the place you’ll be visiting to see if they’ve got special promotions going on when you’re in town. Several times throughout the year, various U.S. cities will host Restaurant Week, offering special discounts on prix fixe lunch, brunch, and dinner menus so you can save on meals while visiting some of the best eateries in town. New York City, for instance, also puts on Broadway Week, Off-Broadway Week, and Hotels Week, offering even more opportunities to save on shows and
Prioritize Free (or Almost Free) Attractions
Many destinations have free attractions, including museums and art galleries, allowing you to save a ton on admission, especially if you’re traveling with a group. For example, in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Museums and National Zoo are all free to visit, as are the British Library, National Gallery, British Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Natural History Museum in London. Check the tourism board website of the place you’re visiting or do a quick Google search for “free museums” in your desired locale to see what’s available. If you’re interested in a museum or other attraction that isn’t free to enter, see if it offers any discounts for seniors, students, members of the U.S. military, or other professionals such as teachers, nurses, or emergency response workers. You never know and it doesn’t hurt to ask, just in case. Read More
Get creative with your accommodations