Do you want to travel but are always afraid that you can’t afford it? Have you tried to figure out how most people do it? Well it is simple, many people have discovered they can afford to go on their dream vacations, and the best way to do it is to travel on a budget.
Traveling on a budget can be a great way for you to go on a dream vacation that you always want or a bucket list that you always keep adding.
Not only that, you will get a chance to see the world and have new experiences, without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to help you plan a budget-friendly trip:
Plan ahead
Always give yourself time and plan ahead. This can help you to do some research on your destination. Planning ahead means booking your flights, accommodation, and activities in advance.
This can help you save money. You can compare prices and find deals on google travel or use the hopper app. If you can’t find the prices you want you can put an alert so they can notify you when prices go down.
Be flexible
This can be a little bit tricky because of daily life. Being flexible means you are open to any dates, not just only specific dates. Most people have full-time jobs which makes it hard to be open to any dates.
Being flexible with your travel dates and destination can also save you money especially when you are considering traveling during the off-season or to destinations that are less popular at the time you want to travel.
If you can do this, check websites like Skyscanner where you can search for different dates and different destinations.
All you need to do is just put in your airport and the month you want to travel and for the destination, you will choose any there is a big chance one of the destinations that pops up will be the one you want.
Travel rewards:
If you like to travel, consider signing up for a travel rewards program or credit card. These programs can save you a lot of money because they often provide discounts on flights, accommodation, and activities.
Choose the program you want and stay loyal to it, you can choose one for hotels and one for flights and be loyal to them. Let’s say you decided to enroll on Delta airlines, make sure when you fly you are flying Delta not other flights.
This will be easier for you to collect points and lead to getting your rewards such as discounts, free flights, or airport lounge access.
The same goes for hotels and rental cars, you can enroll in Hilton Honors and book Hilton hotels or enroll in enterprise car rental and do the same thing. These programs are beneficial if you are using these services many times.
Pack light
Packing light can save you money especially when you are taking a flight. A packing list will help you avoid checking in baggage fees and also make your trip more comfortable and convenient.
Try to bring the essential items you need, this will give you a room when you want to buy some souvenirs on your way back.
Public transportation
Instead of using ride-sharing services, taxis, or renting a car, consider using public transportation or walking to get around.
In big cities like New York City, Tokyo and many in Europe, public transportation works well. This can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to explore your destination and also be safe.
In some cities, you can buy a weekly pass, or hours pass that you can use depending on how long you are staying.
Budget accommodation
Staying in budget accommodation can help you save money but you have to be careful about this. Some will say instead of staying in a hotel, you can book a budget hostel, Airbnb, or a motel.
The experience I had with hostels was when I was in college. This makes me feel most of them are for college students etc and I don’t feel they will be comfortable or accommodating for families.
However, I saw some videos on social media about hostels that adults can stay in. Airbnb can be affordable when you book early because nowadays the prices are the same as hotels.
However, hostels and Airbnb can often be more affordable and provide a unique local experience. The main thing you need to consider is safety, yes you might find an affordable Airbnb but is it in a safe neighborhood? etc.
You can always find some hotel deals if you book early or by searching on apps like Hotwire where they have hot rate specials or Priceline where they have express deals, name your price, and many more.
Avoid touristy locations
We all know when we visit our dream destination we want to do all the touristy things. Yes, you can do all this in a smart way.
For instance, instead of eating at touristy restaurants, you can eat local street food or local restaurants meaning nonfancy restaurants that charge you high prices for the same thing you can eat in local restaurants.
This can also be a great way to save money and also experience the local culture. If you want to experience the fancy restaurant that you saw on social media that is not in your hometown, you can make a budget for it so you can get your experience.
Another thing if you like to shop, avoid touristy locations. Those places tend to have prices because they know most people around the area are not from there so they don’t know their surroundings.
