Vacations are expensive, but they don’t have to be. Here we will be giving you some tips on how to travel on a budget!
Budget traveling is art. It is also my hobby.
Here are 12 money saving tips that you need to know to travel the world cheaply.
Tip #1: Be flexible with the timing of your vacation is the biggest money saver of all. Knowing the best time of year to travel is very important, traveling off-season can be 3-4 times cheaper than peak season! Also, you’ll find the best deals when you travel in the middle of the week or take a red-eye flight overnight. This is the most important tip to budget savvy travels! *
Peak travel season varies by destination so contact your local travel agent.
Tip#2: Be flexible with your destination. If you're searching for the best travel deals, avoid limiting yourself to just one dream destination. Be open to traveling anywhere, then let the deals dictate where you go. This is a great strategy to pursue if you have like seeing new places and don't mind an adventure. Plus, letting the deals decide your next trip means that you'll get to explore new areas you may not have thought to visit otherwise.
Tip #3: Book everything in advance OR at the last moment (last-minute and first-minute), as the prices then are the lowest. While you can often score cheap flights when you book at the last minute, the opposite is also true. Booking airfare early is a great way to save money, provided you can plan your trip at least six to nine months in advance.
Tip #4: Don’t feel obligated to fly out of the nearest airport. You might save money by flying through less-convenient airports. The key is to be flexible about where you fly, even if it means venturing away from your home airport a bit.
Tip #5: Location of your accommodations. Spending just a few minutes familiarizing yourself with public transportation options can save a lot of money over taking taxis or renting a car. You can find a good accommodations in the city center to be able to go to the main attractions by foot.
Tip #6: When you travel together, you can split the costs with your friends and family. There’s something to be said about solo travel but if you’re on a budget, you can split the costs of hotels and rental cars when you travel with a small group of friends or family.
Tip #7: Talk to the locals. Most famous attractions are often very crowded and very expensive. A great tip for traveling on a budget is to ask locals for advice. They can send you to destinations that are not as well known.
Tip #8: Eat at local Restaurants. Rather than going to tourist-filled restaurants that serve up mediocre Western food, go to the local spots that serve up authentic meals. The restaurants will be busier and therefore the food will be fresher and it is inevitably cheaper.
Tip #9: Look up for the FREE stuff that you can do: Simply Google "free events this week in…" there are almost certainly free events happening during your stay. Some of the many things you can experience: free walking tours, free festivals, free concerts, free museum days, ect.
Tip #10: Use a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Most credit cards charge a percentage of the amount of the transaction, which is usually 3%. So consider a credit card that doesn’t assess foreign transaction fees — you’ll thank us on your next international trip.
Tip #11: Take advantage of the strong U.S. dollar. It’s important to keep in mind this could change at any time if the value of the U.S. dollar declines. Right now, your money will go further when traveling to certain countries like Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia, where the exchange rate is more favorable.
Tip #12: Save money on travel insurance with a credit card We hope you never need travel insurance, but if something goes wrong with your trip, you may be glad you have it. Some major credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance but make sure you check with your credit card issuer to understand which policies apply to you and how.
So, If you want to travel, don’t let an entry-level salary or a high student loan balance stop you. Get with a local travel agent to help! They will know the in's and out's of cheap travel times, destination and where you will get the bang for your buck! Now let's get planning!
