How to Spend More and Save More When You Travel
Traveling can be an expensive affair. There’s the cost of flights and train tickets, accommodation, local sightseeing and dining out, high-end shopping, gourmet food. the list goes on. And if you plan to take extended breaks from home for a few weeks at a time, the costs can add up fast. Luckily, there are ways to cut corners and spend less when you travel. Let’s take a look at some simple tricks you can use to stretch your dollars while still enjoying your trips away from home.
Dining Out
Eating out can be expensive. One way to curb the costs is to order an appetizer or small meal instead of a main course. This will save you money and allow you to enjoy some more excellent food. If you’re traveling with others, plan a group dinner outing where everyone pays their own bill.
Eating local and home-cooked
If you’re trying to spend less on food when you travel, your best bet is to eat locally. Not only will this give you a taste of the local cooking and dining scene, but you’ll also be supporting small businesses in the area. Additionally, home-cooked meals are cheaper than restaurant meals for multiple reasons. Not only are they usually already cooked saving time and money on preparation but they will usually cost less than eating out at restaurants. Another way to eat less while traveling is to cook more at home. This approach can be especially helpful if you’re taking extended trips away from home, as it gives you control over what you’re eating and offers some variety in terms of preparing food yourself, which can often be healthier too!
Don’t be afraid of the internet or restaurant search engine
Before you book your flight, spend a few minutes looking through flights on the internet. Also, before you search for accommodation in a specific city, try searching on hotel and hostel booking websites, like Airbnb.com or Agoda.com. These websites often offer lower rates than what is offered on travel sites; and sometimes they can even provide cheaper rates if you book during off-peak periods. Another tactic to save money when traveling is to use a restaurant search engine like Yelp.com or TripAdvisor.com to find recommendations for dining out in the area where you are staying.
Stay in a hostel or hotel
If you’re on a budget and are looking for an affordable place to stay, try staying in a hostel or hotel. Many hotels offer free breakfasts, complimentary Wi-Fi, airport transfers, and other amenities. If you stay in a hostel, you might get the chance to meet fellow travelers from around the world. You also don’t have to worry about cooking your own food or cleaning up on your own. You can make use of the included kitchen facilities or order takeout from local restaurants nearby.
Another great thing about staying in a hostel is that it’s easy to keep up with friends online. Hostels usually have free Wi-Fi, so you can easily keep in touch with friends back home while traveling abroad. Or if you’re traveling with friends, they’ll be able to keep tabs on you while they’re back home and check up on your progress without interrupting your trip. Finally, since hostels are often located near popular tourist attractions and nightlife areas, it’s easy to find places like museums or bars at a moment’s notice. This saves you time when planning out your sightseeing plans for the day!
Biking and walking
as a way to save money The first thing to do is take advantage of your own surroundings. Biking and walking are great ways to see the sights and get where you need to go without using any extra funds. If you live in a big city, the sheer number of people that are on foot will provide some much-needed company for your adventures. If you’re up for something a bit more challenging, try walking or biking across the country or around Europe.
You’ll have the entire continent to yourself! Another great budget friendly option is public transportation like buses, trains, and planes. While not exactly cheap, it’s still cheaper than renting a car from point A to point B. And if you plan ahead well enough, you might be able to snag some discounts on tickets by booking them online in advance.
Be flexible with your plans
The best way to save when you travel is to be flexible with your plans. You may not need the expensive flights and hotels or even a five-star experience. Remember that one of the most important items for any traveler is a backpack. Pack light, plan for spontaneity, and always remember to pack some essentials that you can use in case of emergency (e.g., toiletries). Be prepared for anything It’s always good to keep some cash on hand so if you do have an emergency situation, you have something to fall back on.
Additionally, it’s also important to be prepared with information about how to get around and what your options are before you arrive at your destination. Just because you don’t know much about a place before you arrive doesn’t mean you’re going to be in the dark when it comes time for action. In fact, this will make things easier for you as a traveler because then all of those little details are already sorted out!
Join a forum and meet fellow travelers before you go.
When you’re going on your holiday, create a profile for yourself on a forum that’s relevant to your interests. This will help give you an idea of what kind of places there are to visit and where you can find the best deals. Join before you go so you can get a feel for what travelers like yourself like to do. When you arrive at your destination, it’ll be easy to find local activities and meet up with fellow travelers in town.
Ask locals for help when you can.
There’s no reason to venture into the unknown when you can ask locals for help. You may not be able to speak their language, but they will know the best places to eat, drink and hang out in your destination. Plus, they can give you tips on how to get around and which sights are worth seeing while you’re there.