Travelling can be an expensive affair, but it is possible to keep these costs down to a minimum with these 8 smart money saving tips!
1. Travel Off Season
Regardless of whether you are going for a short trip away, or going away long term, the best way to get cheap flights is by travelling off-season. If you go away on season, you will not only be facing more expensive flights but also accommodation options will hike up their prices. When you travel at less busy times of the year, tourist attractions will often offer discounts and incentives to get more customers, which is great for you. Additionally, travelling off-season will not only save you money, but it will be quieter too, with fewer lines for popular attractions. If you are not sure about when it is best to travel, use a flight price calculator that can help you find the cheapest time to go.
2. Stay In Hostels
There is a common misconception about hostels that they are dark, grimy and unsafe. Of course, there probably are some hostels out there that fit the description, however, there are also lots of lovely hostel options out there available at bargain prices! You can find hostel options that are very friendly and host quizzes, games nights and pub crawls, so if you are looking to make some friends while traveling then staying in a hostel is a must! What’s more, lots of hostel options offer free tea and coffee stations, with shared kitchens for you to use. This is a great way to save even more money, as instead of eating out, you can cook your own meals in the communal kitchen.
Sometimes people are put off hostels because they do not like the idea of sharing a bathroom or bedroom with people they do not know. Often hostels will offer the option of having a private room with your own bedroom, while this costs extra, it will still be far cheaper than staying in a hotel.
3. Walk More
It can be tempting to just hop on a bus or a tram, or even call an Uber to get around sometimes. However, the money you spend on transport can add up very quickly. Obviously, there will be times where transport is essential, but when it is possible to walk, then walking is absolutely your best option! Not only will it save you money, but you also will see more of the sights and get a better feel of where you are exploring. All the extra walking will also be good for your fitness, as this is something a lot of long term travellers struggle with.
4. Use Coupons And Cash Back
Using coupons and cashback schemes while travelling is a great way to save some extra money. Instead of going into big shopping centres and spending full price, go to this site for discounts, coupons and even up to 3% cashback. While you might not save the big bucks every time, each time you do save a little something, these savings will add up in the long run.
5. Plan Your Daily Spendings
It’s a good idea to have a daily budget in mind as this will help you to keep spending in check. Plan out your costs and decide on what is a reasonable daily budget for you, for example, if you decide to spend $50 a day, then this is the figure you will have in mind when you start to consider buying non-essential purchases. Naturally, the price of living will vary from place to place, so your daily budget will probably need adjusting from time to time. If planning budgets is not your forte, try using a budget calculator to help point you in the right direction.
6. Minimize Eating Out
Where possible it is best to minimize eating out, as this can be costly. When you do choose to eat out, try eating out in local joints, and eat as if you were a local. This will save you money and it will also give you a more authentic experience. Additionally, after the year that the world has had, local communities will be relying even more so on tourist expenditure. And so, you should try to avoid restaurant chains at all costs, they will be expensive and the food will be no better than the local joints that you can find.
To reduce the costs of eating out, try staying in places that either has communal kitchens or that have a microwave/ cooking station in your room. This might mean paying a little extra for the room, but with that comes the convenience of cooking for yourself, and this will save you a lot of money from eating out every day.
7. Check Out Free Activities
Sometimes it will feel like all the things you want to do while abroad cost money. There are always going to be free activity options out there, you might just have to do some digging to find them. Seek out nature parks, free museums, cool architecture and more. Not everything has to be costly, and even when you do choose to spend money on activities, search around first as you can often find hidden gems that are cheaper than the typical tourist guide/tour/experience.
8. Avoid Staying In The City Center
Whatever accommodation option you choose, you should avoid staying in the city center as the prices will be significantly higher there. While it can be tempting because you will feel closer to the action, often it is just not worth the extra cost. Aside from that, you can get a more authentic experience by staying in areas where you might not have thought to explore initially. Whatsmore, you will be traveling to the city center and you will be able to see all the extra sights along that route.
Saving money while traveling does not have to be a grueling task. Small changes here and there can add up to big savings, and so, with these 8 simple money-saving tips, you will be able to save your money without compromising on the experience of your travels.
