Spending less on vacation does not mean traveling cheaply, booking questionable hotels, or eating fast food. Thrifty people go for quality for the best price, which sometimes requires adjusting their expectations.
While many people skip vacations to save money, you can plan a trip that fits your budget with time and careful online cruising. Let’s discuss the main strategies for this!
Let the vacation date choose you
For the best chance of saving money, you should be flexible on the date of your trip. You might prefer a season (like summer or winter), but tailor the specifics based on the best offers. If you want to visit a particular country, follow these tips for the best price:
- Jump on multiple flight comparison sites to browse the available airline deals. Sometimes, booking directly from the airline’s website might be cheaper. Thus, double-check both options to see which is better.
- Consider flying mid-week instead of Friday or weekend (more popular times for flying).
- If you fly with a specific airline often, join its loyalty program to start earning airline miles. Travel rewards are also available through certain credit cards (check if your credit card offers such benefits).
- Budget airlines have improved their quality of travel. So, don’t disregard their offers, especially when a two-way trip costs less than $100. However, these options are the best for flights under 4 hours, and you don’t need checked luggage. If you accidentally overpack, the trip with additional fees might cost the same as a more expensive airline.
Start saving early
You should start accumulating the funds for your trip as early as possible. For example, a percentage of your monthly salary could go to a savings account. You can also pick up additional work and save these earnings towards a trip.
Besides asking for extra shifts or getting a second job on the weekends, you can consider the different ways to make money online. That includes picking up freelancing, doing micro-tasks, or getting some cash back through cashback options. Additionally, you can sell various digital products (like online courses) or share your unused internet bandwidth for extra income online. Multiple of these options can turn into passive income, meaning it generates money without your interaction in the long run.
How to save on accommodation
Besides getting to your location, you must also consider where you’ll settle in for your trip. You might consider getting package deals, with flights and accommodation included. Sometimes, it can work, and such offers can be beneficial. However, check out the prices if you do everything independently instead of booking it. For accommodations, consider these aspects:
- Browse through Airbnb, budget inns, guesthouses, hotels, and hostels available in the area.
- Consider looking for home-sitting opportunities where you stay in a home and take off it while the owners are away. You might only get free accommodation or earn some money (depending on the complexity of your tasks).
- If meals are included in the accommodation offer, tailor it to suit your needs. For instance, you might be exploring the city and won’t return to the hotel for lunch. Thus, opt for breakfast or dinner instead. Breakfast meals are relatively easy to make, even without a stove or much kitchen equipment (meaning you might not need breakfast included).
General recommendations that cut costs
Flights and accommodation are the most expensive purchases when it comes to travel. Besides that, we suggest following these recommendations to save money during your foreign (or local) adventure:
- Don’t fall for tourist-oriented restaurants and bars, as their prices might be much higher. Additionally, the food quality might not represent the standard and give you a less pleasant experience.
- It is best to avoid booking taxis and sticking to public transportation or walking.
- Instead of booking expensive boat rides, focus on finding free activities. Plenty of museums and other cultural locations are free to the public.
- Many tourists highlight that the last days of your trip leave the biggest impression. Make noteworthy plans for these days and allow yourself to splurge a bit (nothing too extreme).
- Nature is free, and the sights you see are worth hundreds of dollars. So, don’t disregard national parks or landmarks that capture the country’s aesthetic.
- With limited time for a vacation, consider combining work and relaxation (if your employer offers a work-from-anywhere option)! During the day, you focus on completing your tasks, while the evenings are your chance to explore.
- Check out the mobile data conditions and whether you need to invest in a local SIM card or another option.
- Don’t forget to consider using the best vpn to keep your data secure while browsing on public networks during your travels.
Conclusion
Traveling gives life the spice many lack while juggling work and home harmony. Even if you think you must skip this year’s vacation to save, consider the affordable way! The trip might not be as fancy or action-filled, but it lets you relax and escape from the mundane without costing too much.
