Hello friends! Who here loves travelling? Better yet, who doesn’t love travelling? Travelling is a great way to expand your horizons, your knowledge of the world and I am also pretty sure that in some ways, it makes you a “better” world citizen too by interacting with other cultures. But all these benefits don’t come cheap. Unfortunately travelling is an expensive hobby! While most of us wish we could at least go travelling two/three times a year, only a few of us afford such luxury. What we need to do is learn how to save money on vacation so these trips won’t break the bank!
Learn How To Save Money On Vacation
Below are a few simple tips and tricks that I have tried or researched that can save you some money while on your are out discovering the world!
Have Flexible Flying Dates
So, before we actually go anywhere, we need to fork out one of the biggest expenses of our holiday: Airline tickets! Of course this can not be avoided but you can minimise the cost if you have flexible flying dates. Let me explain….
Last July (2013), I was searching for flights to Scotland. On my initial search I got the price of €550*, that was too expensive and totally out of my budget. So I waited it out and searched again in mid August (2013); It dropped to €220! Now that’s more like it! So I decided to book as it won’t get any cheaper than that!! Still I think I have made a bargain but if I had waited it out again and went in November it would of only have costed me €170!! This is how extreme prices can vary in a short period of time!
*All prices are for two with return
Also, if you’re very flexible, try flying in the off season; Prices are lowest October/November and January/February! And try getting flights on Sundays and in the night hours. Those are the cheapest! 😉
Google Is Your Friend
So ok we’ve just booked a nice holiday for the best price. Now what? Now go to Google and simply type “free things to do in yourdestination” ! Everywhere in the world, especially major cities, you’ll find great attractions and activities you can do for free. Take advantage of offers from museums, park, nightclubs, restaurants etc.. Most of these places always have a day where they have a special offer going on.
Research & Plan
After you did your research, plan out your holiday so you’ll know what to do once you get there. If you plan it out and fill up your days with inexpensive things to do, you won’t be stuck not knowing what to do and thus ending up doing things that will break your holiday budget. Always plan ahead and keep to schedule as much as possible!
I would suggest buying a travel guide from Amazon. Simply type in “yourdestination travel guide”
Dining On Vacation
Save money on food by not dining at super expensive tourist places. Eat street food if you can, there is nothing more authentic than street food to get the taste of the culture. Also try to befriend some locals while on vacation and they will recommend to you superb restaurants that cater to the locals, thus avoiding tourist prices! It’s also a great way to make new friends in friends!!
If there is a specific restaurant you’d like to visit, check out TripAdvisor to check out it’s ratings, reviews and the prices so you won’t be disappointed!
Check out the word’s BEST street food!
Get Around By Foot
If possible try walking everywhere! It will save you money on transportation, keeps you fit and allows you to get to know more ‘personally” the area you are in. Don’t be a tourist, be a traveller! You never know; you might get lost and stumble on a great restaurant or a charming cafeteria which will lead to an unforgettable experience! It’s all part of the fun of travelling!
Avoid Mobile Phone Charges
Once you are settled in, switch your phone to “Airplane Mode” to avoid roaming charges. Also DO NOT pay for WiFi! You can find free wifi everywhere; From your hotel, to cafeterias, to restaurants, public areas etc.. With wifi you can also use free messaging apps, Skype, Facebook and the rest so you will still be connected and able to communicate even if you’re in “Airplane Mode”!
Check out Groupon
If you are travelling in the US, check out Groupon. Groupon is a site that features deals in almost all cities of America. I did a quick search for deals in New York City and it came up with 2169 deals all over the state of New York. Check out the screenshot below. As you can see, you can find amazing deals!
So there you go folks! You are now equipped with tips that could easily save you close a ton of money every time you decide to embark on a new adventure.
If you got a vacation planned already, try to enjoy your time without breaking the bank. I find that when I go on vacation and don’t come back broke, it leaves a sweeter taste in my mouth of the whole vacation in general.
But maybe that’s just me!
Enjoy, take care and GetToSaving!
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Hi, I’m Chris Lee. In September 2013 I decided to quit my job to focus on building up my business. Glad to say that till now all is going well and I think I made the right decision but it’s only because I have learned how to properly manage my personal finances.