Planning a trip but haven’t saved up enough cash? Or want to plan a budget-friendly trip? It is not compulsory to spend a fortune to visit exotic places, and you certainly don’t need to spend your inheritance traveling the world, especially not if you know how to watch your pennies. So, to help plan your staycation on a budget, here are a few tips:
- Come up with a plan
Traveling on the spot is excellent if you have the time and money to spare. But if you are traveling on a budget, the first thing to do is develop a plan. Having an outline of your epic adventure doesn’t mean you have to plan it day-by-day, but you should at least know how much time you’ll spend in each city or country. Less unexpected circumstances mean less surprise spending; last-minute flights and accommodation are often far more expensive.
- Travel off-season
Avoid trips during the school holidays; travel companies raise prices to take advantage of families who can only travel during these times. Instead, research the best time to visit your intended destination and travel before or after these dates. It’s known as the ‘shoulder season’ when you can still have a fantastic time, but maybe the sun won’t shine quite as brightly. Hotels and a few transportations like airlines lower their prices during these times to attract customers.
- Be accommodation-savvy
You can skip the idea that you need to book villas or hotel suites to enjoy your holiday and instead go for hostel dorm rooms. Sharing a room naturally reduces expenses. In addition, communal bunk rooms allow you to meet people interested in exploring with you. You can also find a spare room on many great websites to book a local apartment or house. Again, the price will be halved, and you will be able to take an accurate snapshot of city life. Finally, consider your host your tour guide, filled with insider tips for the best eating and tourist spots in that city or neighborhood.
Homestays with family friends, reaching out to people you know, or planning a trip to somewhere a long-lost cousin or school friend now lives who could take you to visit places you’d never have thought of before.
- Pack less
Make sure to bring everything you need along so that you don’t have to shop for anything apart from a few souvenirs while you are away. Also, take at least one pair of long jeans, a warm hoodie, and a waterproof jacket for unpredictable weather incidents no matter where you are heading.
- Book in advance
Always book your hotel and train or bus ticket online in advance, especially return flights. Running out of money abroad or at an unknown place without a guaranteed ticket home is never a good idea. Airlines release their flight seats almost a year in advance, and the closer you get to your departure date, the more the price increases, especially in the last month.
- Travel on a weekday and fly smart
The ticket prices for traveling midweek are lower because weekend flights are more expensive, and you will have shorter lines at airport check-in desks and security screening.