Contrary to popular belief, seeing the world does not always need to be expensive. While it is a privilege to have the time and money to travel the world, you don’t necessarily have to be rich to experience other places. There are many ways you can explore while staying in budget without draining your savings. Check out these simple hacks to save money on your next adventure.
Travel Overnight
If possible, travel overnight! This saves you time and money so you can get the most out of your trip. If you can take a flight or train ride overnight instead of during the day, it saves you a night of having to pay for accommodations.
While you’re planning out your travels, look into overnight travel options and do this when possible. Also, you can complete your long travel at night so you have your days to enjoy the palace you’re visiting. Save money and give yourself more time to explore!
Pick a Budget and Stick to it
Planning a trip requires some research. Look into your destination and the average cost of things like food, accommodations, travel, activities, etc. Take these estimates into account along with your budget to find a realistic number to stick to.
Keep your budget in mind throughout your trip and do your best to stick to this number when you’re traveling. Having a budget laid out for you will eliminate some stress while you’re enjoying your trip.
Use Skyscanner for Cheapest Flights
Skyscanner is a great resource for those of us traveling on a budget. You can plug in your travel dates and arrival/destination airports and it will provide you with the cheapest flights available. Pro tip: Tuesday through Thursday are the most cost-effective days to travel.
Try to plan your trips so that you don’t travel on weekends because these are the most expensive days to travel. Skyscanner also has an application you can download on your phone to check flight availability while you’re out and about.
Avoid Tourist Traps
“Tourist traps” is a term that refers to popular tourist destinations and activities that attract (you guessed it) tourists. These are the most expensive places to travel to because they have such an allure. Do your research so you don’t find yourself falling for these tourist traps.
Besides, the best way to get to know any place you visit is by exploring on your own and with locals, rather than hitting the most populated tourist spots. There are tons of hidden gems that will be equally exciting to explore and will save your wallet in the process.
Travel Off-Season
A great way to save money on travel is to go in the off-season. During travel season, the travel industry increases prices because the demand is higher and they know people will pay it. Europe is a great example of this. If you’re planning a trip, you might consider looking up the most popular times of year people usually go, and do the exact opposite.
Of course, people usually travel to places in the on-season due to weather, so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of unpredictable weather. On the plus side, however, it will be less busy and you won’t have to wait in as many lines.
