10 Tips for Travelling on a Budget
The prospect of escaping to a faraway land to forget your troubles and recuperate from the daily grind is all too enticing. Sadly, with the rising cost of living, not everybody can afford to spend their hard-earned cash on a holiday as often as they’d like. International travel can be pricey and fraught with hidden fees. However, you needn’t break the bank for a well-deserved trip - budget travel is obtainable and within your reach. Here are ten tips to help you jet off for as little as possible.
Travel Off-Season
Off-peak season travel is invariably cheaper for flights, hotels and other activities. Destinations usually teeming with tourists during the summer months also become considerably more sparse during the off-peak season. Travelling to famously hot climates such as Lanzarote or Cancun during winter may not only save you money, but you might find the lower temperatures considerably more comfortable.
Find Cheap Accommodation
For many people, staying in a luxury hotel, complete with a pool, spa and breakfast buffet, is the pinnacle of luxury. However, if this isn’t on your list of priorities, you can find excellent budget accommodation with companies such as Airbnb.
Avoid Tourist Traps
In the spirit of money-making, certain popular areas become tourist traps - usually due to the presence of a famous landmark or a place of historical/cultural interest. However, travellers often find these so-called hotspots overpriced and underwhelming. Find out where the locals flock to, and you’ll often be pleasantly surprised. Hidden gems are plentiful if you know where to look.
Find Flight Deals
There are numerous cunning tricks and tweaks for reducing the price of your flights. Look for flexible bookings and prepare to make your journey at a less-than-desirable time. Avoid going directly to the airline and compare potential prices using a price comparison site. Above all, remain flexible, both with dates and locations - you may find a cheap package deal for flights to a country that could end up being your new favourite holiday destination.
Opt For Free Activities
As tempting as it might be to book a tour or a boat ride whilst on holiday, try and avoid the pricey extra activities. Scout the local area for free admission to museums, galleries and other places of interest and when in doubt, the internet is your friend. You’ll find information and recommendations for free activities on sites such as TripAdvisor and even Twitter.
Book In Advance
Whether you’re booking flights or parking at one of the busy Manchester airport car parks, arranging everything in advance will save you a substantial amount of money. The later you leave things, the pricier they’re likely to be. You can drop on a bargain with a last-minute deal; however, the more tactical and overall cheaper option is to play it safe by organising everything in plenty of time.
Avoid Eating Out
The cost of eating out at cafés and restaurants whilst on holiday often add up to a startling amount. Eatery prices in popular locations are notoriously steep. If possible, cook your own food as much as you can. Of course, sampling the local cuisine is often a principal part of any trip, but you can save huge sums by preparing most of your meals back at your accommodation.
Pack Light
To avoid the nightmare scenario of having to fork out for an overweight suitcase, weigh your luggage at home and pack as lightly as possible. For shorter trips, you might even be able to fit everything into your hand luggage, negating the need to pay for any checked baggage whatsoever.
Travel While Working
A fantastic way to travel the world on a budget is to do so whilst working. You could earn enough to subsidise your travelling fees and then some. Some methods of earning whilst abroad include WOOFing, house sitting, teaching and seasonal jobs such as bar work.
Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance provides a safety net should your holiday not go as planned. Unexpected mishaps such as injury/illness, stolen items or cancellations can cut a trip short and cost you a fortune unless you have insurance to cover costs. Travel insurance is available from places such as banks, supermarkets and travel agents, but price comparison sites may help to get a better deal.