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Travel doesn’t need to burn a hole in your pocket every time you plan a vacation. A comfortable yet cost effective trip calls for nothing more than foresight, discretion and an ability to get out of your comfort zone. So, pack your bags for your next trip with the following budget-friendly tips in mind.
- Be Flexible in the Choice Of Travel Destination
Your major partners in travel – airlines, trains, hotels and even local guides – keep changing their deals for different destinations all through the year. Be flexible and research well to find a good travel location at a reasonable price. For instance, a budget traveller would identify Venice as a great option in autumn, as the place is gorgeous yet reasonably priced and less crowded during the time.
- Select Off-Peak Days and Times
As a budget traveller, visit your chosen travel destination during the off season. Also, don’t travel during summers, in weekends or around holidays. Hotels tariffs and ticket prices for major attractions are generally low during off-peak seasons. You may also find local shops selling souvenirs and other specialities of a place at low prices during off-peak seasons.
- Watch Out while Booking Tickets
Keep certain points in mind to snatch a good deal while booking tickets.
- You need to purchase air tickets at least two months in advance to get the cheapest price.
- For airline bookings, flights leaving after 9 pm and arriving very early in the mornings are generally available at lower prices.
- Budget travellers stand a chance to book some of the cheapest airline seats usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, but if planning a weekend gateway, make bookings on Saturdays.
- Remain connected with all the major airlines on social media, register for their rewards programs and sign-up to receive their free e-newsletters to track good deals offered by them.
- Use Google Flight Search’s Calendar Function
A useful tool for budget travellers for comparing the prices of different flights on different dates is the calendar function in Google’s flight search. This tool can be used to evaluate the prices of flights on desired dates of travel with the prices of flights on other days around the same time.
- Non-stop Flights are usually Costly
Non-stop flights are always more expensive as they are direct and more convenient. So, if you are on a budget holiday, also check out options for a direct flight with stops or a layover flight.
- Stay in Alternative Accommodation Options
Try to find alternative places to rest and keep your stuff instead of booking a hotel. This will help travellers save a lot of money. Alternative modes include AirBnb, couch surfing, camping, bed & breakfast options, renting a place directly from a home owner, or staying at a hostel.
- Say Yes To Public Transport
Cabs and charter buses are often very expensive and budget travellers should try to avoid these as much as possible. Instead go for public transportation such as a regular city bus or metro/rail system. Sometimes, they charge around 10 times less.
- Or Simply Use Bikes Or Walk
Many popular tourist attractions around the world such as Berlin, Paris and Copenhagen have a bike sharing system for tourists and they are ridiculously cheap. Or better still, simply explore the destination on foot.