Traveling can be a fantastic experience, but it can also be expensive. The costs can add up quickly between flights, accommodations, food, and activities. However, with some planning and discipline, you can enjoy your travels without breaking the bank. Budgeting while traveling can help you save money, allowing you to extend your trip, enjoy more experiences, or have a little extra cushion in your wallet.
Email Alerts & Flexibility Can Make Flights Cheaper
Many travel sites offer free email alerts to let you know when flights have become discounted. For example, Scott’s Cheap Flights sends flash sales and cheap flight deals to your inbox, while Airfarewatchdog lets you know when flight fares are lowered and allows you to track flight prices.
Additionally, when booking a flight, being flexible with the dates of your trip and traveling during off-peak times can save you a ton of money. You can use websites like Kiwi or Skyscanner to see if there are any dates for flights that are usually cheaper.
You should avoid traveling during holidays, weekends, or any date people typically travel. Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often much cheaper for flying than Fridays and Sundays – especially if you book an early morning or late night flight!
Join Hotel Rewards & Frequent Flier Programs
Loyalty programs are a great way to save up for trips on a long-term basis – if you earn enough rewards, you can eventually get a free flight or hotel stay. Similarly, most of your favourite airlines and banks offer frequent flier programs (like RBC Avion or Air Miles Rewards). You can even get credit cards that offer travel and dining rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Card or the AMEX Platinum Card – these are especially beneficial if you travel frequently.
Sometimes the flight you’re taking can be much cheaper than the hotel you’re staying in, so signing up for a hotel rewards program can help you save big on travel. Hotels.com gives you a free night for every 10 nights booked with them, and the Marriott offers reward programs for business travelers.
Use a Travel App to Help Your Budget
There are many great budgeting apps available for free or for a small price, and if you want to keep track of your daily budget so you can save for future travelling adventures, apps like Mint and You Need A Budget can help you with that. If you’re splitting expenses for a trip with friends or family, download Splitwise so there are no surprises, disagreements, or lack of transparency for expenses that everyone needs to contribute to.
You can also use apps like Google Flights and Skiplagged to help you find the cheapest flights that connect you to your final destination. Even flying into a nearby airport instead of a major city airport can save you money – and try to bring only carry-on bags instead of paying for checked luggage!
Compare Hotel Prices or Opt For Roughing It
Staying in a hostel or couch-hopping doesn’t have to be a miserable experience – especially with new standards for tourist accommodations and safety precautions. Choosing to stay in an Airbnb or private hostel can be a luxurious experience, just like staying in a hotel, but it will cost you half the price. Both options are also a great way to connect with locals, make friends, and participate in authentic activities in the area.
Another option you could try for saving money while traveling is house-sitting. If you want to travel a lot and spend most of your life doing it, consider being paid to travel, like being a house sitter on TrustedHouseSitters.com, so that you can enjoy free housing in different places every year. You can also become an au pair or a tour guide and live in your favourite places on Earth while earning money.
Utilize Local Deals & Hidden Gems
Finding things you can do for free, at a discounted rate, or that will give you an authentic experience for a low price can give you some of the best travel stories. You can always look up lists of free things to do in any major city, or you can book a tour at a discounted rate that will show you all of the sites and then some!
Planning will always save you money, so creating a travel budget and figuring out sites you want to see can help you decide what you can afford during your trip. It would help if you also spoke to locals when you arrive to ask them about their favourite spots – a local pub will always be cheaper than a hot-spot tourist destination. You can enjoy an authentic experience in the process.
Lastly, if you want to tour cities with a guide for free, you can book free tours through Civitatis in many cities.
Make The Most of Your Travel Budget
There are many great ways to use your allocated spending while staying within budget. It begins with separating the gimmicky tourist traps from the authentic, exhilarating experiences. Avoid buying cheap keychains or silly souvenirs; take pictures of the beautiful spots you see instead. You can make a photo album of all your shots when you get home and have the souvenir of a lifetime – free of charge.
Meet up with locals and ask them the places they would want to visit if they were experiencing their city for the first time – they likely won’t recommend the busy tourist spots. This way, you can save money by visiting the lesser-known area and have a better overall experience where you can fully understand the culture and customs of your destination.
Speaking of cultures and customs, you should research before booking your flight to understand the laws, rules, and regulations of the country you’re visiting to save money, avoid fines, and respect the culture. If you don’t think you’ll drive well on the left side of the road, it may be best to avoid renting a car when visiting England.
Lastly, you should avoid paying foreign transactions or ATM withdrawal fees by ensuring ample spending money is exchanged for the correct currency before leaving your home country.
If you need a little extra help to increase your spending budget for your traveling endeavors, Loan Express provides quick, easy payday loans that can turn your next trip into the adventure of a lifetime. Loan Express has you and your exciting vacation covered no matter where you go.