How to save on travel costs when travelling
Your trip might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it will cost you. The average family of four spends £1,200 on vacation getaways each year, and that doesn’t include airfare, hotels, car rentals and other expenses.
To ensure that you have the most enjoyable and affordable trip possible, keep reading to discover how to save money on travel costs.
Travel is one of the most expensive elements of our lives. From plane tickets to hotels to car rentals, we all spend money on vacations to have fun with our loved ones. Thankfully there are some simple ways that you can cut down on your expenses so that you can enjoy your next getaway without breaking the bank!
Don’t worry if you don’t know where to begin; we’ve got you covered with our top 15 tips for travellers below.
1. Plan your trip long before you book
Before you book your vacation, plan out all of the details that will make your trip successful. This includes researching the place you are going to stay, the activities that you want to participate in, and nearby attractions.
You want to make sure that you have everything planned out so that nothing goes wrong during your trip. This will also help you to stay stress-free as you know exactly what to expect. If you do this ahead of time, you will save yourself a lot of concern and frustration.
2. Save on accommodation: Cottage country, Airbnb and more!
One of the best ways to save on accommodation costs is to use a cottage or farmer’s house as your base. Cottages are often much cheaper to rent than a hotel room, and you can often find affordable ones on week-long stays.
If you’re looking for more of a home-away-from-home experience, consider staying in a historic house or a vacation rental. If you’re lucky enough to have a local in the town who’s willing to let you stay in his/her home, you can save even more!
Airbnb and other home-based travel services can help you save on vacation costs when used correctly. This gives you access to free things like cleaning services, door-to-door transportation, and meals prepared by your home-cooked dinners.
3. Budget meals
Another way to save on your trip is to eat out less. When you travel, you’re more than likely going to eat out at least occasionally. Whether it’s at home or out, many nights you’ll want to put a little dip into your travel budget to splurge on that delicious meal. It’s not always necessary to splurge on five-star cuisine to enjoy good food, and you can often find budget-friendly options in many major cities around the world. If you’re on a tight budget, look into eating at-home versions of some of your favourite restaurant dishes.
4. Avoid tourist traps and find the best deals
When you’re on a budget, you’re more likely to go to tourist attractions or places with high prices. To avoid falling into a tourist trap, make sure to look up reviews online before visiting a place. You can often find ratings and reviews for attractions online as well as for restaurants and hotels. When in doubt, just avoid tourist traps and save yourself some money in the process!
5. Don’t forget to pack light
When you are on a trip, you should always try to pack light. When you are on a vacation, especially a short one, you don’t want to be carrying around a ton of stuff.
Instead of wearing heels on the plane, wear comfortable shoes. And instead of buying an expensive bottle of water in the middle of the desert, go with a water bottle that is easy to carry and fits in your bag. And last but not least, don’t forget to pack your favourite music when you are on a trip.
6. Always carry cash
The fees associated with travelling abroad are often prohibitive. Use some common sense when it comes to where you store your money.
When you’re first getting ready to go on your trip, it’s always a good idea to have some money tucked away in a safe place. While you’re in a foreign country, it’s easy to lose track of how much money you’re spending and how much you have.
It’s also a good idea to have some money on hand to cover unexpected expenses, such as transport costs or medical bills. One way to keep track of your funds is to use a budget app.
7. Look into cheap car rental deals
To save money on car rentals, keep in mind that you’ll probably want to take advantage of special offers and deals whenever possible. Look into available specials, such as low-cost airline offers, hotel discounts and rental car incentives.
Another way to save on your car rental is to look into cheap car rental deals. If you’re going to be in a foreign country for a long period, a rental car may be a smarter choice than taking the subway or a bus. With some cheap car rental deals, you can save on both transportation and accommodation.
8. Research cheap destinations
To save money on your next trip, you’ll want to do your research ahead of time and find a budget-friendly destination. There are several ways to do this. Look into flight costs, hotel rates, car rates and more. Once you’ve compiled a list of potential vacations, look into what discounts are available and how you can take advantage of them.
Look into places where there’s not much tourism. Places that don’t get visited that much, such as the places in your home country that are the most remote and lonely.
9. Try online tools for deals
There are many online tools that you can use to look into deals and see what discounts you can claim. You can check current hotel and flight deals, see what attractions are close to your location and check out what travel deals are available for different cities and regions. When it comes to saving money on vacations, there’s no such thing as too much information!
10. Find the cheapest flight
When it comes to saving money on flights, the easiest way is to look up existing flight deals and book your tickets based on the lowest price you’ve seen. This is particularly helpful if you’re travelling with a group and you’re looking for a cheaper flight when compared to individual fares.
You can always choose the cheapest flight, but it’s also important to choose the best flight according to your destination, dates and budget.
11. Look into cruise destinations
If you’re looking for a cheaper way to travel, consider taking a cruise. These are typically the most affordable ways to travel, and they’re also one of the few vacations that don’t require a huge investment.
Depending on your budget and intended use, you may be able to take a cheaper version of a cruise. But if you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation, you’ll want to choose the right cruise for your money.
With some cruise lines charging as much as £800 for a week-long vacation, researching the best price and booking your tickets as soon as possible can save you a lot of money.
12. Look for cheap vacation packages
Another way to save on your travel costs is to look for lower-cost vacation packages. If you are coming to an exotic location and want to experience more activities, look for deals on package tours.
If you are going on a vacation that is focused on culture or nature, look for packages that include all of the activities that you want to do. These packages will often be cheaper than standard tour packages and can save you a lot of money.
13. Look into rebates & deals
Looking into rebates and deals for airline tickets, hotel room discounts, car rentals and other travel expenses can save you a lot of money. Travel cash-out deals are a great way to save on vacations. These are cash-out offers that you can claim when you travel, and which will pay for your travel in cash. While these cash-out deals are often linked to specific destinations, you can still save money by using the cash-out offer to redeem for a different travel destination.
It might surprise you to learn that many of these offers are available exclusively for frequent travellers. The programs rewarding loyal customers are set up to encourage repeat visits, and it’s easy to become a repeat customer through word of mouth.
14. Don’t book too late
Last but not least, don’t book your trip too late. If you are planning a vacation around the winter or summer months, book your trip at a time when most companies are not offering their trips. This will give you more time to save up for your trip and will also allow you to experience more attractions without rushing into booking a trip that you may or may not want to go on.
15. Travel insurance
One of the best ways to protect your vacation funds is with a travel insurance policy. Like any other insurance policy, you want to make sure that you have cover for both the good things that will happen and the things that will go wrong. This can be difficult to do if you don’t always have travel insurance with you. But it can be done.
A brief conclusion
Travelling is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the more prepared you are, the more enjoyable your trip will be.
By following these 15 tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving money on your next trip abroad. Now that you’ve got a better understanding of how to save money on travel costs, it’s time to get ready to enjoy your next vacation.
