Travel is very affordable if you have a few tricks up your sleeve. In this article, you will find the best tips for saving money while traveling.
Travel can be an expensive hobby. But it doesn‘t have to be as expensive as you think. Being flexible when it comes to travel dates, packing additional snacks, or learning the best ways to pay in a different currency can help to save some money on each trip. Here are the best, proven ways to save money while traveling.
Pay in Local Currency
If you are using a card to pay while abroad and they ask you in which currency you prefer to pay, always go for the local currency rather than the currency your bank account is set in. Your bank will most likely have the best conversion rate which means fewer exchange fees (if any). Also, you can always get an international travel card like Revolut and save money on transactional fees.
Pack Light
Traveling light means choosing only hand luggage instead of checked-in baggage. This way you save money by not needing to pay for luggage which can sometimes cost more than your plane ticket. This is probably easier to be said than done, especially if you are a frequent overpacker. However, the internet is full of great packing tips and hacks that will help you make the most of the small space you have.
Travel in the Off-Season or During Shoulder Season
It is tempting to pack your bags and spend a week in the top beach towns in Spain or Portugal during summer but keep in mind that you will have to spend twice or even three times as much as you would if you were to travel in fall or late spring. Flights and accommodation prices are the highest during the season. Plus, by traveling in off or shoulder season, you not only save some money but also get to enjoy destinations with way fewer crowds.
Subscribe to Newsletters and Email Alerts
Travel companies usually let their newsletter subscribers know first when discounts or any deals are available. This way you don’t miss a chance on a cheap ticket. Also, sites like Secret Flying and The Flight Deal make it easy to stay up to date with travel deals or any flight errors (essentially, cheaper tickets). They let you narrow down your preferences to flights departing from certain countries and send you an email when a deal pops up.
Find Free Attractions
Apart from obvious free attractions such as parks, and monuments, a lot of museums and art galleries offer free entrances on certain week or month days, as well as for young adults (usually up to 25 years old). It is always good to do a little research beforehand to see if you have any free entrance options and plan your itinerary around them.
Take Advantage of Student Discounts
If you are a student, make sure to check out whether destinations and various attractions offer discounts with student cards. Most of the time, a lot of attractions, public transport and sometimes even flights are cheaper for students. Just make sure that you have a valid student card (some countries only accept international cards such as ISIC).
Skip the Restaurant and Have a Picnic
Definitely take time tasting local cuisine but it doesn’t mean that you have to dine out every single day. A good way to save money is to buy an array of local snacks, drinks, and food and have a picnic in a park or somewhere with a beautiful city view. Great way to relax, slow down and save a bit of money. Also, you can pack some snacks for your traveling days, so you save on expensive airport food prices.
Be Flexible with Travel Dates
Travel costs often depend on which weekdays and what time of the day you travel. The cheapest options will always be in the middle of the week, Tuesday or Wednesday. Also, flights in the early morning will most likely be the cheapest as well. If you have the opportunity to travel during the workweek or at least have one part of the trip (departure or arrival) during the workday, then you are set to save a bit of money.
Photo: olesia_g/Shutterstock
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