Not all are born rich to travel the world. But with some tips and careful planning you can save a good deal of money and head off to your favorite destination.
Here are some suggestions you can consider which will allow you to save up in order to undertake that dream holiday.
1. It is best to have a travel rewards credit card
Today there are a plethora of credit cards for all type of travelers, so if you do travel a lot, then you benefit by using these credit cards during your trip. Choose the best travel credit card for your travel needs, be it hotel or flight tickets and use the card for shopping, etc. all year long. Such a travel credit card would earn you good reward points which can be used to book your flight or hotel.
2. Off-season travel saves a lot of money
It’s the simple law of economics. When there is more demand prices go up and vice versa. This is also true with the travel industry and so when you travel during the summer, hotels and airlines definitely take advantage of the peak travel season and rates, fares, etc., will definitely be on the higher side. Try and travel during the non-peak season, save due to the low demand period and still have your fabulous holiday.
3. Only carry a check-in bag if possible
Lately it seems that passengers are charged for everything, be it a comfortable seat or Sky-meals. When it comes to baggage fees, it includes the bulk of the airline ticket charges. Some airlines allow one check-in bag for free, and for every other single (checked-in) bag, they are charged extra. So try and travel light and save.
4. Think twice before going in for the “all-in-one travel package”
It is a general notion that buying a travel package is cheaper, but what one is paying for is convenience. The hospitality industry offers a lot of options according to the different budgets of the traveler, so that you can have more variety, flexibility and options when choosing between travel fares and accommodation price. You save a lot if travel and accommodation are booked separately.
5. Shop on websites that offers discounts and other goodies
There are many websites which give you points when you shop on their portal. So use discount travel websites and book cheap flights and hotels while earning cashback on the purchases so made.
6. Choose the second-best alternative
Yes, it is true that there is a premium when it comes to convenience, so be it your travel time, mode of transportation and hotel, everything has a fat price tag to it. You can save a good amount of money by opting for a slightly less-convenient flight, or may be choose between alternative modes of transportation such as the train or bus. In some countries train travel is much cheaper than air travel and in other countries it is the other way around, so book your travel tickets accordingly!
7. Why buy souvenirs when you can collect them!
Sometimes the best things you can gift somebody does not need to be purchased. It can come from the souvenirs you collect on a vacation. Do not buy T-shirts, magnets, etc but a simple, rare local plant or a seashell from the beach you visited, can prove to be a better gifting option for your near and dear ones, something they will appreciate more.
8. Be selective when doing paid net-surfing
Go online if it is free, otherwise paid browsing should be best avoided as much as possible except for navigation and booking journey tickets online. Downloading music, videos, etc., should be avoided or kept to a bare minimum if you want to save money.
9. Travel light
All ‘use once and throw’ items like toiletries, food, etc. can be bought at your final arrival destination except what you require during the journey. This practice will reduce the weight of your bags, which in turn, will mean saving on excess baggage charges.
10. Look out for places where one need not spend a lot to enjoy
Many cities have a high cost of living. But almost every city will have clubs, theaters, gardens, National museums, concert halls, art galleries, etc which have free entry for visitors. Similarly there are many social hot-spots where the young and old hangout. These places do not charge a lot for the services they offer so you can spend quality time here while on a vacation.
11. Start your vacation on a week day
Weekends are always a busy period and everything gets booked fast or is sold at a much higher price. So starting your vacation in the middle of the week is a good idea as you save on fares and hotel tariffs.
12. Make good use of your student ID
There are many offers and discount programs for students which are rolled out from time to time and they are very reasonably priced. So a student ID card might just get you a decent discount at a hotel, or a restaurant and even on the public transport system.
So, no more waiting, as these tips can save you some money before you head to that favorite destination of yours …!