There is no right or wrong way to travel. From sophisticated resorts to hostel stays, all trips are a way to discover the world and your personality. Furthermore, there is nothing to be ashamed of when seeking budget-friendly traveling options. By saving costs, you can visit more places and gain more emotions.
This post will guide you through how to save costs when booking hotels and flights, buying mobile Internet, and spending on other travel needs. See how to save on vacation and not sacrifice the joy of discovering new places.
How to Save on Vacation?
Cost-saving practices cover planning, behavior during the trip, and usage of discounted travel options. Let’s start with the first aspect.
Select Destinations with Lower Prices
For travel savings, understand the desired scenery and seek similar options with affordable prices:
- Lake Bacalar, Mexico, instead of the Maldives;
- Ras Al Khaimah instead of Dubai and Abu Dhabi;
- Tatras, Slovakia, and Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine, instead of the Alps;
- Panama and Colombia instead of Hawaii, etc.
This way, you gain the same experience and see similar locations, while paying around half the price.
Route Planning
Flights are always more expensive than bus and train trips. If you can reach the destination by land, think about these options. Although the trip takes longer, it is a great way to see more locations on the road.
Book Cheaper Options
Use online booking aggregators: Hotels.com, Booking.com, Momondo, KAYAK, Google Flights, Airbnb, etc.
Cost-Effective Planning: The Best Practices
Save money and travel without stress by allocating the trip budget. Split the sum into key sources of expenses: accommodation, flight/road trip ticket, activities at the destination, food, and essentials.
Find Tourist-Friendly Bank Cards
Such debit and credit cards offer fast processing all over the world and great financial options for travelers:
- Wise debit card with 160+ countries support and travel rewards;
- Revolut debit card with the best exchange rates over the world (the subscription is paid);
- Capital One Quick Silver One offers 5% cashback on hotel and car rentals, as well as 1.5% cash back for purchases, connected with traveling;
- Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a free credit card for students with 8% cashback on entertainment, 5% on booking with Capital One Travel, and 3% on dining and grocery stores.
The card choice depends on your credit score. Explore available options in your country and apply before departure.
Buy Travel Insurance
You never know when something goes wrong. Travel insurance covers medical costs and public fines in case you need help. Although insurance is paid, this is a necessary measure to ensure your safety. Remember that budget-saving is not a priority when you or your kids need medical treatment.
Explore Exchange Services with Good Rates
Currency exchange in airports, train stations, and tourist locations is less beneficial than local services. Be ready to walk a mile a two to find the exchange offices in supermarkets, grocery shops, banks, etc. National banks offer steady rates and are the best for tourists with foreign currency. You may also find cryptocurrency exchange locations nearby.
Track Discounts
Download applications to track discounts for flights, train and bus trips, accommodation, and local activities for tourists. Tools like Gropupon, Klook, and Viator (a service by Tripadvisor), have similar interfaces and functionality. Track all of them to find timely options.
Take Part in Loyalty Programs
The loyalty program by Booking.com makes hotel and flight prices cheaper along with your app experience. Even the 1st and 2nd levels can save up to 20% initial price. The same format works for Airbnb.
Cut Costs During the Trip
Now that all aspects are planned, your spending habits during the trip matter. Save money on travel itself by knowing these hacks.
Pack Light
To avoid paying for baggage, travel with a backpack. Talking about low-cost flight carriers, baggage fees may be even higher than ticket costs – that’s the way these companies earn money.
Pack Some Snacks
At least, you won’t spend money on restaurants, train buffets, and expensive airplane food.
Get Yourself an Airport Lounge Permission
Travelers rarely realize how much they spend when waiting for their flights. From overpriced snacks to tempting duty-free shops, you don’t realize how your cash flows away. Instead, consider services with airport lounge permissions:
- Visa Platinum debit card offers access to lounges in 160+ countries;
- Priority Pass is a special service, focused on airport lounge permissions;
- Car rental services and eSIM providers offer airport lounge passes for loyal customers;
This way, you get yourself a place to relax and eat your snacks.
Shop in Local Grocery Stores
At the destination, choose local shops far from the city center. Locations for tourists are overpriced. Search for local grocery networks at Tripadvisor and read customer reviews about prices in advance.
Consider Free Activities
Museums offer free passes for children and students of many colleges. Do research before arrival to see available options. Alternatively, visit free exhibitions, city squares, cathedrals, monuments, and historical places – usually, they are free or cost a little.
Economize on Accommodation and Transportation
Transport and accommodation are the most expensive part of a trip. Consider proven ways to save costs.
Buy s Public Transportation Pass
If possible, choose prepaid bus rides. Such passes, especially in Europe, are much cheaper than single purchases. You may also search for discounts for children and students.
If the destination has poor public transportation, consider car rental instead of taxis. Daily or weekly cars for rent are much more beneficial than overpriced taxis. Finally, if you use a taxi, avoid private offers near stations and city centers. Instead, download Uber, Bolt, or Uklon services to book cheaper taxis with regular discounts.
Live in Hostels and Private Accommodation
Hostels, without a doubt, are the cheapest type of accommodation. Before booking one, read reviews about safety measures, hygiene, and rules. Yet, this format may not suit families with small kids or tourists with disabilities.
Alternatively, prioritize private accommodation over hotels. The Airbnb service focuses on apartments and rooms for rent, offered by private persons. This may imply cohabitation with the host, which is even cheaper. Don’t worry, as Airbnb moderators personally visit and examine places to ensure tourists’ safety.
Register at Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a kind of social network, where travelers offer free stays for each other. Offer your own accommodation, be polite and friendly, and you could find free accommodation at your destination.
How eSIM Helps to Economize During Trips?
Internet connection and phone calls are other sources of expenses. Yet, it is a necessary measure in today’s realities: you need to stay in touch with relatives, use maps, order taxis, or call emergency services if something goes wrong.
By using your standard SIM card, you pay huge roaming charges abroad. For example, a single MB of mobile Internet in Europe may cost you 1 EUR. Instead, eSIM services offer virtual data plans, created for single countries or several regions.
Select Suitable Duration
eSIM doesn’t need a plastic card in your phone for activation. Instead, you buy a data plan online and activate it on your device virtually. This opens more opportunities to choose suitable data plans. Choose offers for a single day or a week to avoid overpaying for the whole month.
Choose Data Volumes
Those who use a lot of data should consider unlimited Internet offers. Within the daily price, you receive unlimited mobile Internet at the destination. Some offers include phone calls and SMS as well. If you only need data to stay in touch, consider prepaid tariffs with a single GB. Much cheaper, they are enough for basic needs.
Buy Regional Plans
When visiting several countries within one trip, consider regional eSIM options instead of single-country ones. You activate the plan once, and your carrier automatically switches between the countries. This format is much cheaper than buying a plan for each country (as traditional SIM cards suggest).
Conclusion
Planning matters when it comes to cost-saving practices. Use the following tips 1–2 months before the departure. Book the best tracking options, receive perks, and benefit from cash back travel. Whether you plan vacations now or later, save these trip-saving tricks and return to this post later!
