Plan Ahead
The first tips that I will give you fall under the umbrella of planning ahead. This is what you have to do first before you even go out on vacation and travel the world. Planning is the key factor here, and it’s how you’ll generate success. Preparation can really save you a ton of money along the way, and it’s a great means to really get a feel for where you’re going.
First, is to plan a budget. Decide how much you’re going to spend on a vacation, and keep it within that. Don’t go over or anything simply because it will just throw away the discipline that you’re trying to put in. Make sure that it’s something reasonable as well. The last thing you want to do is try to plan a budget but then it’s physically impossible to do so. Make sure the hotels, parks that you might see, and even foods fall within there, with maybe a little bit left over for spending it on souvenirs and such.
Do your research. Look at what your dollar is equivalent to in other countries. For some, you might come there with five hundred dollars and are able to spend less than that on your entire vacation, such as if you’re going to the Philippines, but in other cases that might only get you a plane ticket, such as if you’re going to California. Choose wisely, and make sure that you accommodate for that.
Also don’t plan on buying clothing or such there if the money doesn’t go very far. I know for a fact that in France, clothing is much more expensive there than in America, so don’t spend money needlessly there and then end up in the red. Plan ahead, and don’t waste your money on things.
If you can’t pay for it right away, save up. Put a little bit away each week, and you’ll soon have a nice fun of money that you can take with you. Maybe you can also put a little bit into another pile for fun money that can be used on trips such as trips to restaurants and such.
For food choices, pick one nice place for dinner during your trip for one night. You don’t have to eat out and spend a ton of money every single night, you just have to treat yourself once and you’ll be fine. It’s simple, but you’ll feel better as well.
Have all of this planned before you leave, and you’ll have a good idea of what’s going to happen on your vacation. By doing this, you’ll be in control of your money, and it puts a strong discipline on you. For first-time travelers, this is essential because it allows you to have a good cap on your money but still allows you to have fun regardless of everything. You still will, but you’ll also be responsible as well, which is very important at the end of the day.
Smart Flying
Flying is another aspect of traveling that makes some people groan. When you fly, you might think that it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg. The thing is though, there are ways around it, and you just have to look at the different ways to do so. You can actually fly for relatively cheap, and this section will discuss how to do so.
The first is to fly for free. If you’re an avid traveler, you might have some frequent flyer miles racked up. If you’re not, sign up for that now. It’s probably the best thing that you will do for yourself. By signing up for this, you’ll be able to rack up the miles that you’re using on a card, and it will earn you free flights. You will also be able to use this again and again, and using that airline will continue to give you points.
Another way to do it is to get a credit card that you can get rewards back from each of your purchases. If you put 3000 dollars on a credit card, with the right points you could pay for a free flight, which will save you a boatload of money in the long run. You’ve probably heard about the commercials that you see on television where the person says for you to get this card so you can get free flights. Well it’s certainly one of the best ways to do it. By getting a credit card that gives you some reward, it’s a great payment for using it, and you sometimes can get free hotels and other such things based off this as well.
Then there is the aspect of flying smartly too. If you’re going to a place that can be taken by car, take it by car. You will get more of a sense of adventure, even though it might take a bit longer. The reasoning for this, is that right now gas is at a great price, and you might be able to spend a whole lot less on a car ride than on a flight, especially when it’s during some of the busiest times and such.
And finally, try to look on popular sites that have airplane deals. Sites like Expedia and Orbitz actually reward customers for using their services, and those can get racked up to free and cheaper hotels and flights. Using these, you’ll be able to have a cheaper flight and even cheaper hotels, for they will get you the best deals possible and you’ll be able to spend less money. Doing this will help you out, and you will have more money to spend on fun things and you won’t be in the red.
Avoiding Peak times
This is probably the most important part of it aside from planning. The biggest way to really rack up spending on a vacation is to go during peak times. Peak times are when things are higher priced due to the busyness of the season. Common times are during thanksgiving and Christmas, where everyone is traveling in order to see family and friends. You might think it’s great to travel during then, but you’ll be spending so much more money than necessary.
For example, flights usually double in price right around Christmas. You’ll see the price skyrocket all of a sudden, and it’s because of the season. This also happens during popular traveling holidays, such as thanksgiving and even Easter in some cases. However, during other times of the year it might be a bit stagnant, so it’s better to go during that time.
This also happens with gas as well. During the holidays, it starts to peak, causing you to spend more on something that doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. The best thing to do is to go during a time that isn’t very busy and people are traveling less, and you’ll be spending significantly less money.
Another important tip that many forget is to do research on the city that you’re staying in so that you can get a good idea of how the city is doing in terms of it being busy or not. When conventions or important sports events are in town, such as the Country music awards in Nashville, things get booked up fast, and even some of the cheap hotels can cost a small fortune. You should plan ahead and try to get the hotel booked as soon as possible due to price changes, but also make sure that you’re not going during a time where people are going to be there, and the city will be flooded with individuals. Research the towns before you stay in them so that you can avoid the crowds, spend less money, and have more fun.
This is something that might seem small, but it can cause a huge impact on your travels if you’re not careful. Be wary about this, and you’ll have a much better experience as a result, and you’ll spend less money.
Package Deals
One way to really save money that many forget is to try out a package deal. A package deal is something that many travelers engage in, and it’s something important. It can also save you a boatload of money many times.
There are package deals all over the place, but ideally, you should check some of the travel sites, and usually Priceline or Expedia. These can help you book one trip without too much a hassle. It’s great to help you plan ahead, and it will definitely make things better.
You can also sign up for newsletters as well which tell you about different airlines, booking, and hotel options. These sometimes send you some great deals that you can partake in, such as a packaged hotel and airline deal. It’s definitely something you will want to take advantage of. You can definitely get a whole lot from this, and it’s something you might want.
Many times as well, travel agencies have these packaged deals as well. If you’re a bit worried about spending money on things, one of the best things to do is to actually go into a travel agent’s office, sit down, and have them help you figure out your trips. Oftentimes, they will work with you in order to help you save money, and it can definitely make all the difference.
Sometimes these deals can be good, but other times they might not be so great. Ideally, try to look for each of the deals and do a comparison to that and booking the separately. You might be able to book it for cheaper than you expected, but sometimes those deals might only save you a little bit of money. Try figuring and messing with the numbers a little bit in order to get the best deal, and you’ll feel a whole lot better about this and will be able to get the most out of your vacation while saving a little bit of money.
And finally, try out the sharing economy. This is a site that allows you to find the best deals possible. It allows competitors to give you the best prices, and it has many listings. There are close to a million listings on there, and they have everything from tours, meals, to even where you’ll sleep. Try them out, and see if you can get a packaged deal on there.
Staying Cheap
Next comes lodging. Sometimes you might retch at the fact that you have to spend so much money when you’re trying to stay somewhere, and it might look like it’s impossible to save money. But did you know that there are other options out there? That’s right, you can use the other options that are out there to help you save a ton of money, and there is a lot that you can do.
Try renting out a home. Renting out a home can be something that is significantly cheaper, and you won’t have to worry about special hidden fees. Renting out homes also allows you to get a better feel for the area and allows you to feel even more cultured in the area than before.
Then there are hostels and other places. These are great if you want a grittier feel that also lets you feel immersed in the culture. It’s a different way of living, but so much cheaper than some of the major hotels out there.
However, there are means to stay free in certain countries. There are programs where you pretty much work for your board. You might work on the farm for a little bit to pay for the space, or even just clean up a little bit. You can also do other things that help add to the community. The WWOOF has many options out there to allow people to travel for free and stay in cheap places while still getting the essence of travel.
This is good for anyone who wants to really connect with the locals that you meet. Not only do you get to stay for free with this program, you also get to meet other people and see what it’s really like. The glamor might be gone, but it really shows you the culture, so that’s definitely an option.
There is more out thee than just fancy hotels and trying to navigate through Priceline in order to find the best deal. Think outside the box, and you’ll definitely have a better experience than ever before.
Pick affordable Countries
Your dream might be to stay in a four-star hotel in Paris, but your urge to travel is happening right now. One way to really get the most out of your traveling experiences while still saving up for that one big trip, is to actually visit cheaper countries. Just because a country is cheap doesn’t mean that it’s poor. Greece, japan, Russia, Australia, and even India are actually very affordable countries, and there is so much to do there. You will make your dollar go farther with these countries than you might in Paris, so if you’re thinking of traveling, try out these countries.
If you really want to go out on a limb, maybe go to one of those countries that Isn’t as popular and not as rich, such as Romania, Luxembourg, or even Algeria. Try out new places, and you’ll get a new taste of culture. You will be able to spend way less money there, and it’s definitely great for those who are itching to travel but don’t really want to spend a ton of money.
If you want, you can also go to South America and spend a fraction of what you might do in other countries. There are people who only take a grand there and intend to spend only a grand, but end up being able to come back with some of that money saved up due to the fact that the dollar actually isn’t as much in that country. For many, they even retire in countries such as The Philippines and Vietnam because of how far their dollar will go, and if you’re looking for ways to spend time in a new place without having to break the bank, try looking online for how much of a difference it is between the American dollar and the currency there. Choose your countries wisely, and you’ll get to have a different way of thinking, and a new way of looking at life. You’ll not only get a better deal, but you’ll get the culture and exploration that you lust for, which is what really matters at the end of the day.
