Many of us have dreams and aspirations of traveling the world. From the pyramids of Egypt to the golden sandy beaches of Australia, we compile bucket lists of all the things that we want to see and do in our lifetimes, however many people are apprehensive about trying to organize a trip since they assume that travel is expensive and potentially out of bounds for their budget. Here are some ideas you can take into consideration before you plan your next trip:
Make Smart Accommodation Choices
There are a number of travel hacks that you could utilize in order to ensure that you secure a great deal on your accommodation while traveling. For example, did you know that many hotels slash their prices by as much as 40-50% when it comes to last minute bookings (ie bookings made on the day of, or just slightly before your intended arrival at the property).
It seems risky, but you could potentially save a significant amount of money this way and still be able to stay in luxury hotels. Another option is opting for an all inclusive resort. Staying in an adults only vacation resort doesn’t sound good for your budget. However, since everything is included for your stay (meals, drinks, etc.) then you know precisely how much your trip will cost prior to departure, as opposed to being perpetually horrified when you pay out extortionate prices for food bills at touristic restaurants.
Go Self Catered!
Okay so it's not the most glamorous option in the world but have you ever considered precisely how much money you will spend on food and dining out while you are on vacation? Ten dollars here, twenty dollars there - it all adds up over time and before you know it you've spent hundreds of dollars, sometimes to eat things that really aren't any more special to something that you could have made yourself! If you stay in a self catered apartment or house then you can prepare a portion of your meals while traveling and significantly reduce your food costs.
Walk Everywhere!
If you take a city break, you can save a lot of money by opting to navigate around on foot, rather than taking expensive cabs. You can use Google maps, or any number of other free, interactive maps to help you find your way around in a foreign place. Exploring a city on foot also means more exercise and getting to discover neighborhoods and areas that you perhaps otherwise would not see.
Get Smart With Your Flight Booking
Travelling internationally? Perhaps you can save a pretty penny by opting for an indirect flight rather than direct. Sure it's not as convenient, but if that two hour layover means saving a few hundred dollars then it could be worth it, right?
Afterall, waiting at airports is never as uncomfortable or annoying as you may envisage - you can simply look at this time as an opportunity to relax and unwind with a good book and a cup of coffee. It should go without saying that you should try and book your flights plenty of time in advance of your intended travel dates as prices start to increase when few seats are remaining on the aircraft. Try and use budget airlines where possible.
Abandon the Baggage!
Sure it would be nice to have an array of outfit options available for your trip to the Caribbean but... Do you really need to pack seven pairs of shoes? It's difficult to make a decision about what to take with us on vacation, but the majority of the time we never wind up wearing half of what we have packed anyway.
Many airlines have generous carry on luggage allowances ( to the tune of 15kg or so). If you only pack what is necessary, you can save some money by not taking a checked bag on vacation with you.
Collect Flight Miles
Collecting flight miles is one of the best ways to save money to travel the world and the unbelievable thing is that so many people don't realize how much of an opportunity this creates for saving money on flights. You don't even need to spend a fortune on flights in order to accrue miles. All you have to do is to sign up to a couple of travel credit cards. Every time you make a purchase on the card you will accrue miles - whether that purchase is made on groceries, on clothing, or any other number of expenses.
People panic at the concept of getting a credit card and worry that it will cause them to spiral into debt but that absolutely doesn't need to be the case at all. If you use your credit card in place of your checking account, and always pay the balance in full each time, you can reap the rewards of getting free flights without the perils of debt or interest repayments.
Traveling doesn't always have to be expensive. If you are willing to adjust your expectations and the levels of luxury that you expect while you are overseas, you will find that you are able to enjoy exotic destinations and "once in a lifetime" experiences without breaking the bank.