Often people don’t book travel because they think that travelling will cost them too much money. However there are plenty of ways to save money while you’re travelling, and here are some of the best:
Travel for longer
It may seem counter-intuitive, but the longer you travel, the more money you save. Instead of taking two 2 week holidays per year, see if your boss will let you take a whole month off at once. This will mean you’ll be spending far less on flights, your insurance will be cheaper, you’re likely to find a better deal on accommodation, and you’ll get to see far more of a country at one time, without feeling like you’re rushing.
Traveling for longer means you can take a day to simply sit in a cafe and people watch, and you can also budget better, since you’ll be able to negotiate for longer term hotel rates.
Fly for Free
Sign up for an airline rewards credit card, and you could end up flying for free. Often you’ll receive bonus points for signing up or for spending a certain amount of money in the first few months, and you’ll also receive points for everyday spending on the credit card. This is an excellent way to save for a flight simply by making everyday purchases like gas or groceries.
Travel outside of Peak Season
Most people want to head to Europe during the summer and Asia outside of rainy season. However if you can research your destination and find out when the busiest time is for travel, you can plan to travel there before or after those busy months. This is win-win, since you’ll find far fewer crowds, cheaper flights, and accommodation will also be much cheaper outside of peak season.
Transfer your currency before you go
By using a site like CurrencyFair, you can save up to 90% on international transfer fees, making it well worth it. The worst thing you can do is exchange your money in an airport, since they often have the worst exchange rates around. Instead you can swap your currency with other customers, and you may even find yourself getting a better exchange rate than with the true interbank.
Travel to a Cheaper Destination
When you travel to an expensive destination like Paris or Amsterdam you’ll often find yourself stressing over money and counting pennies. Things like public transport and food can quickly add up, and travelling simply isn’t as fun when you feel like you’re throwing money down the drain
Instead, consider flying to Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hungary or Bulgaria. While flights may be more expensive in Asia, you can often find some great deals and you’ll be surprised by how much cheaper things are once you’re there-think $1 for an excellent curry in Thailand, and $20 a night for impressive accommodation in Cambodia. Plus you’ll also be travelling to a less-visited destination, so you’re bound to have amazing stories to tell your friends afterwards.
