Travelling on a budget is not only within reach but it’s also quite rewarding, and you can’t help but feel liberated and inspired to make more of life.
Shopping around means that you can get the best prices for your airfare, hotel accommodation, and car rentals, so why not take advantage of the British pound, which is still stronger than the U.S. dollar and see some of the world. While not exactly glamorous, you can see the world without spending a fortune!
Create a budget before the big trip to avoid blowing up money on things you don’t need just because YOLO. Some travel splurges are worth every penny, so even if you’re cautious with your money, get an eSIM – it’s a lot cheaper than putting your device on roaming; you buy a set amount of data, scan a QR code, and it just works. While abroad in America, say, you can use your eSIM as a secondary line to preserve privacy, separating the different areas of your life (work and personal). Setting up your eSIM tourist for USA is a matter of turning on your phone and following the on-screen instructions.
Keep reading to discover how you can save money on travel and afford more trips.
Do A Quick Search to Find Your Destination Country’s Budget Airlines
Aeroplane tickets are up right now, outpacing inflation, so if you’re flying internationally, you may wish to consider driving or taking the train. Better yet, find budget airlines that fly on the route you want to travel using a search engine. Budget airlines are the cheapest of them all, making available savings that supplement the usual flight perks, such as refreshments or carry-on bags, but they often go unlisted on travel agency websites. If you have flexible travel dates, sign up for discount airfare compilers that use live agents to get alerts for deals on specific itineraries.
Travel During the Off-Season
When most people go away to experience fun and get a thrill, the summertime and holidays become synonymous with crowds that turn into chaos, and even if peak season isn’t all that bad, prices tend to be higher. You’re better off travelling during the off-season, commonly referred to as the shoulder season. Tourist attractions are less overwhelming, so you can expect a price drop that’ll help you save money on vacation. The weather is perfect – not too hot, but warm enough to swim. Local engagement is higher during the off-season, so you’ll be able to ask questions, listen to their stories, and better understand the culture. There may even be opportunities to extend your stay and give something back to the local community by volunteering or teaching English
The question now is: When is the off-season? If you’re going to Florida, its off-season is from July to August and May to October. Not only will you find less of a crowd, but you’ll also get better rates on accommodation (no last-minute deals can be found). Vacationing during the extra hot summer months will save you a ton of money, but be sure you can take the heat and humidity. Climates vary a lot from country to country, so peak season isn’t the same everywhere – specific regions or cities may have their own peak seasons.
Shop At Local Grocery Stores
Trying new foods helps you make memories that’ll stick with you forever, and one bite is enough to transport you into another world. Sure, you can stick to your comfort zone and eat the foods you always do, but you’ll be missing out on the rich and diverse culinary traditions of different cultures. American cuisine might summon up images of hamburgers and fries, but the truth is the food culture is as varied as its multifaceted communities, with dishes like chicken and waffles, grits, and Po’boy, to name a few. Cooking on vacation can help you save a lot of money, so resist the urge to eat out.
Visit the local market, where you’ll find different types of ingredients you wouldn’t normally find back home (or ever toss in your fridge). Fruits and vegetables will never have chemicals, so you can stick to healthy eating habits on the go and have more energy to enjoy your vacation. Having food on hand means you’ll save money, so if you need some motivation to go into the kitchen, there you have it. By the way, kitchenettes are common features in hotels and motel guest rooms, enabling guests to eat whatever they want whenever they want.
Ask Friends, Family, And Social Media Buddies for Advice
It’s up to you to stay informed about the place you’re visiting, so anticipate and organise details to avoid wasting time, money, and energy. If you’re going somewhere you know nothing about, it’s a good idea to reach out to your friends and family, not to mention your online connections, to see if they know anyone in the destination, as they can offer suggestions on affordable transportation, places to eat, and sightseeing opportunities. Hospitality exchange services like CouchSurfing connect millions of people, offering effective ways for tourists to connect and use others’ expertise – it helps see where you might go, especially places you haven’t thought about.
Use A Rewards Credit Card
And finally, use a credit card that offers rewards like points, miles, or cash back. Indeed, it would be best to save for your vacation and avoid getting into debt, but you’ll need a credit card to book hotels and flights, besides handling other travel expenses. Unless you’re paying with Bitcoin, that is. Making purchases with your credit card allows you to get added value from your spending, but if you have a lower credit score, you may not qualify. There are reward credit cards for people with bad credit; it’s just that they have lower credit limits and less competitive rewards.
Last Words
You can see the world even if you live a frugal lifestyle. Memory-making experiences can immediately turn sour if you don’t plan ahead, so write down everything you need before you take off. Prep like the most experienced pro would.
Don’t miss out on future posts like this – receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address here and hitting subscribe. You can also follow me on Twitter or BlogLovin and I’d love to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram. If you’re interested, you can find out more about me here and while I’ve got your attention, if you’re wondering why some of my posts lately are a little bit less frugal then have a read of this post. 😉
