Whether you’re a naturally frugal person, or would like to travel but have a tight budget, you might be looking for ways to cut costs on your next trip. Thankfully, with all the tools at our fingertips today, there are plenty of ways that you can do so – but you have to know where and what to look for. You also have to understand a few things about how airfares are calculated, and use this knowledge to get great deals. Here are a few ways anyone can cut their travelling costs.
Go with Regional Airlines
One of the reasons you should book a flight with a regional airline is that you’ll be able to get much more comfort than what you’d normally get for the same price. A lot of these airlines, like Porter Airlines for instance, offer extra luxuries like additional leg space, free beverages and snacks throughout the whole flight, leather seating, etc. You’d have to pay a pretty penny to get the same service from a national carrier. Not only that, but you’ll get VIP treatment all the way from shorter lines at check-in to fast gate access, all for a reasonable price. So, if you want to cut on cost but don’t want to sacrifice comfort, fly regional.
Visit Sites and Landmarks for Free
Try to spend as little as possible on tourist attractions by looking for free visit days. Special sites and museums will often have free days or discounts. So, make sure that you check out their website and see if there are any. Also, make a list of all free museums you can find and alternatives to sites you want to see. In some cases, you might be able to see the exact same site but from a location that’s totally free, so make sure that you do your research.
Don’t Be Stuck on One Specific Period
If you want to be able to save on airfare, then you’ll have to be flexible on your dates. If you had a preferred flight date, then try to look at alternative dates a few days or even weeks before or after to see if you can get a better deal. There are also times of the day and the week when you can usually get lower rates. For instance, flying overnight or early in the morning usually costs less. Going midweek instead of on a Friday or Saturday will usually cost you less as well.
Go Directly to the Airline’s Website
A lot of people assume that they’ll automatically get a better deal if they book through independent online portals, but in some cases, you might actually get lower prices by checking the airline’s website. Many airline companies will have deals specifically for people who book through their site, so you should definitely give it a try.
Spend More Time in Accommodations
Instead of booking accommodations for one night at a time, you should consider booking multiple nights at once. Most will offer some sort of discount for extended stays. If you’re looking for a place to look for deals on hostels, hotels, and apartments, then Booking.com is a great option. They offer deals on all sorts of vacation rentals worldwide, so you should be able to find something that fits your needs and budget.
Sign Up to Pages and Newsletters
You shouldn’t overlook newsletters and social media when trying to get great deals. Most airlines and hotels are doing everything they can to cultivate a loyal customer base, and they will routinely offer great deals to people who sign up for their newsletter. Some will also offer special limited time offers on social media.
Go for An Apartment
If you’re on a budget, there is no reasonable reason why you should go for a hotel room if you’re travelling with your family. Apartments are usually a much better deal and you’ll get much more bang for your buck.
You could also book a villa with multiple beds if you’re with a large group. Not only that, but you could actually cook your own food. Depending on where you’re going and how many people you’re with, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars per day on food alone. Going with an apartment will allow you to put that money to better use.
Consider Hostels as Well
If you’re travelling alone, however, you could always go for a hostel. But don’t imagine that all hostels are open air dorms. There are tons of hostels nowadays that operate and feel like pretty much any hotel, but with more proximity with the staff and other guests. One of the many benefits of hostels is that they’re often located straight in the middle of the action, so you won’t have to venture too far to access the best attractions in the city you’re in.
Get a Rewards Card if You Don’t Have One
If you intend to travel a lot, we strongly suggest you start looking for a credit card that offers great rewards for travellers. Make sure, however, that the whole terms are favourable to you since some can have very high interest rates. You should also make sure that you actually have control over your spending. If you’re good with credit, then you could put pretty much everything on your credit card. You could get all sorts of perks like access to lounge areas, discounts on hotels, gas, insurance, and more.
Go Camping
If you haven’t gone camping before, then you should definitely consider the option if you like the great outdoors and are looking for a cheaper alternative to going out of the country. Not only that, but camping allows you to build a strong bond between you, your family, and nature.
When done right, camping trips can be one of the most memorable experiences in a family’s life. So, make sure that you at least ask other family members if they would be up for it and start looking at interesting spots near to where you are.
Pack Light
If you can, only pack enough so you can still carry everything in one backpack. This will allow you to prevent charges for going over the weight limit, and you won’t have to pay for checking in luggage either. You’ll also won’t have to worry about losing your baggage. When you add up the costs, you could end up spending hundreds just on luggage if you’re flying to different destinations on one trip, so that’s something you should consider.
Eat Like the Locals
If you walk into a restaurant and there are only expats there, run. Tourist spots are usually the worst of both worlds; they will not only offer barely palatable local “classics” to unsuspecting patrons, but they will also charge you up the wazoo for the privilege.
So, if we were to give you one piece of advice, it would be to ask the locals what their favorite spots are. If a particular restaurant keeps popping up, then you have a winner. Also consider venturing to less popular and touristy areas if you want to truly get a taste of the authentic local cuisine.
As you can see, saving on travel is relatively easy when you know where to look. Make sure that you use one or all of these options if you want to significantly reduce your travel costs on your next vacation.
