It is not surprising that travelling has a wide appeal among countless people worldwide. Travels reportedly increase happiness, reduce stress, boost self-esteem and facilitate friendships. Furthermore, travels offer educational benefits as they literally broaden one’s horizons and understanding of the diverse world.
Meanwhile, it is not a secret that travels can be expensive. However, there is no need to despair. Join us below as we unpack the best methods to travel on a budget.
1: Cook own meals
Frequent visits to overpriced touristy restaurants is often an important reason why travels tend to get expensive. One way to keep the budget down is to buy food in local supermarkets and cook your own meals while travelling. In addition, cooking your own meals offers the following benefits:
- Focus on more healthy food
- Experience the destination like a local
Cooking your own local meals will enhance the long-term authenticity of your travel experience.
2: Try online casino games ahead of casino trip
Places like Las Vegas and Macao are popular casino niche travel destinations that attract millions of visitors every year. While casino visits offer great entertainment, they can easily become expensive experiences. Thanks to the rise of online casinos, some casino enthusiasts can get some ideas to prepare for their trips by researching and trying out games at one of the reputable sites featured on bonus.net.
Online casinos offer several benefits:
- Vast selection of casino games
- Free demo casino games
- Valuable Q&A and customer support
- Easy accessibility 24/7 via the laptop, tablet or smartphone
In sum, casino travelers can save money and time by first doing online research and trying
free casino games.
3: Researching the cheapest means of transport
Transport to and from a destination usually constitutes a significant proportion of the total travel budget. This is particularly the case for long-distance locations and during peak seasons. It is therefore worthwhile to researching online for affordable transportation. It is good to considering various means of transport:
- Bus
- Train
- Flight
- Car
Airfares will for obvious reasons dominate long-distance destinations. Websites like Skycanner are valuable tools when finding affordable flight tickets. There are multiple ways to save money on flights:
- Choosing flexible dates
- Flying off season and avoiding school holidays
A more long-term benefit of flying offseason is that most destinations tend to be less crowded than during peak periods. This will enhance the overall long-term travel experience. In addition, accommodation options also tend to more numerous and offered more competitive prices during offseason periods.
4: Finding affordable accommodation
Accommodation is usually one of the top two biggest travel expenses. Many popular tourist destinations tend to overcharge for accommodation, especially during peak seasons. There are various ways to find optimal and affordable accommodation options:
- Comparing accommodation offers from various booking sites
- Reserving accommodation directly from the host
- Avoiding destinations during holidays and festivals when prices are usually higher
- Focus on accommodation in less touristy areas
- Book long in advance to secure optimal prices
Airbnb can be a good solution for longer-term stays. In addition, temporarily swapping apartments with the local host is a way to secure a cost-efficient travel experience for both parties. The longer-term benefit of finding affordable accommodation is more money to spend on actual travel experiences as well as saving money for when you eventually return home to your post-travel daily life.
5: Travel light with only carry-on
Travelling light is another concrete way to reduce your travel budget. Many airline companies tend to charge significant fees for checked in luggage in both directions. Provided that the travel is limited in time, it could be wise to bring only the necessary clothes and things in carry-on luggage such as a compact rucksack.
6: Prioritize budget destinations
While there are many attractive destinations worldwide, some are more expensive than others. For instance, New York, London and Paris tend to be expensive destinations. If you are travelling on a tight budget, it is wise to prioritize budget destinations where you get maximum bang for the buck. Examples of popular budget destinations include Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and Egypt.
The benefits of choosing a budget destination include:
- Lower accommodation costs
- Lower food expenses
In addition, choosing a budget destination, such as exploring activities like whale watching Dana Point, can potentially open the door to new experiences that you would not encounter in more established and expensive destinations.
7: Always choose free cancellation options
Booking and preparing for a travel is often an exciting activity. However, travel plans can change in last minute due to various unforeseen events such as illness etc. It is therefore important to always opt for free cancellation alternatives when booking flights and accommodation. This will secure maximum travel flexibility while minimizing the risk of losing money on booked flights and accommodation that cannot be cancelled.
8: Earn money while travelling
Earning money while travelling is an efficient way to keep your travel budget down. For instance, it is possible to earn money abroad for teaching English or utilizing other specific skills. Younger and less experienced travellers can always earn some money by working in local restaurants, cafés or bars.
Another longer-term benefit from working or volunteering while travelling is the higher likelihood of meeting locals and potentially forming long-term friendships.
9: Prioritize public transport
Using taxis or renting a car can often incur significant costs while travelling. This is especially the case for transports between the airport and city centre. Money can be saved by using public transportation such as trains, buses and trams.
Public transportation is not only cheaper. Another longer-term benefit of public transportation is a higher likelihood of meeting locals and potentially forming friendships that can last for a lifetime. In addition, public transportation is also more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
Cooking your own meals and researching cheap transportation options help to keep the travel budget down. Other tips when travelling on a tight budget include finding affordable accommodation, choosing public transportation, travelling light and choosing budget destinations. Furthermore, earning money while travelling is another way to limit your travel expenses.