Everyone loves to travel, but most people can’t afford to do it as much as they’d like. Flights, hotels, transportation, food, tourist attractions, can easily make a short trip cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars — particularly when traveling overseas.
If you’re interested in learning how to save money when planning a trip, consider some of these tips.
Book Connecting Flights
Most people prefer to book direct flights. People typically don’t like having to sit around in an airport for 12 hours while they wait for their connection. However, this is about saving as much money as possible.
Booking a connecting flight can save you hundreds of dollars when traveling overseas. Plus, in some cases, you might have a long enough layover in a different country that you can see some sights before jumping on your connecting flight.
Cook Your Own Meals
Of course, one of the best parts of traveling is trying the local cuisine. However, while you don’t have to avoid eating out altogether, you should be sure to cook your own meals as much as possible if your goal is to save money.
Pick Your Destination Carefully
If you’re traveling on a budget, you should consider looking at destinations that you might normally consider your ideal destination. While places like London, Paris, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and other similarly popular locations might be your first picks, they are almost always going to be the most expensive options.
Instead, try looking into cheaper destinations. Whether you’re looking for a tropical vacation or you want to tour a historical city, there are plenty of budget-friendly destinations throughout the world. Check out our 5 best budget vacations for 2019.
Stay in Hostels
Hotels and Airbnbs are typically the number one choice for travelers. They offer luxury, comfort, and convenience for foreign tourists.
However, for a more budget-friendly option, try staying at a local hostel. Pretty much every major city will have a wide selection of hostels. Hostels can cost as little as $20 or less per night as opposed to $100+ dollars per night for a hotel room. Of course, there is a tradeoff. You’ll have to share your room with other travelers. Typically, hostels offer shared rooms for 6-8 people.
While this isn’t for everyone, it’s really not so bad. After all, you probably shouldn’t be spending all day in your room when you’re traveling abroad. Plus, hostels typically offer amenities like free breakfast and free wi-fi, which could potentially save you even more money.
Look for City Passes
You might not know this, but many larger cities that are a popular tourist destination offer city sightseeing passes. These allow you to visit many of the given city’s largest attractions like museums, zoos, and historical sights at a discounted price.
For example, if you visit London, you can purchase The London Pass. The London Pass offers access to over 80 attractions, a bus tour, a guidebook, the ability to skip lines, special offers, and more starting at £75.00.
Traveling is expensive; however, there are several ways that you can manage to save a few hundred dollars on your next trip. So, when you’re planning your next vacation, consider trying out some of these tips.
