What are the best ways to save money when traveling? The answer depends on where you’re going and what kind of vacation you want to have, but there are a few tips that work in almost any situation. 9 ways to save money while traveling
If you’re planning your next trip and want to minimize the impact on your wallet, keep reading! (Note: This blog post should have at least 9 sections!)
5 Travel Tips/Hacks Every Traveler Needs to Know
9 Cultural Differences to Keep in Mind When Traveling
Dangers of Don’t Worry About Money-just-travel
1) Book with a non-stop flight
When you’re planning a trip, it’s tempting to book with a flight that makes several stops along the way. But in most cases, you can get a cheaper ticket and longer stay by booking a non-stop flight.
Check for deals on airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, as well as low-cost carriers in your destination country. While these flights may take a little longer (sometimes significantly so), your travel budget will be much happier.
2) Use free tools
Instead of paying for a navigation app like TomTom or using Google Maps, use your smartphone’s built-in GPS. These tools are accurate and don’t drain your battery as quickly as third-party apps. Plus, there’s no cost to using them.
If you need directions from point A to point B, but you’re not sure how long it will take to get there, try out Google Maps on your phone. You can enter in two addresses and see how long it will take you to drive between them.
This tool is especially helpful if you have a specific time frame in which you need to be somewhere else—you can then factor in traffic times into your decision about whether or not you should leave now or wait until later.
3) Check TripAdvisor reviews
If you’re staying in a hotel, check TripAdvisor reviews. Although opinions can vary widely, reviewers tend to be very vocal with their complaints and praises, so it’s easy to get a sense of how other people feel about your accommodations.
Many hotels don’t update their listings on TripAdvisor for months at a time, so you can also look at older reviews to see if there have been changes over time that might alter your opinion about a particular place.
4) Take care of planning before going on the trip
Plan ahead as much as possible, and make sure you have all of your documents in order. The more prepared you are, the less chances there are for problems down the road.
Getting documents in order takes time, but it’s something that you don’t want to take lightly. You could end up getting denied entry or missing a flight because of not having proper documentation, and that’s just one of many examples.
Before going on a trip, make sure everything is in order.
5) Use free Wi-Fi
It can be expensive to use your mobile phone data abroad. To keep your costs down, it’s best to use a Wi-Fi network or even opt for public transportation instead of a taxi when you can. And since many cafes and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, make sure you take advantage of it.
This way, you won’t have any surprises in the bill when it comes time to settle up.
6) Pack light
Packing light is a surefire way to cut costs on your travels. The less luggage you have, the less you’ll pay for a checked bag, not to mention how much more enjoyable it is to travel when you don’t have your shoulders weighed down by luggage.
7) Be aware of tourist traps and rip offs
When visiting any new place, it’s important to know your way around. Keep an eye out for tourist traps—you’ll know them when you see signs advertising $1 t-shirts or free tickets to museums.
While these might be good deals if you live near an outlet mall, they’re just a waste of time and money when traveling. These places are designed for tourists with little knowledge of how things work in that area; therefore, don’t pay much attention to them.
8) Utilize Airport Lounges
If you’re flying internationally, be sure to take advantage of airport lounges when you’re waiting for your flight. Airport lounges are great because they offer free food and drinks, comfortable seating, and showers. Yes, you read that right. Showers!
9) Stay in hostels
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay, choose a hostel over a hotel or motel. Hostels are far cheaper than hotels, and they offer more amenities such as Wi-Fi and breakfast.
You might not get any privacy, but there are plenty of hostels that provide private rooms at discount prices. One thing to note is that most hostels in Europe don’t allow kids under 18—so if you’re traveling with your family, it might be hard to find a suitable place for everyone.
Still, if you are going solo or with one other person and can share a room without much complaint (or don’t mind sleeping on an air mattress), it can be worth it for the price difference alone.