When we are students, we are always looking for ways to cut costs whether that’s on food, socialising or even travel. You don’t have to stop travelling just because you’re on a budget as there are still ways to travel cheaply. Maybe at college or university, you’re looking to write assignments about your travels or favourite places (or you used cheap essay writing services instead). In this article, we cover some tips about how to have an inexpensive holiday and save money on your next vacation.
If you've never travelled overseas before, organising any trip let alone a budget one may seem a bit complicated at first especially if you don’t know where to start. That’s why we’ve broken down this quick guide on each of the parts of planning a trip. From flights to accommodation and transportation, so you will know where to save on each aspect of your trip. This way you can enjoy your dream trip without going over budget. As well as accommodation etc, you’ll discover ways to save on tours and activities, meals and other ninja tricks.
Before looking at any destinations and booking flights or accommodation, there are three key things you should do first and apply from the moment you start planning your trip.
1. Set a Budget For Your Expenses
The first thing to do and probably the most important for sticking to a budget is to calculate the budget for your trip. To do this, decide how much money you are willing to spend on this trip. Then you can see what things you are willing to cut back on to get a cheaper trip. The idea is to design a tailor-made trip where the priorities are what you really want to see and do. Don't spend money on things that aren’t so essential to you.
To create your budget, do some research beforehand on how much the airline ticket is to your chosen destination especially if you’re deciding on a few places to visit. Look at different dates if you can be flexible. That way you can pick the cheapest flight and the cheapest destination to fly to.
Being flexible with your travel dates and destination is a good way to start, since traveling in high season is not the same as traveling in low season
If you are unsure on the destination, set yourself a maximum budget and, from there, look for a destination that fits that amount of money. This is one of the best ways to travel cheap as you begin to keep track of what you are spending from the moment you start planning. There are also apps such as Travel Spend which help you to keep track of your expenses quickly and efficiently all on your phone. It converts your currency automatically and you can even use it offline.
2. Research Prices Before You Travel
If you really want to travel cheaply, research the prices of the place you want to travel to before you buy anything. This way, you will know when you are paying the right price especially when it comes to local transport, food and anything else that you buy. Check the local price in the destination with Numbeo and then you plan how much a meal will cost you. Rome2Rio is a great website for planning travel and they give you links to the bus or travel website so that you can plan the cheapest route.
In an unfamiliar country, you can end up paying more than you should because you don't really know what the price should be. This relates to food (especially in touristy areas), taking a cab or staying in a hotel. Even the currency exchange can be much more expensive in one place than in another, so pay special attention to the commission that you pay when you exchange money. It may be cheaper to give a travel cash card such as Revolut. Look for experiences and recommendations from others who have travelled here before to get some insider tips and travel budget hacks.
If you are going to a country where the currency is different, write down the equivalent of the amounts in your own currency such as £1 or €1, then 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 etc. This will help you to understand the prices and know exactly what you are paying for a product or a service especially if the country you are going to has extra 000’s on the end!
3. Get Used To Giving Up Comforts
Traveling abroad with luxuries and comforts is rarely synonymous with cheap travel. If you want to travel cheaply, you will have to get used to giving up some comforts. By this, I mean taking low-cost airlines to have less legroom and packing everything you want to take into hand luggage to keep the costs of baggage lower. Instead of having your own room, choose a room with a shared bathroom or even a shared dormitory with others. Travel by bus and local transport instead of taking taxis. It also gives you more of an adventure!
Final Tips
Once you've worked out your budget, it's up to you to stick to it. Just remember that travelling is temporary and these small inconveniences can help you save a lot of money on your trip. It’s worth sharing a room or spending time doing some extra planning to save money and travel cheaply.
