Traveling is like therapy, good for the mind, body, and soul.
Now that lockdowns are eased all over the world and people can travel again to certain countries, exploring new places of interest can boost well-being, especially after having been stuck or restricted with traveling.
However, the health crisis has unfortunately forced many to cut down on spending due to a lack of work and income. People may have the time to travel, but not the budget.
So, if you want to travel for less like a pro, here are five simple ways to save money. Almost all aspects of travel and how to save money are covered, such as the mode of travel, stay and sightseeing, etc.
Whether it’s cruising a metropolitan foreign city or camping by the hiking trails in an SUV with a rooftop tent, save your hard-earned cash using the ways mentioned below and use the advantages of the current economic climate offers.
How To Save Money While Traveling
1. Avoid shopping and eating near tourist destinations
The first and foremost way to save money while traveling is to avoid shopping or eating at the joints near to popular tourist destinations. Most people don’t realize that the prices at the shops located near tourist attractions are higher.
Instead, walk a little further away from the tourist attractions to have your lunch while sightseeing or buy snacks in the local supermarket. Research local markets as you will find the same items for a fair price. You can also ask the locals to know more about the local markets for shopping.
Eating at local food joints and restaurants will also save you lots of cash while traveling. Because many bars and restaurants have been hit hard by Covid-19 measures, some governments offer incentives for people to eat out. If you’re traveling in the UK, you can get 50% off the food you eat in UK restaurants from Monday to Wednesday in August.
2. Traveling during the offseason
Here’s another great way to save money while traveling. All the places around the world have tourism seasons when the number of tourists visiting, and tourism activity is high.
Research the tourism season of the place you are visiting and plan your vacation after the tourism season ends. The benefit of doing so is that everything is cheaper during the offseason. From flight tickets to hotels and other activities, you can squeeze in everything to fit according to your budget during the offseason.
However, there are a few downsides to doing so, such as the weather or fewer availability of restaurants, bars, activities, entertainment, and so forth. If you visit a place during the off-season, there may not be much local or tourism activities lined up, such as festivals or parties that happen during the peak tourism season.
These will be limited currently anyway due to social distancing measures worldwide so you can make fantastic bargains in countries and cities that are trying very hard to attract tourists again through lower hotel prices for example, as some also can’t offer the full range of services as usual such as swimming pool or spa access.
3. Choose Hostels and Airbnbs over Hotels
If you want to save enormous amounts while traveling, it’s better to choose decent hostels and Airbnbs over luxurious hotels. It’s 2020, and of course, everybody knows what hostels are, and in case you are not aware of the term, it’s a dormitory-style co-living space created for travelers who don’t mind sharing a room with other tourists and pay for the bed, instead of the entire room.
It saves money and allows you to meet fellow travelers to share your experiences and even be a part of your marvelous travel expedition.
With less than half the cost of a hotel, you can get benefits such as lounge access, community kitchens, and even free tours of the city with some of the hostels. In the same way, Airbnb is another inexpensive option if you prefer to have a private room or share an entire apartment or house with a group of people.
It is also a great way to meet the locals, as usually Airbnb hosts have lived in the area and can offer tips and recommendations and the accommodation will be located in residential areas where you can meet more locals.
4. Make a budget and track your expenses
Once you have planned your journey, the first thing to do is properly research the prices of travel and hospitality to plan your budget. Add the basic aspects such as airfare for a round trip, the cost for stays and food, etc.
Include miscellaneous things later, while preparing the budget as some unforeseen costs may arise at any time. Knowing the prices of tourism destinations before the trip will help you set a realistic budget.
Also, track your expenses right from the beginning of the trip to assess any extra and unnecessary expenses and cut down on them where possible. Tracking your spending will help you stick to the planned budget at all times.
There are now various finance apps available that can help you track your expenses and gain rewards when spending with certain partners. The Revolut App for example allows you to add funds online, pay in different currencies, and get rewards for shopping with their partners like Booking.com and many more.
Airlines like British Airways also offer points when spending with their partner retailers and you can then use those to buy flight tickets.
5. Cook your own food
Food is another huge expense that burns a hole in your pocket while traveling. Especially if you eat at Michelin starred restaurants or international food joints, that offer all types of cuisines.
The best way to save money on food is to cook your food whenever possible. It’s evident that no one enjoys cooking while traveling, but if you are keen on sticking to the budget, then doing so might be the best option.
Most hostels and Airbnbs have kitchens with required cooking equipment, so get some grocery shopping done and cook your meals at least on alternative days. And whenever you eat out, try the local joints by eating the local food, to save you some cash and know the culture better.
Co-working spaces and hotels also provide big community kitchens and studio apartments where you will have access to a fridge, an oven, a microwave, a kettle and kitchen utensils for free. If you’re intending to visit and stay in London, the Collective in Canary Wharf might be an option for you as they also provide play and workrooms.
Final Thoughts
Those were the best five ways to save money while traveling including some expert tips during the current Coronavirus situation.
You can read more about free activities for group or school trips here:
Best Free Activities for School Trips To Deal With Education Budget Cuts
Remember, it’s always better to plan a rough practical budget for your vacation, including unexpected expenses that may arise due to sudden changes in travel policies and guidelines during the health crisis. It is therefore also a good idea to get travel insurance to cover any additional travel, medical or accommodation cost you may have to cover unexpectedly.
