Everyone loves to travel to distant and beautiful destinations, but unfortunately during these tough economic times that we are currently enduring, it is not always possible. If, however, you are able to master the art of travelling on a budget then even if you are a little tight on funds you should be able to manage at least one vacation per year. In fact if you really get into the swing of budgeting it can actually add a little fun and excitement to the holiday planning and the holiday itself. Trying to find cheap car hire, cheap accommodation, cheap flights and of course the best restaurants to eat in for the lowest price can be great fun, especially for the more adventurous travellers. There are certain things that you can do and factors that you can incorporate that will help you to travel on the tightest budget possible and still get the great holiday that you and your travelling companions desire.
Calculate your travel date
The date that you make your vacation can have a huge effect on the cost of your trip. Unfortunately, it is not simply a matter of avoiding busy and popular dates such as Christmas, Easter and of course the school summer holidays. Each destination that you are travelling to will have its own “peak period”, this means that you will need to research your destination thoroughly before you begin to plan your trip. You will be able to find the information easily that will advise you when the best times to travel are and when the busiest times are. All locations have a high season so if you can avoid these you should be able to attain huge discounts on your flights and your accommodation. Sometimes you will be able to see discounts of as much as 50 per cent.
Carefully consider where you stay
When you are seeking out your accommodation make sure that you try and steer clear of the main tourist areas. Not only will these areas be the busiest and therefore not overly pleasant places to be, they are also the most expensive. You will find much better value if you opt for a hotel or guest house that is a little off the beaten track. These properties tend to offer better service anyway and you will have a more enjoyable stay as there are less people around.
Book your trip wisely
The travel industry has changed quite substantially over the last decade or so and this means that you will need to adapt with these if you want to obtain the best deals. Most of the finest offers for travel, especially long haul, can now be found online. Here you can find a number of different travel comparison websites that will allow you to find numerous different quotations in a matter of minutes. The best offers to look out for are the package fares that include flights and accommodation; these are often referred to as inclusive tour fares. When booking accommodation and flights together you will often receive a further discount on your flight cost.
Manage your travel expenses
Invariably when you are in a foreign country you will need to travel around a lot if you want to make the most of the destination that you are in. Pre-booking some cheap car hire before you go is a great way to do this, especially if you are travelling around Europe or the United States. It is, however not always possible to find cheap car hire. If you are in a country where public transport is your only option try and purchase a travel pass for your stay, these are always great value. For those of you travelling around Asia always book your travel on arrival, you will always get a cheaper price and quite often you will be able to barter on the cost.
Watch how you withdraw your money
Getting access to your money in a foreign country can be an expensive procedure. Many people will simply use the ATM wherever they are which is fine, but there are often large hidden costs for each transaction. If you are travelling for a long period of time it is safer and cheaper to get traveller’s cheques. If you cannot get access to these then use your debit card to obtain money over the counter, this will usually be cheaper than using the ATM. Also, try to change larger amounts as you will normally be charged a flat fee per transaction by your bank.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post.
These are some very good tips. I actually take all of them into account when I book/plan any travel. Right now I’m planning to go to Europe during the summer (I know is peak season) & well its going to cost me big time. I wanna be there for summer so I guess I will have to pay the price.
cool! cant wait to read about your Europe adventure