If you want to travel, you will need money. You need money to buy your flight tickets, you need money to book your accommodation and you will need money to avoid starving to death while on holiday. If you are really keen on travelling, but you seem to have a hole in your pocket, there are endless ways to save some money on the side.
I’ve read many articles which encourage a traveller to find alternatives to activities which in my opinion are important for every person – stuff like “stop your gym membership”, “avoid satellite TV” or “avoid using your car”. Obviously, you are going to save up more money, but there are many other easy and more reasonable ways that allow you to save money and keep your sanity. In my opinion, saving money all boils down to how patient you are with researching different options, however here are a few other ways which will help you save up some additional cash at the end of the month.
Adjust Your Lifestyle
I know a few people who would love to travel but they simply cannot as they don’t have enough money to afford going on a holiday.
If you look into your daily lifestyle and the costs you incur on little things, you will realize that saving up isn’t that much of a big deal. Instead of buying lunch every day at work, opt for buying some raw ingredients and creating something for yourself the evening before. Don’t be lazy. If you’re lazy, your bank account will suffer and you are probably eating crap anyway.
Invest. I started investing at a very young age. The amount will grow in time especially if you look into the many options of stocks, funds and other investments which in time can easily fund your holidays.
Start Planning Early
Deals can be related to flights, accommodation, transport, tours… the list is endless. It is important to dedicate time to planning as early as possible as you can easily come across some awesome deals which will save you money in the long run. If you had to book a holiday next month there’s as 99% chance that the price has increased by at least a few hundred dollars in comparison to booking the flight 5 months ago. Start planning early and reap the benefits of good deals.
Search For The Best Accommodation Options
You may find some very good deals when booking accommodation which includes some form of a meal throughout the day. In reality though, the chance of paying through the nose for such services is very high. When I travel, I usually don’t opt for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I like stopping by markets or convenience stores in the morning to buy my breakfast, which usually keeps me going till the late afternoon.
If you’re hungry in the afternoon or the evening, why not visit the awesome food stands littered around every city? Believe me, you will not starve and the food is exceptionally good. I recommend to follow the locals. If you see a stand which is barely selling anything, avoid it. There’s always a reason why locals avoid certain market stalls.
It is good to spoil yourself in a decent restaurant every so often, but if you go to a restaurant every single day for a couple of weeks, get ready to bite the bullet.
Look Out For Bargains Through Indirect Flights
If time is not an issue for you and you don’t fuss over boarding a couple (or more) flights, then you can avoid catching a direct flight. This may allow you to spend a day or two in another country before reaching the destination you want to visit.
Consider Other Modes of Transport
The prices are way lower if you’re catching a bus. Apart from the usual price which is way lower to that of taxis, certain bus systems cater for tourists by having services such as the hop-on hop-off system. This system will save you money. Also look out for day pass tickets. In Kyoto for example I used to buy a ticket for 2 days which cost me around 2000YEN in comparison to 1200YEN for one day.
Travel During Low Season
Traveling to a country during low season has a few benefits. Opt to travel off-season and I’m sure you will find better accommodation bargains, flights can be considerably cheaper and the country won’t be as crowded during high season.
Research And Compare Insurance Options
It is always a good idea to apply for some form of travel insurance before going abroad. Needless to say, there are many insurance opportunities out there, some which cost more than others. You cannot go wrong with a travel insurance package like that of World Nomads which offers travel insurance for independent travellers from more than 150 countries. Insurance options which come with a bank’s card scheme are also worth checking. For example, you can research what insurance package comes with a Gold Card scheme, apart from the other benefits and policies which come with it.