Traveling can be costly, even when using well-known cost-cutting strategies such as traveling during off-seasons, staying in a hostel, or renting a kitchen. If you're looking for ways to save money on your next trip, add these unconventional suggestions from travel industry experts to your bag of tricks.
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| save money on travel around the world |
Couchsurfing and listing your home on Airbnb
How can you travel cheaply if you don't have any hotel money? Couchsurfing is an easy way out! CouchSurfing is a website where you can stay for free if someone is willing to host you.
You should not, however, expect luxury. As you can probably tell, you'll have to sleep on the couch. The guest can, of course, provide a bed, a sofa, or a mattress space on the floor. While CouchSurfing may not be the most comfortable option, it can help you save a lot of money. Most importantly, you can form long-lasting relationships with city residents.
This is useful when attempting to immerse yourself in the local culture. List your home on Airbnb to earn money while CouchSurfing. As a result, the money you earn from Airbnb can cover your lodging and travel expenses. Of course, having a home is a prerequisite. If you rent your home, ask your landlord if you can sublet while you're away.
All-inclusive packages can be an excellent value.
If you want a super-condensed travel experience, an all-inclusive package can be a fantastic value. It is not only less expensive than traveling to each location on the itinerary individually, but it is also extremely convenient because everything, including lodging and transportation, is handled by the travel company. It's also extremely safe because you'll be traveling in a group.
Of course, all-inclusive packages can now be customized. As a result, you have the option of spending more or less. And, if you want to save money, keep an eye out for last-minute all-inclusive vacation packages.
Register for free tours.
Free walking tours are widely available in the majority of cities around the world. Free tours are essentially pay-what-you-want tours led by a local guide or a college student who is well-versed in the city. You can reserve a time slot online and tip your guide however much you want at the end of the tour. However, this is also optional.
These tours typically last 1-2 hours and include a walking tour of the city's most popular attractions. These tours teach you a lot more about the city you're visiting and its history than paid tours, which tend to cut corners.
Furthermore, the local guide can provide you with fantastic nightlife and food recommendations.
Travel overnight to save money on hotel costs.
Traveling overnight to avoid hotel costs is one of the best ways to save money and travel on the cheap. If you're traveling overnight, you can avoid paying for a night. It might be a little more uncomfortable than your hotel bed, but it's worth the money you'll save.
Purchase a local SIM card.
If you intend to stay for more than a week, we recommend purchasing a local SIM card. Roaming fees and even paying for Wi-Fi while traveling can quickly add up. Getting a local sim card allows for cheaper international calls as well as more affordable data plans. Roaming around in search of Wi-Fi is not fun and a local sim can come in handy especially if you're working while traveling.
Learn the art of travel hacking.
Travel hacking is the practice of accumulating points on travel credit cards, frequent-flier miles, and miles in order to obtain freebies. This will allow you to travel cheaply. Depending on how much you collect, you can afford free flights, hotel stays, tours, and much more. Travel hacking can even provide you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences if you accumulate enough points.
Certain credit card companies, for example, offer luxurious stays such as villas in Rome and trips to the French Riviera. Furthermore, if you travel hack your way right, you can experience exotic destinations like the Galapagos Islands for dirt cheap.
What's truly amazing is that anyone can accumulate these points and become a travel hacking expert. All you really need to do is apply for an airline card, a travel card, or a general rewards card like the Chase Sapphire.
Check to see if the cards have a sign-up bonus of at least 50,000 points. The more, the merrier. Simply use these cards to pay for groceries, restaurants, and everyday purchases. This will help you rack up points quickly. Of course, you can go a step further and earn more points by taking surveys and doing (necessary) online shopping with these cards.
You can even obtain multiple credit cards to meet your various needs and combine them. Some cards, for example, may provide free lodging while others may only provide free miles. After you deduct the cost of airfare and lodging, you will have much more money to spend on amazing experiences.
Learn how to find cheap flights.
Surprisingly, looking for cheap flights in the right places can save you a lot of money on airfare. While platforms such as Google Flights and Booking.com make it easier to find tickets, they do not display the best deals. WhichBudget is a fantastic website that displays hundreds of low-cost airlines from over 200 countries. All you need to do is do some research and book far in advance.
It's also a good idea to avoid booking during the holidays because prices are almost always at an all-time high. Surprisingly, airports are important as well. A flight to a smaller airport in the city may be less expensive than one to a larger one.
Furthermore, you can save money by not checking in luggage, which can be expensive if you're traveling to multiple countries.
Last-minute deals should be trusted.
Last-minute deals are almost always offered by hotels and airlines in order to fill the remaining seats or rooms.
They even go to great lengths to price it below their profit margin as the dates approach. If you don't mind the last-minute hassle and risk, these deals are worth taking advantage of. Most importantly, you can travel for very little money.
With sites like Jetsetter and Hipmunk, finding these last-minute deals has never been easier. Headout is the best place to find last-minute experience deals. Planning on visiting the Colosseum while waiting in line at the Vatican? Download the Headout app to find the best last-minute deals in 50+ cities around the world in just three taps.
Choose low-cost travel destinations.
This is an obvious choice. If you want to travel on a budget, simply choose a budget travel destination. A budget travel destination not only provides low-cost lodging but also offers lower-cost food and experiences than other popular travel destinations.
For example, in Bali, you can eat amazing food, travel around, and stay in a paradise-like setting for less than $100 per day. Indonesia - Bali, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Portugal are not only extremely affordable but also culturally rich and safe. Most importantly, because transportation, food, and lodging are inexpensive, you can stay for an extended period of time and even splurge a little.
Off-season travel is the best option.
If you're wondering "how to travel for cheap?" the off-season is the best time to go. Of course, peak seasons have their advantages: the weather, locals out and about, all businesses open and running, and so on.
Off-season travel is your best bet if you're willing to forego minor pleasures. Furthermore, you will not be rubbing shoulders with other tourists, which is a blessing. If you do your research and determine the off-season months for a city, you can expect to pay significantly less for airfare and lodging.
Use cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees.
Most travelers overlook this and, as a result, end up spending more money. If you're going to use a credit card to pay for the majority of your expenses while traveling, make sure it has no foreign transaction fees.
Check with your bank to see if they offer cards with no foreign transaction fees, or if they have a branch there. There are also banks that collaborate with other banks around the world.
Some ATMs also charge foreign transaction fees, so be cautious when withdrawing cash in another country. You can withdraw a lump sum and carry it around with you, but you risk losing a lot of money if you are robbed or misplaced it. If you absolutely require hard cash, the best thing to do is withdraw enough money at once to limit the charges while also allowing you to get by even if you lose it.
Stay away from tourist traps.
Every city has several tourist traps that you will undoubtedly encounter. It could be lodging in some countries or public transportation in others. Regardless, it's always a good idea to be aware of potential tourist traps before entering the country.
In some countries, public transportation and even popular tourist attractions take advantage of inexperienced foreigners and charge exorbitant prices. Before purchasing a ticket or getting into a vehicle, always negotiate and finalize the price. When it comes to food and lodging, book ahead of time through reputable online portals and you'll be fine!
Do not leave your house without travel insurance.
One of the most underappreciated aspects of traveling is having a travel insurance policy that fits your travel style. Not only for your possessions but also for your health. It's even more critical if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel insurance is also a type of comprehensive protection that can save you a lot of money in unfortunate situations such as theft, cancellations, accidents, and even injury.
While it may appear to be an extra expense, if something goes wrong, you can rely on your insurance to cover you. Travel insurance can be obtained from your current insurance provider or from third-party providers such as World Nomads, Insure My Trip, and Medjet.
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