Traveling to different countries allows you to learn about different cultures, meet new and interesting people, and create memories that you can cherish all your life. It’s sad that many people don’t even entertain the idea of traveling to new places because they think foreign trips are too expensive even though that’s not true.
It’s possible for you to travel to your favourite destinations without breaking your bank. All you have to do is be smart about your planning and create a watertight budget.
The following are 7 pro tips that can help you create the perfect travel budget plan:
1. Find cheaper flights
Flight tickets are often the biggest expense that you have to bear when traveling to a new country. However, if you plan ahead and do some searching online, you can easily some really good flights that fit your budget. For instance, if plan to visit India, then you will be shocked to see that, at one point, Wow Airlines offered one-way fares as low as $299 from Montreal or Toronto to Delhi! Many top air carriers offer massive discounts and other perks like these that you can take advantage of. You just need to know where and when to look.
2. Use credit cards wherever possible
Using right credit cards at the right places can save you tons of money. For instance, if you have a travel credit card, then you may get discounts at select restaurants, hotels, and even car rentals. Otherwise, you can simply get cash back with credit cards for payments in general. Just make sure you compare all the major credit cards in the market so that you can pick the one that offers the best offers and rewards.
3. Travel during off-peak season
There are certain parts of a year during which a particular destination receives the highest number of tourists. Naturally, at this time, the hotels charge extra and the flights are expensive, too. So, if you want to learn how to save money and avoid crowds while traveling, then just go during an off-peak season.
For instance, if you are interested in traveling to the Mediterranean, which is known for its warm weather, then try going in winter. Similarly, if you want to visit tropical countries like Thailand or the Philippines, then you can try making your plans during the rainy season during which few tourists go there. During these off-peak seasons, you can enjoy good discounts on both flights and accommodation.
4. Save on food
You will be surprised to see how much an average traveler spends on their food alone. You may not feel the pinch when you consider the cost of each meal individually, but when you combine the payments for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all the snacks that you munch on in-between, then you can see it all adds up.
To save money on food, it’s best to prepare it yourself. Many hotels and even hostels allow the guests to use the kitchen when it’s not in use. You can just buy the ingredients from the nearest market and prepare delicious and healthy meals yourself. However, there is no harm in treating yourself once every day at a decent restaurant in your area, especially because it’s important to try the local cuisine.
5. Pick hotel alternatives
Apart from airfare, accommodation is one thing that can put a big dent in your savings. However, there are many ways you can save money here, too. For instance, there are websites like Couchsurfing and Global Freeloaders, which are much cheaper than your traditional options like hotels and B&B, and they also allow you to meet the locals. In fact, these options helped a woman travel around the entire globe on a modest $8,500, including transportation costs!
If you don’t like the idea of staying at a stranger’s home, then you can also find hostels at the location you are traveling. These are usually dormitory-style buildings where you share your space with other travellers. They are cheap but you get all the basic amenities including wifi, food, etc.
6. Research before you shop
It’s common for travellers to purchase souvenirs in every new place they visit. However, in many parts of the world, sellers often try to take advantage of the tourists and charge way more than the actual price of the wares. So, before you go for shopping, it’s a good idea to do some research online about the best shops in your area which charge a fair price and also the general rates of different types of items that you are interested in.
7. Earn while traveling
If you want to make the most of your trip, then you want as much money as you can get. So, why not make some while you are traveling? There are many different ways to do that such as:
- Freelance writing: If you are good at writing blogs, website pages, eBooks, etc. then you can apply for writing projects on platforms like Freelancer or Upwork. The best part about these is that if you get selected for a project, you are free to work from anywhere you want, even in a bus or an aircraft. The pay is quite good, too if you have the right skillset.
- Sharing knowledge: If are expert at something such as marketing, branding, public speaking, etc. then you can help others and earn appropriate compensation for it on Clarity.fm. Basically, you just need to create an account and mention your skills. Those who want your advice can simply call you up on Skype, and you get paid by the minute! It’s the easiest way to make some extra money when you are traveling.
- Odd jobs: If you want, you can find interesting and well-paying one-time jobs on classified websites like Craigslist. Once you have settled in your temporary abode in a foreign country, you can check out these websites to find a gig that you might be interested in.
So, there you have it — the perfect travel budget guide. Spend your money wisely, and make good use of this guide. Happy traveling!
Featured Image: Pixabay