For most of us, holidays and travels are something that we generally have to save up for. We plan where we want to go, try and work out how much it will cost us, and diligently put a little bit of money aside each week so that we can make our travel dreams and aspirations come true. We are all always looking for ways to make our travel dollars spread a little thinner, a little further, that great deal or bargain that somehow means we could make our dream holiday happen just a little bit sooner. There isn’t really any single magic solution to travelling on a budget – generally it is all about compromise, you have to make some decisions about what you are going to spend your money on. In this article we share with you some guidance and hints and tips to help make those compromises a little easier and to help you get the most out of your travel experiences.
Be the bargain hunter
Some of the big ticket items that are going to chew into most of your hard-earned money are the flights to get wherever you want to go and the accommodation that you’ll need when you get there. There are lots of different companies offering all sorts of deals, so if you are in the market for a holiday then generally the best approach is to sign up to the email services that will issue you with an alert when a deal is posted that matches the criteria of what you are looking for. Flight and hotel packages are an ideal way to save money and sometimes if you are a bit flexible in when you want to travel and where you want to go then you can pick up some real bargains.
Travel like a local
If you live in a city and you are commuting every day then you are going to have worked out how to do it as quickly and as cheaply as possible. If the locals are all travelling by train, or bus, then that’s how you need to be travelling. If the locals all have bikes and are cycling the streets to get around town, then hire a bike and join the peloton. One of my best local travel experiences recently was in Manila in the Philippines where everyone crams on local buses that are called jeepneys – these are privately operated and service specific routes, there’s no air-conditioning but they are a great way to hang out with the locals.
Be self-sufficient
Eating out can be expensive so if you pick up a few groceries from the local market or produce store, then prepare your breakfast, pack a sandwich for lunch, save your food budget for a nice meal in the evening where you can relax over a bottle of wine and really embrace the local cuisine.
Whatever your travel budget there is no doubt that you will find ways to spend absolutely all of it. The more you can plan ahead, search for some savings, and be a bit innovative with your choices, then the further you will be able to make your savings go and the more travel that you will be able to do.
