Do you like to travel? Especially I love travelling cheap. If you’re like me, this article is for you. If you keep reading you will discover some tricks to travel cheap that surely you do not know, enabling you to save money and enjoy at the same time. Surely some things you might already know, but I assure you that some will surprise you.
Source: Pixabay
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO TRAVEL CHEAP
Often in this life, we want to do many things, and there are always some that we find unachievable. Normally due to our inability to visualize them, and to believe that they are possible. One of those things is to make a great trip to distant lands.
There are many people who today still go to travel agencies to see prices for a “package” of options to travel to different destinations, but that is not the way to travel cheap.
That is why, among many other things, many still think that making that dream trip is not within their reach.
The truth is that having intermediaries, as in everything, greatly increases the price and also closes a wide range of options. Undoubtedly, if you want to travel cheap you must eliminate the largest number of intermediaries. Do without them and go on the adventure – or just plan on your own trip – It can be the dramatic change that makes the trip possible and enables you to enjoy them much more.
Why? Well, because nowadays the internet provides us with a great variety of means to make it on our own and in a much more economical way. Saving and travelling cheaply is more and more at your fingertips.
Another positive thing is that when planning and searching for information, in that process we are already enjoying the trip before doing it.
Following are some practical tips on how to save on a great trip and travel as cheaply as possible.
CHOOSE THE DESTINATION IN A LOT ADVANCE
The first and most obvious thing you have to do to travel cheap is to decide on a destination in advance. I do not talk about 2 months here but about periods longer than 6 months.
If you have already decided on the destination you will be a little more restricted in some savings points that I will mention, but do not worry, you still have many ways to save on your trip, as you will see.
INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY TO FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS
Sure, sometimes you’ll find last-minute bargains. But that is not usual. Normally, for long trips, the sooner you book the cheaper the tickets will come out.
You should search thoroughly to find the cheapest tickets at your disposal. Booking United airlines tickets, cancelling them later and checking united airlines refund status later did not help me. So, it is better to search and be sure first.
One can also search the airline’s policies, baggage rules, flight information, booking status, and much more by visiting Faremart.com which is a reliable travel booking platform having access to 450 airlines and provides full support and assistance on travel queries.
A good trick to save on your trip is to go to Skyscanner and see what are the most economical months to visit that destination. Keep track of the days that interest you and tell Skyscanner to send you alerts when prices fall.
This process can be carried out for 3 or 4 destinations that interest you and see where you can travel most. Undoubtedly, saving € 100 on your ticket will make travelling much cheaper. A good way to start saving.
Of course, you must be flexible in the range of dates because the price can change dramatically by leaving a day earlier and returning 2 later. As you are doing so far in advance, that trick plays in your favour. Keep in mind that one of the biggest expenses of travel is always the plane, so it’s worth looking at it.
Also, check out these airline hacks no one told you before.
BE CAREFUL WITH THE TIME OF YEAR IN WHICH YOU TRAVEL
At the same time or even before thoroughly investigating the flights, you should inform yourself about the high-low seasons of the destination to visit. Travelling cheap in high season will be difficult, but going in the off-season can also go wrong.
Obviously, in the high season, everything is more expensive, and in low season things might not be appealing: bad weather, overcrowding, etc.
TRAVELING CHEAP REQUIRES A DETAILED ITINERARY
With the mix of information collected so far, it is time to mark an itinerary and reserve accommodation. The itinerary will help you define the days and things you will see in order to compare flights and hotels – which I will explain below how to book – and close the circle of the base of the trip as economically as possible. Of course, the price of accommodation is essential for cheap travel.
Source: Pixabay
BOOK THE STAY WITH FREE CANCELLATION
When you have all the above more or less clear, it is time to book accommodation.
Remember that not always the most expensive has to be the best, so you have several options:
- Classic accommodation: hotel, hostel, dormitory
- Modern accommodation: AirBnB, HomeAway
- Free accommodation: Couchsurfing, camping in the garden or authorized area.
FREE ACCOMMODATION
There is no doubt, if you get to stay for free on your trip, it will be much cheaper. There are several websites designed to contact people who offer their sofa (or bed or floor) to sleep and where a community has even been created that values the experience of both the host and the host.
Another option is to camp outdoors (where allowed) or ask permission for people with a garden to let you camp in theirs. All are free and all are less comfortable than others, depends on the pocket and the type of experience you want to live.
ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE
As its name suggests it is to exchange your house with another person’s in another country.
You just have to sign up and pay a small monthly fee. Two interesting websites, of proven reputation and in which the monthly fee does not exceed 11 euros/year are:
- LoveHomeSwap
- HomeExchange
Source: Pixabay
MODERN ACCOMMODATION
I call it modern when in fact the 2 previous types are much more modern. But it was the first different variant to appear, the most prevalent (of the non-classical ones) and I had to give it a name. In this section, we find AirBnB and HomeAway among others.
Obviously depending on what you decide will be more or less expensive. My experience has been very positive: friendly hosts – good location, option to cook, wash your clothes and economic price.
In addition, Airbnb gives you a discount credit if you recommend it to friends and they also make a reservation, so everything is to agree and save a few more euros.
RESTAURANT OR SUPERMARKET?
Obviously, this decision depends a lot on the type of trip and destination. Food is a game that, although it does not seem like it, greatly increases the cost of the trip. If in your destination, you have the possibility of cooking, I advise you to look for the chain of large supermarkets on duty in the country where you go and make a good purchase.
RENT A CAR OR PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
Both have their pros and cons, and both can be cheap or very expensive. In the case of the car, you have much more freedom and if you book in advance on websites such as Rentalcars, besides being cheap you have free cancellation.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING DURING YOUR TRIP?
Imagine not only travelling cheap but even making money while travelling. If yours are the typical holidays of 1 or 2 weeks, this section does not interest you, really. But, if you go for more time, you do not have a return ticket, etc., then it’s worth taking it into account.
There are many websites where you can work and earn money while travelling. I am not an expert on the subject, but I do have friends who have done it, all with very good experiences.
AND FINALLY, DECIDE THE TIME OF THE STAY
Once you have researched flights and better times of the possible destinations and while you wait for Skyscanner to send you the warning of a sudden price drop, you must decide how long your stay will be.
As you have seen, there are many ways to save money while travelling. Most of them, as far as saving is concerned, have a common denominator: Advance and planning. That explains why for the same trip there will be those who pay thousands of euros and there will be those who do not even reach a thousand.
