Traveling on a Budget

Everyone loves a great vacation, but let’s be honest they can be expensive¹. Nonetheless, we all need to get away from time to time for some rest and relaxation to rejuvenate. If you’re looking for some tips and tricks search no further: here’s some budget friendly travel tips you can use when you plan your next trip.

Travel During the Off Season

Certain times of year are more popular than others for traveling, such as the summertime, for example, when the weather is warmest, and kids are out of school for summer break. As with everything though, the higher the demand the higher the cost. This means traveling during popular travel times will likely lead to higher prices than if you were to travel during a less popular travel time. As such, a great way to save money on your travel expenses is to travel during the off season when prices are likely to be much lower. Plus, traveling during the off season will also mean it will be much less crowded and who doesn’t love that?

Research & Compare

You have a lot of options when it comes to your travel plans, from where you stay to how you get there and everything in between. Each of these things comes with a different price tag, too, and the difference can be drastic. One hotel may cost you less than $100 a night while another could cost you several hundred dollars a night. Research all your options ahead of time and compare the prices, benefits, and drawbacks or each before you book anything. Consider what’s most important to you during this time as well, as that will help you make the most of the money you’re spending. Perhaps you’re going to the beach and that’s where you plan to spend most of your time rather than doing other activities. Though a hotel closer to the beach is likely to be more expensive, it might be worth it to you to splurge on this cost and forego the costs of other activities.

You could also consider booking your travel through a travel agency². Travel agents know everything there is to know when it comes to traveling, and they may be able to find you some great deals you otherwise wouldn’t have known about. Depending on the travel agent it may not cost you anything to book through them as many travel agents only get paid commission for their sales. Travel discount sites are great options as well, and usually offer discounts on hotels, flights, and rental cars. Some examples of travel discount sites include Expedia, Booking.com, and Travelocity. Of course, be sure to compare prices to ensure you’re actually getting a deal and be careful to read the terms of the purchase as many sites have strict cancellation policies. Keep in mind as well that your booking will now lie with the travel discount site and the retailer you booked may not be able to help you with your booking. For help with your booking, you will likely be directed back to the travel discount site.

Plan Ahead

Impulse purchases are the bane of your budget’s existence, but they can be so hard to resist in the moment. They can be quite expensive, too, as the average American spends a little over $300 a month in impulse purchases³. Keep your wallet happy by planning all the details of your trip ahead of time. By doing so, you can research all the things you’d like to do before your trip and plan them out so you know they will all fit within your budget. It can be difficult to keep your budget in mind when it’s not in front of you, and planning will help stop you from overspending in the moment. Additionally, many places offer a slight discount on tickets or services if you purchase them online ahead of time rather than at the box office or may have bundles that are only available online. Check out all your options, compare pricing and offers, and book your excursions ahead of time. Not only will it help you stay on budget, but it’ll save you the headache of figuring out what to do after you’ve already arrived.

While you may be ready to rush right into your vacation, taking the time to slow down and prepare for your trip with these tips could help save your budget, and your piece of mind too. You’ll be ready to sit back, relax, and have the time of your life.

Sources:

¹Bennett, Karen. (2022, Nov 29). Retrieved from: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/cost-of-vacation/

²Rotondo, Andrea. (2022, Aug 26). Retrieved from: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/4-scenarios-when-you-should-use-a-travel-agent/

³Dickler, Jessica. (2022, Aug 20). Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/20/shoppers-spend-over-300-a-month-on-impulse-purchases-despite-recession-fears.html