Traveling can be very expensive! From the plane ticket, the accommodations, restaurants, and tours: the list never ends. Throughout the year, we learned some ways to make our travel lifestyle more affordable. By being smart with our daily travel budget, we are able to travel for months at a time and even save money. These are the best tips to save money while traveling!
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1. Travel in low season
We mostly travel during the low season and we love it! The plane tickets are cheaper, the hotels are usually more affordable and believe or not, bargaining in the local markets is easier! The weather might not be perfect every day, but in tropical destinations, the rain usually doesn’t last. The tourist attractions are also much more pleasant to visit when less crowded. If you are flexible, you also have more chances to buy your plane ticket at the best price possible!
2. Eat local
A big part of traveling is experiencing the local cuisine. One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to eat as the locals do! You can try new flavors, rather than eat in tourist restaurants, and save money on food!
Another great (and fun) way to save money is to cook your own meals once in a while! It might be hard to always find hotels that provide a kitchen for the guests to use but that never stopped us!
Whenever we leave on a trip, we bring with us a pocket knife to cut fruits, vegetables, and bread. We also bring spices and sometimes even our portable burner, and a pot. We enjoy visiting and shopping at the local morning market where we pay the same price as the locals and can buy groceries for a week for about $5. It might seem like a hassle but you will save money to later appreciate local restaurants.
3. Travel slowly
One of the biggest expenses that come with traveling is purchasing the plane ticket. By visiting a new country every week, you end spending a lot on airfare. We love to travel very slowly (or lazy), however, you want to call it! It gives us time to really immerse ourselves in the countries’ cultures. Not only is it better for the environment, it also allows you to understand and love the country so much more.
4. Plan ahead
Planning ahead gives you time to research and weigh all your options. Let’s say you want to get to another city: by having time to plan before your departure, you can compare all the different options. You might even find other travelers who would like to share the ride with you, making it more affordable. You will be able to select the most suitable choice for you, rather than paying a high price in a private taxi.
By booking flights and hotels in advance, you have more choices and can evaluate all your options. Reading blogs about your next destination to know what to expect in terms of prices is always a smart move.
5. Volunteering & house-sitting
An amazing way to save money while traveling is by either volunteering or house sitting. In both cases, you don’t have to pay for accommodations which are a big part of a travel budget. For example, the platform Workaway connects members to organized homestays and hotels. You can volunteer for a couple of hours a day, in exchange for a place to sleep and sometimes even food. We’ve met countless people who were using Workaway during their travels and it seems like a great opportunity. It allows you to develop your skills while meeting new people from around the world.
6. Be your own travel agent
Back in the days, you had to hire a travel agent to book your vacations. They had access to platforms and deals that the public simply couldn’t access. However, nowadays, there is simply no need to hire a travel agent anymore! Over the years, online platforms for booking travel such as Skyscanner, Booking, Airbnb or Expedia became very popular. There are also so many travel blogs who suggest their readers the absolute best places to visit. These platforms are making the use of travel agencies obsolete.
The way you decide to travel can make a huge impact on the cost of your trip. No matter what your budget is, or how long you are traveling for, these tips will help you save money by being mindful of your choices. Do you have any other money-saving tips while traveling? Let us know below, we would love to know!
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