Travel Tips: Budget Travel

So you like to travel but can't do it as often because you are worried about money? That's okay, there are a lot of people in that position now-a-days. With covid-19 seemingly in the past, demand for travel is through the roof. But with inflation and correspondingly high prices for hotels, flights, cars- it can leave people frustrated, irritated, and willing to give up on planning a trip. But everyone deserves time off to relax, do things they enjoy, and escape the stress of work.

Budgeting can be hard, but make sure you always set a specific budget and stick to it. It'll be way easier to price things out and know how much you have to spend on everything when you're on your trips.

Here are 10 tips to help you save some money on travel.

Use tools that help monitor prices

There are apps like Hopper and SkyScanner and the website like Google Flights. You put in the dates that you would like to travel and where you'd like to travel to and the app will do all the work for you. Letting you know current prices as well as if the prices for the flights plan to rise or drop and when is the best time book.

Find the right travel credit card for you

There are a countless number of credit cards out there that "reward" you for traveling. You get points and can redeem them for cash back or money off of flights, hotels etc. But there are other cards that give you perks that can help make things easier along the way of your travels. Like money off TSA pre-check, or money off global entry fees, no black out dates for redemption, access to elite groups and airport lounges, bonus points on card anniversaries and even annual bonus credits on top of reward points. Not every card does all of these things, so do your research to find one that best fits your needs.

Try and be flexible

Being flexible about where and when you travel can help you save the most money. Using the explore feature on Google will give you multiple options on where to go and it gives you the cheapest dates on when to travel to that location.

• Dates- traveling in the off season of destinations keeps prices low.

• Locations- destinations that are more popular are more expensive, finding places off the beaten path won't be as crowded or nearly as expensive.

• Location- location isn't always your destination. Not all flights are created equal. Taking off from bigger airports or airports that are considered 'hubs' for airlines will be cheaper, check others around you, not just the ones that are closest.

• Time- flying or staying during the week will be cheaper than on the weekends. There is often more availability and less hassle during the week.

Plan ahead

Last minute trips are not a good idea, if you can avoid them, please do. Most of the time, planning as far ahead in advance gives you the best chance to save money. Prices start to rise as you get closer to the travel date. Three months out is the latest you should book your trip.

Stray from the traditional rental car company

Rental car companies charge a ridiculous amount of money per day for cars. If you have no choice but to rent a car using the rental car app called Turo will save you hundreds of dollars.

Take advantage of free activities along the way

Everywhere you go there will be things to do that cost little to no money. Some fun things will cost money, but not everything you do should cause you to have to open up your wallet. There's walking tours, the beach, gardens, libraries, hiking, parks, free museums, local markets, churches, festivals, events, picnics, and reading at the park.

Don't eat your money

Eating out is easy- and it's also a money pit. Trying new foods and experiencing the cultures of new places is okay and normally super intriguing but you should not eat out every meal. There are ways to experience the culture and foods of the new place you are visiting while still cooking your own meals.

Expand how you lodge

It's nice to have that fancy hotel with perfect views of the city. But those extravagant hotels that are done up cost hundreds of dollars a night. There are plenty of great hotels that don't cost an arm or leg for a one-night stay. If you're not traveling as a huge group or with a large family you can always consider switching things up and staying at hostels. You share rooms but there are community kitchens and living areas to hangout. These are super affordable and a great way to meet new people.

Change how you vacation

Most people do a simple one week vacation on the beach twice a year. If you're willing to get out of your comfort zone (which if you like to travel a lot I'm assuming you'll do this to expand your horizons), try a different type of vacation. Cruises are a wonderful way to explore multi destinations in a short amount of time. Cruises are an all inclusive type deal. The price of the cruise includes your cabin, food, plenty of shows and activities on board and non-alcoholic drinks. Instead of the beach you could go hiking or skiing in the mountains.

Beware of fees

When traveling out of the country normally credit cards or debit cards charge fees. These are foreign exchange fees for having to convert your currency to the country that you are visiting. It's best to find out before hand if your debit or credit card charges these fees because there is no way to get this money back, and it can add up because you're charged per transaction.

ATMs also charge fees if you do not have that specific bank of the ATM you are using. It's best to go to your bank and get cash out first so you don't have to worry about those stupid ATM fees that also charge you every time you use it. Once you arrive there are multiple places that will exchange your currency for the countries currency you are in.