Now travelling and exploring places need not be just a fantasy due to lack of money or fear of overspending.
If you observe closely you will find that there are many opportunities to make things fit in your budget so that you can take that dream trip of yours.
Let’s see how we can outsmart the prices and save ourselves enough to enjoy the vacation.
Table of Contents
Be Flexible with Travel Seasons:
Even though train and road travel prices remain the same flight prices can shoot up or go down depending on the time of the year you are planning to travel in.
Be a good friend of your wallet by getting flexible with your travel plans.
Travel during off-season.
Unless and until you have to be there during the season, consider planning your trip during the off-season. Prices of flight and hotel accommodation skyrocket when there are more and more people travelling during a particular time.
I have learnt that the best time to buy an AC is not when you need it but when you don’t need it. That’s when you can get a better deal. Everybody wants to buy AC during summer but you can be wise and plan on buying that AC during winter at a better deal price.
Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to compare flight costs.
The best way to land the best flight deal is to play with the dates. Fill in different dates of your travel and see what offer comes on the screen. The whole process can be time-consuming and sometimes even frustrating but if you manage to hit upon comparatively low-priced flights, you will be able to save on your budget.
Change your travel destination.
Unless and until your doctor has told you to visit that place for health reasons or you must travel to that city, change your travel destination.
There is no law that you must travel to the same destination during that period of the year and time. You can choose another destination that suits your budget and off you go!
Who knows – you can visit that new destination for about half the travel budget you had.
Invite Deals in Your Inbox:
If you are a serious traveler you may consider subscribing to newsletters of your favorite airlines and hotels. You can also follow them on your chosen social media platform. These airlines and hotels are in business to attract customers. They will be sending you the latest and best offers during the season and also during the off-season. With that information in hand you can plan your travel expedition.
I know it will not be your decision to travel but the cheapest and best offer that landed in your inbox is influencing you to take that call, but if you can take time off and travel then it can be a good opportunity to pack your bags and maybe also a good experience.
There must be various other ways also where you can permit companies to send you regular offers of the service they provide.
Become a deal hunter and you can grab that right opportunity when it comes your way.
Explore Alternate to Hotel Stay:
Once we visited Hampi in Karnataka during the famous Hampi festival. Instead of looking for a hotel, we were introduced to local people’s homes where they had a room to rent out. There were four of us – all grown-up boys. We took that one room and were able to save on hotel costs.
If you are travelling to a city to explore then you will not spend your time in your hotel room. If you are like me, you will get out as fast as possible in the morning and start exploring the city.
You have come here to visit places of your inetrest and not spend time sitting in the expensive hotel room just because you have paid a big amount.
Staying at a decent place rather than a luxurious hotel will save you big money that you can spend else where or even finance your next adventure trip.
Staying with the locals can become a part of your travel adventure experience.
Now, these kinds of stay-ins may not be advertised on websites or social media. When you arrive in the city and talk to the local auto or taxi drivers just outside the railway station will you come to know whether this kind of arrangement is available in the city or not?
Travel Light to Travel More:
If you are travelling for adventure and to explore the city it’s better to travel light. The luggage should be such that you can move around easily if you have to change your place of stay.
If you are travelling by air your suitcase should not exceed the weight limit. Excess baggage fees can unnecessarily eat into your travel budget.
One more advantage of travelling light is that if you are travelling light, you need not be put up in one place in the city. You can pick up your baggage and travel to different areas in the city and choose to stay at different places.
Eat Where Locals Eat:
If you are staying near a popular tourist spot, chances are everything near that area – including food – will be expensive.
It’s one thing to try out an expensive place but another thing to eat at an expensive place just because you are here to travel and enjoy.
It’s not wise to burn your money.
Once in a while we also love to pamper ourselves by eating out at an expensive place. But before we visit that expensive restaurant we plan it out and consciously decide that let’s go to an expensive hotel and try out the ambience and how the food tastes.
Being a foodie we go to these expensive restaurants for experience. It also provides content for my social media account and blog.
Not long ago I took my joint family of twelve members to an expensive restaurant for dinner and it cost me a whopping seven thousand rupees. But it was quite an experience.
I still have the bill with me. I don’t know why I am not able to throw that bill. See, I have used the word ‘bill’ twice in the preceding two sentences when I should have used it only once. Maybe I have become emotional towards that bill. It is something that I want to hold on to for a while longer maybe just for the sake of a reminder to me of my extravagant expense on food.
Coming back to our topic, when you are travelling seek out places where the locals go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It will be decently priced and also you will get to experience the real taste of the land. Of course, look at the hygiene of the place. You don’t want to fall ill and ruin your travel trip.
Other than the restaurants you can also try out street food of the locality.
I have travelled across India and the street foods are not bad. Surprisingly, you will find a few of the most delicious dishes served on the streets of the city.
Conclusion
As you travel more and more you will gain more and more experience in cutting unnecessary expenses and often times ways will be revealed to you on how you can save money.
All you need to do is to keep your eyes and ears open and be observant of how you are spending every rupee. Don’t be cheap while you are travelling and at the same time don’t overspend under the influence of excitement and other positive emotions.
How do you make sure that you don’t overspend while you are travelling? I am eager to know. Do share in the comments.
