There is a lot of emphasis on how to save money, and planning for the future; it is also worth noting that life can be taken away any minute. Do you like travelling to see the world beyond where you live? You like seeing other places, tasting different foods and experiencing other cultures?
However, you put your travel dreams on the back burner because you don’t have a vacation budget in place. Fear not, budget travel is possible with good travel tips, a little research and planning, ahead of time.
The main purpose of a budget is, so you can afford things and achieve goals that are meaningful to you. Now that the world is slowly “opening” up again, things are slowly returning to “normal”, it is the perfect time to let loose, a vacation with a purpose comes to mind.
If there is one thing that the pandemic has taught us, our lives can be turned upside down in a minute.
Many of us haven’t been able to travel for almost 2 years because of the pandemic; traveling to other places can be an investment to your health, you disconnect from the daily hustle and bustle, recharge your body and soul, reconnect with your family, spouse/partner.
There are many ways to do budget travel and still have fun.
Things To Do Before You Going Vacation
- In your monthly budget, include a “fun money” category. Put that money away every month to a vacation budget or travel budget . Use that money to cover for airfare, hotel and meals. You could choose to pay for the airfare first, then hotel and lastly meals.
- Alternatively, write out all the trips you anticipate you will make within a year from now. Split the anticipated amount of money throughout the year, you could call that your vacation budget.
Put away money every month towards those trips. This will help you stay within your monthly budget without feeling the pinch when the trips come up.
- Is your schedule flexible, or do you find sticking to a budget hard? Save money by booking 6 months in advance to get international tickets at lower cost depending on the destination country.
- Scour the internet and track flight prices for best travel tips and deals. Remember to update yourself on the terms and conditions of incoming travelers to your destination country.
- Scottscheap, expedia, trivago skyscanner kayak and skiplagged are popular online travel agents that can help you plan your trip; they know most of the beaten paths to popular destinations. Some of them offer travel tips about your destination to ensure their clients get their money’s worth.
- Search for different days of the month, prices sometimes vary. Flights are usually cheaper on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flights with multiple connections as they are often cheaper.
- A travel agent (yes, they still exist especially in bigger towns) will offer you vacation planning services. From finding out about conditions and rules about your desired destination to guiding you on whether are local bus services, train connections between at the airport and other tourist attractions.
Under budget vacation meal ideas.
Save money on food while on vacation, buy prepackaged snacks and simple foods like oats, teabags, granola bars, and trail mix from local grocery stores.
Some hotels let their guests take with them snacks from the breakfast bar. Carry a water bottle to refill rather than buying water. However, some countries have unsafe tap water.
If possible, avoid tourist group tours from tour companies. You can still do most of these activities on your own by taking the regular bus or using car rental services.
Study the value of the local currency, take a look at the coins and bills, so you don’t hand over large denominations instead of smaller ones, i.e. handing over a 50 bill instead of a 5 bill making yourself vulnerable to theft.
Is it necessary to buy travel insurance
Even though you will be doing budget travel, when traveling abroad, always get some basic travel insurance to cover the cost of unpredictable circumstances like acute illness, hospitalization, injury or your need to return early or cancel the trip because of an emergency.
You may not be covered by the country’s healthcare system because you are not a citizen. Always declare pre existing conditions when speaking with your insurance agent.
Under budget car rental hacks
You need to have your car ready when you step off the plane. This ensures that you get a car at a great price. Booking a car from the airport is not only costly (additional surcharges), but you might not get a car, depending on the season.
Use a credit card to pay for your car rental. Many credit card companies cover primary insurance on rental cars, on condition that you pay full price upfront. Do you have Costco membership? Through Costco Travel, you can find great car rentals with Enterprise, Budget, Avis and others.
Walk around the rental car before you drive off the location. Take pictures of any dents and scratches with your phone, including timestamps. This saves you from allegations and subsequent fees/lawsuits.
Beware of road tolls, some car rental companies charge a flat rate of up to $5 for every time you pass through the tolls. If possible prepay for the toll fees online.
Autoslash tracks your reservation and may find you better deals using your Costco membership. They do price comparisons before for you, and can re-book you at a lower rate.
Priceline uses Express Deals to save you money. However, you will not know the car rental company until you pay. I recommended you stay away from upgrades, use a premium credit card for automatic coverage.
Rent a wreck rents used cars cheaply. These come in handy for you who are travelling to expensive tourist places. On the downside though, the cars may be located slightly away from the airport. You may need to take a bus or uber get to their location.
To get the most out your budget travel, and while saving money on your phone bill, take with you an unlocked mobile phone, then buy a local sim card, utilize the free wifi at the coffee shops, restaurants, hotel and the airport.
There you have it, a few travel tips to help you make the most of your vacation with a purpose, whether you are planning a solo trip to recharge your batteries or reconnecting with your family.
Cheers!