Traveling to your dream destination doesn’t have to be an expensive adventure. In fact, you don’t need to break a bank to visit that famous landmark you have always yearn for, provided you can adhere to the tips we will share in this post.
There are lots of ways to travel on a budget, including traveling during ideal times and using reward points or miles. These strategies will not only help you save money, you will also have fun-filled travel experiences. Now, here’s how to travel on a budget:
#1. Start planning early
This is one strategy that even avid travelers are still using to save lots of bucks. You need to start planning ahead of time to save money and also save yourself from the stress of rush hour. Flight prices usually rise and fall, with the price remaining up as the travel day gets closer.
Early planning also gives you the opportunity to find the best hotels at great prices and other cheap activities in the city or town you intend visiting. So, whenever you are ready to travel, keep your eyes on flight and hotel rates early enough to get good rates.
#2. Book at the right time
While we already emphasized this point above, it’s important that we re-emphasize it again. Why? Because the difference between the time you’d book your flight and the time you will actually travel can impact on the amount that you would spend on the vacation. And this also applies to hotels and resorts.
If you don’t know the right time to book a flight to get a good price, there are lots of tools online that can be of help. For instance, you can try the price tracking feature of Google Flights. Google Flights lets you easily compare the flight prices across different airlines. The tool also lets you know whether the price you are looking at is high or low compared to the average cost.
#3. Skip overpriced tours
Another way to travel on a budget is to skip overpriced tours. We understand the craving to explore a new city, but if you don’t have a deep pocket, you can skip overpriced tours and settle for tours that you can afford. Rather than paying for a tour guide, there are free tools online that you can use to conduct a tour on your own.
Doesn’t sound appealing? Then consider going on a free tour that lots of cities offer. Tools like Rick Steves, TripAdvisor, or Spotted By Locals will provide you with important information about the city that you intend to visit. These tools are free but some of them may require you to pay a nominal fee to access premium features.
#4. Use reward points
Redeeming reward points is one sure way to travel on a budget. In fact, Using reward points can wipe away or reduce your flight and hotel expenses during your trip. However, you will need to accrue enough points to enable you to redeem reward points for travel, and in most cases, this is usually through frequent use of a travel credit card.
For example, as of the beginning of November 2022, a round trip to Paris from Los Angeles was pegged at $1,255. This distance covers about 45,000 miles, which you can earn by using the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.
Similarly, you can earn bonus points to reduce your hotel expenses using hotel credit cards. Big hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Choice and Wyndham have co-branded credit cards that you can take advantage of. Using the credit cards and maximizing their sign up bonuses can help reduce your hotel expenses.
#5. Travel in the off-season
If you are not cut out for reward points, another excellent way to save money on your trip is to travel during off-season. Prices of flights, dining, tours, and hotels are usually inflated during peak periods, making traveling on a budget almost impossible. So, plan your trip during the off-season.
Yes, You Can Travel On a Budget
Going on a vacation doesn’t have to be too expensive. Whether you’re a beginner or a travel veteran, you can travel on a budget by planning early and keeping your eyes on prices. Take advantage of the reward points or travel during off-season to cut down on flight and hotel expenses.