9 Expert Tips to Save Next Time You Travel

14 May 9 Expert Tips to Save Next Time You Travel

Posted at 20:36h in Uncategorized by Anna Bertoldini

We all need a good vacation every once in a while, to escape our everyday lives and head towards new destinations or places of comfort. It’s so essential to maintaining a good work-life balance.

Holidays are good for stress reduction, leaving the people and places connected with stress and anxiety. They’re good for preventing heart disease and for improving productivity (for each extra 10 hours of time-off employees enjoyed, their year-end performance improved by 8%). Also, they boost sleep quality, by taking a break from all the unhealthy habits disrupting your slumber.

Albeit being the only activity that enriches you as you spend money, traveling can be pricey.

As summer creeps closer, if you’ve been pushing back your well-deserved holiday due to finances, think again. Experts have some good tips in store to make your vacation as budget-friendly as possible.

1. Departure day matters

Tuesday is a pivotal day of the week in the air travel world. If you have the possibility to depart on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, you will most likely get the cheapest flight of the week. On average, travelers travel on Friday or over the weekend, so demand shoots up – and so do prices. So try to pick low demand weekdays such as Tuesday and Wednesday to get a deal.

In fact, according to the news source CNBC, the best days are Tuesday as the cheapest day to fly, followed by Wednesday, and Saturday. George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog and CheapAir agree Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to fly. Other sources such as Fodor’s add Thursday, and Smart Travel and FareCompare both add Saturday to the list.

2. Offseason is your best friend

When you book your next trip, plan it around the destination’s offseason.

Unfortunately, more travelers flocking to the same place make for higher prices. Most people visit certain places at specific times.

Yes, I know you would prefer to visit Europe in the Spring or Summer when the weather is warmer and the flowers are blooming. But what if you wandered through those same streets in the Winter or Fall on a sunny day and marvel at some of Europe’s best winter comfort food?

Some cities are well worth wearing an extra layer of clothing.

If you’re set on a specific destination, scope out its tourist season and actively avoid it, choosing a different time and snagging a great deal. It’s 100% going to work.

The general rule of thumb is: in the Northern Hemisphere the high season is from May to late September, the low season is from October to April. In terms of the Southern Hemisphere, high season is from later November until about after Easter, low season from May until November.

Follow this and you’ll be well on your way to your favorite destination at the best price.

3. Be a trendsetter

Last-minute deals are a thing of the past. Once, it was possible to walk up to a ticket counter and request a cheap ticket for an undersold flight, but nowadays flights are overbooked. There’s little chance to find any last-minute deals.

So why not sign up for a couple of your favorite airline’s email lists? They can inform you first of their latest and exclusive offers before others can snag them!

Plus, try visiting the less beaten path? Instead of heading to overcrowded Ko Samui in Thailand, check out neighboring beautiful Laos or Cambodia. As opposed to going to an all-inclusive expensive resort in Cancún, Mexico, try heading to newly trending Havana, Cuba.

More into a luxurious trip? Check out coupon sites such as Groupon or LivingSocial for high-end holidays in some of the best destinations for bargain prices.

4. Skip the hotel

Hotels are losing ground as popular sites such as AirBnB and VRBO are winning in the fight to host international travelers across the world.

Hotels can be expensive and limiting, offering great service but for a hefty price tag. Travelers also have to eat out for every meal, which are small expenses that can add up.

Popular short-term house rentals have a great price and the added benefit of having a kitchen to cook in. Plus, if you rent a private room in a local’s apartment, you may get to know somebody new and get some great tips on what to visit!

You can also opt for a home-sharing app, in which you stay in a person’s house in a new city for free in exchange for some minor household chores. There are also sites in which travelers can swap homes for a period, staying in each other’s homes during their vacation.

5. Do some volunteering

If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, let the gate person in the airport know that you would like to volunteer your seat.

As mentioned, they overbook flights these days. By volunteering your seat, companies such as United or Delta allow you to bid on how much compensation it’d take to give up your seat. United, for example, has raised the bar in terms of how much they are willing to pay for passenger seats on overbooked flights, reaching as much as $10,000. That could fund a pretty lavish vacay.

Many people are in a hurry when waiting at the airport, but if you’re willing to spare a couple of hours, you’re in for making some good miles money for free.

6. BYOF

Bring your own food.

Ok, I know that stale granola bar and week-old apple won’t exactly satisfy you like a meal. But restaurants and food courts at the airport are expensive, so you can save a great deal by packing your own meal.

Some foods are safe to pass through security, so make sure you check out what’s allowed or not on TSA’s site.

Feeling like buying something anyway? Order a bigger portion, such as a footlong from Subway, and split it between the airport and the plane so you won’t feel famished after the tiny flight meal.

7. Stay hydrated without the bill

We’re all aware full water bottles aren’t allowed through security, but did you know you can bring an empty bottle through?

Before you go through security, make sure you pour out or drink your beverage and then take your empty bottle right through. Or just bring along your favorite empty hipster jar or container.

Airports are packed with water fountains, so bring your empty water bottle and fill it up at a station instead of buying one at the gate.

8. Research pays off

Once you’ve found your dream destination, do some research on activities and sights you will visit, then check out coupon sites such as Groupon or LivingSocial for great deals.

It’s a bit of extra work that reaps great benefits.

Researching helps you save, look over reviews from travelers who have been to the destination already, and scope out new ways to get places.

For example, many people opt for a taxi once out of the plane, but this form of transportation can jack up the price for the trip. Try researching public transport services to and from the airport, or look up if Uber, Lyft, or Gett are in the area and get a better deal.

Are you a foodie? I know I am. Another excellent tip is to look up any traditional restaurants or local dishes to taste for a meager price. Tourists often settle for a “touristy” restaurant close to the center, the airport, or their hotel – but there are much better options out there. Mom and pop restaurants are a little harder to find, but sites like TripAdvisor can help find places to sample the region’s cuisine and eat like a local.

9. Reserve directly

Here’s a secret: if you book directly on an airline’s site, you can save mad $$$.

This is because third-party sites, albeit being great for researching deals, can charge a fee for booking through their site. Instead, try searching for flights on a third-party sure such as KAYAK, Google Flights, or Skyscanner. Then, head over to the airline’s site and book the flight, you’ll often find a cheaper price.

Cutting costs and taking some extra time to research can save some serious cash for other fun holiday activities. Think about it, with the price of the taxi from the airport you can afford a nice dinner. Or, with the extra money saved on airfare, you can go snorkeling or do an excursion to your trip.

These tips are meant to help you afford and have more fun on your vacation. Follow these rules and you can enjoy that healthy and well-deserved vacation.

Thinking about traveling solo? Read my article about the wonders of traveling on your own.

Tags:

budget travel, holiday, inspiration, lifestyle, love, travel, vacation

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