4 Ways to Save Money While Traveling
A major lifetime goal for many, including myself, is to travel the world. Ever since I was younger, I envisioned myself traveling to many renowned places in the world, soaking in the landscapes and landmarks of each destination while making lifelong memories in the process. I have been very fortunate in my life to have traveled internationally twice, once with my parents and the other on a school trip. Traveling to multiple countries during my teenage years gave me such a sense of perspective and appreciation for different lifestyles and cultural traditions. The exposure to alternative ways of living gives you such a sense of freshness and freedom that in my opinion, is truly unmatched by anything else.
The unfortunate reality for many is that traveling costs way too much money. Often times people do not get the opportunity to travel for multiple reasons, whether it be work-related limitations or financial reasons. The truth is, most people just don’t have the money to expend a few thousands of dollars here and there to travel to their dream destination. It is truly a privilege to be able to do so, but that doesn’t mean that it is impossible to travel and live your dreams once (or twice) in a blue moon. There are plenty of ways to save money when planning a trip and during the travel itself. From selecting specific transportation methods down to the very day you book a hotel, there are small (yet big) ways to save money. Are you bored at the moment, looking to experience something different? Have you been wanting to travel but have been limited financially? Wanting some advice on how to travel on a budget? Check out these simple, five tips below on how to be a frugal traveler while putting money back into your pocket!
1. Free, Free, Free: I know there isn’t one person in this world that doesn’t love the word “free”, it just comes with all sorts of happy feelings. A large part of traveling expenses is attending events and finding fun activities to do where you are. Its only natural for you want to go to the most expensive, touristy events and activities, but this will only break your budget and put a hole in your wallet. Though it can be fun, you don’t want to end up broke in the process. Instead of doing this, research and scope out free events and activities in the area that you can go to! Christine Johnson at the Huffington Post notes, “Look at community calendars to see what is going on in town while you are there. Do a self-guided walking tour to familiarize yourself with your destination. Museums often have a ‘pay what you can’ day once a week and sometimes have discounted admission after a certain time of day.”
2. Keep a Kitchen in Mind: One of the easiest ways to spend money when traveling is through food. As an avid food-lover myself, I can attest to this, as I literally wanted to buy and try every single food item that caught my eye when I was traveling. Though I did not physically buy everything, if I didn’t have willpower, I just might have. When booking a hotel room, consider getting one with a kitchenette or at the very least, a fridge and microwave. By doing this, you can save loads of money by shopping at farmer’s markets and grocery stores, avoiding the high costs of eating out every night!
3. Consider Tourism Cards: Before writing this, I had never heard of tourism cards before, but after doing some research, they sound pretty cool! According to Matthew Kepnes of Thrillist, “City tourism cards get you into many attractions for one price, and stretch your sightseeing dollars. Typically, a pass costs as much as two or three museum entrances, but includes access to dozens of attractions. Best of all, you can get them at the local tourism office and, as an added bonus, they come with free public transportation.”
4. Look Off-Season: Deciding on the time of year you travel can have a large impact on the amount of money you spend on airfare, hotel bookings, etc. Not only can traveling off-season save you money (due to the expenses being cheaper) but it can also save you stress, as the amount of people traveling isn’t as high- leaving you to a much calmer, relaxing vacation.
Though traveling on a budget may seem difficult, there are plenty of small steps you can take to save a penny (or more) here and there. All it takes is some research and patience, and in no time, you will be living the dream of traveling all while saving money in the process. As always, good luck and safe travels!