Many people may not be aware of it, but the travel and hospitality industry are some of the most flexible when it comes to pricing.
If you know how to go about it, you won’t be surprised at how much you could save on accommodation and travel. Traveling to exotic locales doesn’t have to cost a lot, and by being savvier, you could end up saving tons of money on your next trip. An increasingly popular way to earn money as you travel is by teaching English as a foreign language.
There are also some classic mistakes that you should avoid if you don’t want to end up overpaying on everyday purchases. Here are a few tips and tricks for traveling on a small budget.
Get a Travel Card Right Before You Leave
One of the things you could do is apply for a credit card right before you leave. Many cards will have an initial grace period for interest and instant rewards. Some cards will give you instant travel points and allow you to save on things like fuel, for instance. This will allow you to save on travel now, and on future trips as well.
READ: Traveling in Your Golden Years: 5 Travel Tips for Seniors
Book a Shared Accommodation
If you’re going as a group, then the best option would be to book shared accommodation. Not only will getting separate hotel rooms cost you more, but it will be a huge hassle as well.
However, if you rent something like a serviced apartment or a small villa, for instance, you’ll get all the benefits of a hotel room and more. You can split the costs and get a much higher level of accommodation at the same price. But the best thing is that you’ll be able to cook or entertain at home. Food costs are one of the biggest expenses when traveling, so you could use the extra savings to afford a slightly better destination or cut your travel expenses.
READ: What Type Of Traveler Are You? Discover Your Travel Personality
There are lots of deals for budget travelers who don’t want to pay full price. There are tons of coupon sites that will allow you to find great deals. Hotels do have some wiggle room for negotiation, so don’t be afraid to haggle down prices as well.
Pick the Right Time
Timing is everything when it’s time to book a trip. For one, you should always try to book trips out of season. While you want to avoid the rainy season, there are tons of destinations that are great all year round. Avoid high season and look at fall and spring trips instead.
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Also, the day of the week or even the hour will make a huge difference. The middle of the week is usually the best time to book a flight. A recent study by ticket comparison site FareCompare.com found that the best deals were around Tuesday at 3 PM eastern time. Sundays and Wednesdays are also great days to find deals.
Another thing you should do is to buy tickets well in advance. This will allow you to get even better prices since there will be less demand at that time.
Be Smart About Your Destination
If you had your eyes set on one destination, there might be tons of other destinations close by that will give you basically the same experience but for a fraction of the cost. For instance, if you were thinking of going to South East Asia, countries like Cambodia will be much cheaper than Thailand. The Caribbean is also full of hidden gems.
The best thing is that you won’t have to deal with tourists and might actually find pristine beaches that are as good as advertised, contrary to other more popular destinations.
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As you can see, there are tons of ways that you can save on travel when you know how to go about it. Follow our few tips, and you should be able to enjoy the trip of your dreams on a budget.
