10 Travel Tricks to Save Money with Some Minor Inconveniences
Do you remember that last time that you travel for the much needed vacation? Was it a good experience? Are you still paying your credit card bills from the last vacation that you had?
Traveling does not always mean breaking your bank account, you can travel and enjoy a good vacation even without spending much money. Here are some money-saving travel tips that you can follow and still experience a convenient vacation:
1. Airfare – If you are going to travel by plane, it will be much better if you avoid traveling during peak season. Popular holidays mean “blackout days” for most airlines and that means fares are pretty much expensive during this time of the year. Some airlines would not even allow you to use your frequent flyer miles. It will be much better if you sign up on these airlines to get updated news about fare specials. Don’t rely on just one airline; it will benefit you more if you keep your airline options open.
2. Car Rental – Again, the earlier you make your reservations then it could mean better savings too. Car rental companies would usually increase their rates when the cars become booked. Sometimes you will be left with no option but to get more expensive car because there’s no other vehicle available. There are instances when car rental companies far from the airport are much cheaper, so better check them out. Don’t forget to use discount coupons if you have them.
3. Hotel – For your hotel accommodation, you can try to book online and get good savings. Compare various hotel packages and choose the package that will save you the most money. Cheap rates don’t mean better savings; check the amenities, meals and other inclusions in the hotel packages.
4. Phone Call – You may need to do some phone calls while overseas and it’s pretty much expensive. If you can use Skype, Viber and Google Voice then it will cost you less. It is also best to get a new SIM card before you leave, but make sure that it will work on your phone.
5. Food – There are some hotel packages that include meals like free breakfast and lunch. If you stay in a place where they offer kitchenettes so that you can buy your own grocery and ask them to cook for you. If you are on a healthy diet, bring along with you a pack of healthy snacks so that you won’t need to spend money eating in restaurants.
6. Sightseeing – If you are not familiar with the place, you can use the internet and search engines to get information. You can still rely on the good old guidebooks regarding the places to visit and activities to enjoy. You will be surprised that some sites and museums are actually free to the public.
7. Luggage – Make sure that you bring a sturdy luggage with you so that your stuff are safe and secured. Utilize your hand luggage to the fullest; some airlines don’t have restrictions regarding the weight of your hand luggage. This will lessen the risk of paying additional fees for excess baggage. Aside from important stuff like documents, you can use your hand luggage for your shoes too.
8. Credit cards – It’s important to know how much fees and charges you are going to incur if you are going to you a particular credit card overseas, whether you are going to withdraw cash or make any purchases. Foreign credit cards get additional charges when using it on some ATMs. If you can use travel-related credit cards, the better savings you will get.
9. Technology – Yes, with the help of the latest technology you can save money on your next travel. There are various applications that you can download to plan your travel such as Expedia, SeatGuru and a lot more on the list.
10. Hidden Charges – Make it a habit to read the fine prints because there could be additional fees that your agents fail to inform you about. You may overlook these simple things but it could ruin your entire vacation/travel budget.
Traveling does not necessarily mean spending a lot of money. There are many ways to save money without experiencing many inconveniences. When you want to travel, make sure that you plan ahead of time to avoid unnecessary spending.
About the Author:
The article is done by Mackenzie Sulivan, technology, seo and finance copywriter, guest blogger and web developer. She likes covering seo, technology and finance articles and news via online edition. She contributes to this site: Logbook Loans.
Category: Travel