There is a common myth that traveling is a luxury that only the rich can afford. Well, the good news is in today’s world, you don’t need to be rich to travel. All you require is a smart plan to travel. Let’s get into some hacks to plan a budget holiday.
Estimate the daily travel budget
Before traveling, it is necessary to create a base budget. Determine how much you need to spend each day to stay within the budget. Try to include accommodation and all the activities you are planning during the trip. Use budget tracking apps to ensure that you do not overspend.
Travel in an off-season
The off-season is that time of the year when tourism is at its lowest. During this time, hotels offer attractive discounts to lure customers. For budget travelers, the off-season is an excellent time because they can enjoy a good stay, enjoy good food, and undertake various activities, which during peak season would cost a bomb.
Avoid expensive hotels
Go for home stays, guest houses or hostels to reduce your accommodation costs. It not only saves you money, but it also allows you to consider increasing the duration of your stay. Other cheap accommodation choices like Airbnb and Couch surfing are also good options to consider. They have a functional kitchen where you can cook on your own, thus saving on restaurant expenses.
Use Wifi to text and make calls
Calling your family in your home country while you are abroad travelling can easily add up to your expense. It’s a good idea to check international text and calling charges before leaving. Turn off mobile data whenever possible. Hotel’s Wifi is usually free. You can use it to communicate through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, FaceTime, etc.
Use public transport
While moving around a city, try to go for cheaper options like buses and trains and not private taxis or tourists’ buses. Using public transport is not only a cost-saver, but it also gives you the opportunity to interact with the locals and have a new commuting experience.
Save money on food
Food is one of the most money-sucking expenses while traveling. Avoid any expensive or over-budget fancy restaurants and stick to local places. It not only gives you the authentic taste and memory of that place, but it also is light on the pockets. If you stay in hostels with a functional kitchen, you can cook your own meal and save money.
While these tips are great for budget travel, you may have to take care of a few things. For example, if you are planning to travel in the off-season, then make sure that the attractions at that place are not shut during that time. While on travel, you could have a financial emergency. So, keep emergency cash ready to tackle these emergency expenses. If you haven’t been able to build your emergency cash for travel, then apply for a personal loan to ensure that you are prepared for any emergency that comes your way during your travel.
