Travel Money
How to save money on travel
Travelling should be one of the most pleasant experiences in your life, as you are given the opportunity to see new places, understand new cultures, taste different food and enjoy time away from the hectic schedule of your daily routine. However, if you do not manage to handle your finances effectively, your trip can easily turn into a nightmare, leaving you with a big debt to pay off.
How to save money on travel
Save money on airfare
Saving money on airfare will help your pocket tremendously. Look for affordable travel packages which combine airline tickets, hotel accommodation and car rental. That way you will spend less overall than you would have if you had turned to a different service provider for each service. Take some time to compare prices before making your final decision. Sometimes, you can even manage to get a bigger discount, if you make a phone call and speak directly to a travel agent, so it is worth taking a shot. Websites such as Travelocity and Priceline can provide you with lots of useful information within a few minutes.
Booking in advance can also help you save a lot of money on travel. If you are planning on travelling abroad, then you should book your flight about 6 months in advance, while if you are planning on travelling domestically, you should book your flight about 3 months in advance. For an even bigger discount, you can try travelling with a group, which can save you up to 50% overall. Weekdays are highly recommended when it comes to airfare as well, since they come cheaper than weekends. You also have to be flexible when it comes to dates and hours. Low priced airline tickets can be purchased very late at night or very early in the morning, so you need to be willing to make some adjustments to your schedule in order to take advantage of this opportunity. Another thing you can do, is try the mix and match airline flights, where you can use different airlines for departing and return flights, which in turn leads to a good overall discount. If you travel a lot, then you should definitely sigh up for a rewards program, in order to get free flights, free upgrades and free companion tickets.
Save money on hotel accommodation
When travelling, it is important to learn to save money when it comes to hotel accommodation. First off, it is wise to travel during the off-peak season, when prices are always lower. Consult the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory to get detailed information on what the off-peak season is for every country you are planning to visit. Look for hotels that offer freebies, such as free breakfast, free airport transfer and free Internet access. Skip unnecessary extras that cost a lot, such as room service, the mini-bar or movie rental. If you are planning on staying for more than a week, that can save you a lot of money. Another good idea is to pick hotels that are not close to tourist attractions. Hotels that are located in less popular and crowded areas, cost significantly less. If in spite of your research, you reach the conclusion that you cannot afford staying in a hotel, then maybe you should opt for a condo that you can rent, or a friend’s house.
Save money on entertainment
Entertainment while travelling should not come with a high price. There are ways to save money on entertainment, even when you are travelling. Opt for small local stores for your everyday purchases and small local restaurants for lunch or dinner. If you absolutely need to go to a particular, expensive restaurant, at least once, then prefer going for lunch where the prices are lower. If you want to have dinner over there, then be an early bird and show up first, or pick a day where specials are offered. In both those cases, the prices are lower, and therefore you will manage to save money. Another thing that you can do, is buying the local newspaper and check the entertainment section; usually you will find several free activities or free entrances to events that you can attend. You can also purchase the Entertainment book, where you can find 50% off and 2- for -1 discount coupons for dining, shopping,movie tickets, groceries, services, attractions and many more.
By following the above outlined tips, you will manage to save money on travel and enjoy the experience to the fullest without having to worry about how you will manage to pay off your debt later on.
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Travel Money question by frolivemocha: Travel money?
I’m planning to travel around Europe from September 2007 to June 2008. I was wondering if anyone has tips for budget travel, knows where getting a job will be easier, or anything that’s just plain useful.
Travel Money best answer:
Answer by Bela
ummmm
are you sure you wanna go till june? the euro cup is in june, and its gonna cost a lot of money to even be in europe at that time.
if you wanna go to the euro cup though, by all means…
then again you’ll be working there… if you speak english well go for tourist jobs. where in europe though? if you are in greece or spain, getting a job in tourism is so easy if you speak english..