Travelling is a stressful time for anyone, particularly as there is accommodation, flights and other paperwork to organise. But with a number of tips and tricks available online to help you save money as you go, you can have your dream holiday without emptying your bank account. In this article, we are going to look into 5 ways that you can save money as you travel whether you are heading away in 2019 or in the new year.
1. Book Self Catering Accommodation
Booking accommodation for you whilst you are travelling can be challenging, particularly if you are travelling as a group as multiple rooms can cost a significant amount of money. However, this can be combatted by booking self-catering accommodation. This will help to cut down costs as you will have no need for the food in the hotel or other luxuries that are an additional cost. Though it may seem tempting to splash the cash whilst away, there are still ways that you can save money on your holiday or before you leave, allowing you to afford the cost of the perfect hotel and sight seeing trips during the course of the year.
2. Travel Out Of Season
Another way that you can reduce the cost of your travel is to book your trips out of season. Though the weather may be a bit cooler, travelling out of season will often see you save money on flights as well as accommodation. A recent study has helped to support this by showing that flight prices increase by as much as £400 when travelling during the summer holidays. By planning each of your trips during term time, you are often going to save money due to the reduced amount of people flying at this time.
3. Be Flexible With Travel Times
By booking your flights for mid-week or on a Saturday, you can save yourself a significant amount of money as these are the least popular days to fly with any airline. It once was the case where people who were looking to travel were advised to book the night before for the best last-minute deals. However, this has all changed since the launch of popular low budget airlines such as Jet 2 Holidays and Easy Jet. It is now recommended that you book your flight a minimum of 7 weeks before you are looking to travel. This will, therefore, allow you to save money and have a holiday organised months in advance. This is also beneficial for accommodation as this ensures there is availability in your chosen location for the dates that you are looking to travel as they tend to be booked months in advance, particularly if you are travelling for an event or a public holiday. This is crucial for those that are looking to book a long-haul flight to locations such as the USA as this is significantly more expensive depending on the day that you fly as well as the time of the day.
Avoid Eating in Tourist Areas
If you are visiting a popular tourist location such as Rome, London or Paris it is crucial to ensure that you avoid eating in restaurants that are near famous landmarks. This is due to the cost of food being significantly higher than a restaurant in the centre of the city. Though a budget-friendly restaurant may be difficult to find in the heart of a popular tourist location, it is important to look at the menu or ask about the meals and prices before entering the restaurant. This will, therefore, allow you to look at your budget and assess whether or not you can afford to eat here. If you find yourself unable to find budget-friendly food, then there are a number of fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s that can cater to your needs if you are desperate for food.
Stick To The Budget You Set
The final key element to saving money as you travel is to stick to the budget that you have set yourself. By removing all temptations and taking a card for emergencies only, you will not be tempted to overspend as a result. There are a number of foreign currency cards that you can use to house your money such as a Fair FX card or a Post Office card that allows you to store and use any currency without any additional charges. This is particularly beneficial for those that are travelling with just a backpack as you will then make more space for other belongings that would have previously housed your foreign currency. This card can be placed in a secure wallet and can be used whenever it is needed to ensure that your currency is safe at all times.
Whether you are travelling in recent months or are looking to get your finances in order ahead of a big trip next year, these 5 simple steps to money-saving as you travel can help you to enjoy sun, sea and sand without draining your bank account as a result. Happy travels!