There’s no getting around it: traveling can get very expensive, very quickly – especially if you’re looking for a longer trip or are heading further afield.
However, there are some things you can do to help keep costs down without compromising your holiday. I personally do all of these things whenever I’m looking at going away, and it always manages to save me a lot of money in the long run.
Shoulder Season
Pretty much everywhere you go is going to have a peak season. Whether that’s due to school holidays, rainy and dry seasons, or specific activities, such as surf seasons, certain times of the year are going to be busier and more expensive. The shoulder season refers to the couple of weeks in between the peak and off-peak seasons. The weather hasn’t quite turned, there are still some waves pumping, and not all the schools have gone back yet. Basically, it’s the last couple of “good” weeks that technically aren’t in peak season.
Unless you’re going for a specific festival, like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or you’re a teacher who has to travel in the school holidays, shoulder season is always a great option. A lot of excursions, transportation, and hostels are still operating as they would in peak because they’re trying to pick up what they can before the off-season comes along and, as a result, the prices drop right down.
Compare Excursions But Book Locally
Oddly to scale housing…
Excursions can sometimes make an entire trip, and in some cases, are one of the main reasons for settling on a destination. I knew before I left for New Zealand that there were certain experiences that I wanted to do, like bungee jumping and visiting Hobbiton.
Although, for the most part, I like to book as much as I can before I get on the plane so I don’t have to worry about spending money, booking excursions locally, either at the hostel tour desk or with local vendors can be a lot cheaper. Mainly because they have relationships with businesses that provide common experiences, so can do preferential or group rates.
What I would say is to have a Google of the average price of the experiences you want to do beforehand so you don’t get ripped off at the destination. Also if you’re tight on time and really, really want to do something specific I’d book ahead, just in case the day you need is full. Viator is super good for this. Remember you can always book online at the hostel or in a cafe with wifi.
Public Transport
This obviously depends on the country and if you’re traveling with a bunch of people. If there’s a load of you, splitting a cab or a transfer might work out cheaper, but in places where public transport is semi-reliable, it’s normally a much cheaper option. Do your research before you go to find the right routes and bus numbers. You can also use apps like Omio to book online and help you find the right routes.
A lot of places also have public transport running from the airport to the city centre, so don’t fall into the tired “I’ll collapse into the nearest cab” trap. In Auckland, a cab was 4 times the price of the bus and it stopped right outside my hostel – it makes a difference.
Flight Alerts
Image Credit: John Thomas on Unsplash
For the majority of trips, your biggest expense is probably going to be flights, unless you’re going somewhere short-haul with a low-cost provider like RyanAir or EasyJet. Flight prices change all the time. Sometimes it’s due to demand, sometimes airlines have a sale, sometimes it’s just because it’s a Wednesday. Rule of thumb, flying and booking mid-week tends to be cheaper.
This doesn’t mean you should keep checking Skyscanner or Momondo every two minutes. The more you look, the more the site is going to think demand is rising. You’re better off deciding on your dates and your airports and setting a Google Flight Alert. Then when your flights drop or go up in price you get an email telling you so. It’s a much better way of keeping an eye on flight prices than manually stalking Skyscanner.
Ask Locals
This is especially true of places to eat and different places that aren’t in guidebooks. Locals know where all the tourists are going to be, and nine times out of ten, locals aren’t going to those places for that exact reason. They have their own haunts and favourite places that they like to visit and are normally much more affordable.
Now, not every local is going to give up their secret, tourist-less gem for you, they want to keep it for locals and that’s fine – respect that. However, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know. I’ve found cheap eats, alternate walking routes, and a free comedy night just by asking a simple question.
Find Free Alternatives
One of the many times I passed the Colosseum…
Okay, so there are some bucket list places in every destination, those “can’t-miss” excursions, like the Colosseum in Rome or the Uffizi in Florence. But, if those things don’t float your boat, don’t waste your time and money going inside. In the three days I spent in Rome, we walked past the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain about eight times, just trying to get to other places.
There are always free alternatives to go and see. Particularly in European cities, there are usually a few free museums and galleries to visit, or if you’re staying in a hostel, a lot of them tend to offer free walking tours of the city. It’s a good way to orient yourself without having to shell out for a bus tour or follow a guy with a giant flag around the touristy hotspots.
Question Your Souvenirs
Right, I have plenty of friends who love souvenirs. I am not one of those people. I used to collect bottle openers from everywhere but my fridge door got pretty full, pretty quickly. And I realised that whilst I’m in a new place, I don’t want to spend time rummaging through tacky souvenir shops buying stuff that I’m realistic, not going to look at twice once I’m home. I want to experience the place itself.
Sure, if there’s something different that you can’t get anywhere else, then yes – go for it. But also consider how bulky or heavy it’s going to be, especially if you’re near the start of your trip or if you have limited weight allowance for your bags. No one likes extra baggage charges at the end of the trip. I’m not saying never buy a souvenir, I’m just saying have a think, do you actually want it, or could you use that money on actually doing something else at the destination.
Eat Big At Lunchtime
Huge, delicious lunch and wine tasting in Napoli…
This is my main money-saving tip and it’s actually really convenient too. A lot of the time, the hostel or hotel is a little further away from the main attractions or restaurants and bars, so when I leave in the morning I’m normally out for the whole day. I don’t want to be shuttling about between the hostel and the main part of town, especially if I need a break from walking about.
Enter: the big lunch. Now, depending on which country you’re from or are traveling in, you might do this anyway, but a lot of restaurants and bistros have lunch deals that are pretty much identical to the evening menu but highly discounted. Especially if you’re in an expensive country, like Iceland, it’s a real game-changer. You can rest your exploring legs, fuel up on a budget, and regroup for the rest of the day.
There’s no getting around the fact that traveling can be expensive, and honestly, sometimes you’re going to miss the flight deal you wanted or you have to go in peak season for whatever reason. But, if you can, utilising these tips could save you a lot of money, and that means more spending money when you’re there, longer trips, or even more trips in the future. Sounds pretty good, right?
What’s your favourite travel budgeting tips, share them in the comments below!
