Planning a trip can be an exciting task. As you begin to research all of the sights and activities of your destination your enthusiasm starts to rise, yet simultaneously you start to wonder how you are possibly going to afford it all.
Many people let the fear of the costs hold them back from traveling at all since once they add it all up it seems more than they could budget into their lifestyle. However, a trip doesn’t have to be a 5-star experience to have a great time.
Here are some tips for saving money on your next trip.
Limit Transportation Costs
Transportation costs can be one of the biggest expenses on your trip if you don’t plan wisely. Depending on where you are going, there are usually a variety of ways to get around more cost effectively.
Research beforehand if they have a public transportation system, and how much it costs in comparison to taking a taxi.
You will also want to make sure to familiarize yourself with a map of where your hotel or rented living space is located in comparison to the sights you want to see. In most cases centrally located accommodations cost more, but when you factor in that you’ll be walking more and taking fewer cabs and transit, the cost may very well balance out to less than if you were to stay further out of your desired location.
Travel With A Group
Consider trying to organize a group of friends to go with you on your trip. If you can get a group together and opt for a large shared living space to rent as opposed to your own accommodations, you can save a large amount of money.
The best places to look for shared housing is usually on websites like Airbnb, Craigslist, and sometimes even Facebook groups.
Limit Eating Out
If you can, try to find a place to stay that has a small kitchen. If you can cook 1-2 meals a day instead of eating out for every meal, you can save yourself upwards of $100 a day.
When you compare the cost of going to the grocery store and buying yourself some eggs and toast to make every morning as opposed to eating in a cafe, you will see just how much you can save by this small little adjustment.
Watch out For Fees
It’s important to familiarize yourself with what kind of fees your credit card has when used abroad. If your bank has high international fees, you will be better off bringing cash instead and limiting the use of your transactions.
Using your cell phone on roaming data is another culprit of high fees which can be avoided if you do your research beforehand.
Originally posted on January 27, 2017 @ 3:09 pm