How to Save Money on Trips

Taking a trip is necessary to your survival. That trip doesn’t even have to take you too far — although distant and exotic places have a way of transforming your sad, sad self. You could take a long drive out to the country or even spend the night at the nearest beach. When you come back to your home and your job, you will feel just a little bit better.

The trouble with taking trips is that they cost money, which you might not have in abundance. Of course, the short supply of cash shouldn’t stop you from getting some well deserved R&R; all work and no play, as the saying goes.

There are ways to arrange a trip, even to posh places, and not have to break the bank — or incur jaw-dropping, mind-numbing credit card debt. Here are some sound ideas to get you started:

Travel during low season.

If you can manage it, go on a trip when everyone else is not. Low season will mean lower hotel rates, pocket-friendly tour fees, and affordable airfare. You might even get a lovely upgrade on accommodations or airline seats, without being charged for it.

You should also use online resources that compare flights on different airlines and for different days; know that some days command higher airfare than other days.

Look for self-contained apartments or flats to stay in.

Instead of booking a pricey room at a posh hotel, look for apartments or flats that are being rented by the day or the week. You can check out reputable websites that connect landlords with tourists looking for alternative accommodations, e.g., Airbnb, Gogobot, Wimdu, etc.

With a self-contained place, you get a kitchen, so you don’t have to eat out; with an ideal location, you could also walk from one attraction to another. You save money on food. You save money on transportation. Plus, you get better privacy.

Eat local.

In no way is this a “zombie” reference. But it is in reference to making like a local at a place you’re visiting. Don’t get lured into the tourist-y spots, with their hiked up prices and generally disappointing fare. Go for local dining places, like backstreet bistros and stalls for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just make sure it’s clean.

Plan where you’re headed and what activities you want to do.

Planning can save you a whole lot of cash, and at the same time, it makes the most out of your trip. Before you travel, get information on the places and attractions you want to explore. You can build your schedule around days when, for example, a museum offers free entrance or when a skydiving lesson is half off on certain hours.

List it all down. And let this cheap but fun schedule guide you through your trip.