Jet-Setting Can Quickly Burn A Hole In Your Wallet, But With These Hacks For Cheaper Travel, You Can Still See The World In A Budget-Friendly Way
I certainly know I’m not alone when I say that I wish I could travel more.
Many people have gone on the record to say that traveling has changed their lives in the best ways, and I know that my travel experience has certainly changed me for the better.
However, traveling has gotten increasingly expensive over the last few years. By the time you’ve finished paying your airfare, luggage fees, hotel fees, transportation costs, etc., you could’ve dropped thousands of dollars.
While the cost of traveling can get extremely overwhelming, it doesn’t mean you can’t travel at all. There are a few small things you can do to make your travel experiences a bit more budget-friendly.
Book your trip as far in advance as possible
While most people know that booking a trip a few months in advance will likely get you lower rates on flights and hotel rooms, you should try to book even further if possible. If you can, try to book your trips a year ahead. If that’s not possible, try to book a flight no later than three months before you have to leave to score a good deal.
Be sure to also pay attention to when you’re traveling, as you’ll want to avoid the busiest months of the year, like the holidays and June through August, if possible.
Avoid checking a bag when you can
Checked bag fees are killer; if you don’t have to pay them, you can save a lot of money.
zigres – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
There are so many impressive and versatile kinds of carry-on bags available these days, so do some research and use them to your advantage! Not checking a bag will also teach you to minimize your packing habits and make you more efficient organizationally.
Use a travel credit card
If you have a decent credit score, use your credit card routinely, and want to travel as often as possible, you should use a travel credit card. I mean, why use a basic credit card when you can get airline points and travel rewards every time you use your travel one?
See if you qualify for a solid credit card that earns you airline points or great deals on transportation or hotels every time you make a purchase. Then, when the time comes to plan a trip, use them! They can cut down your airfare and hotel bills significantly.
Sign up for rewards programs
There are a lot of chain hotels and popular airlines that have some kind of rewards program that makes booking their services a lot easier and cheaper.
Hotel reward programs can offer you points on their dining services, stays, etc., and reward you with upgrades, better access to their facilities, and more! Plus, for most of them, you only have to sign up to start reaping the benefits.
Book special tours on travel sites
One summer, I studied abroad in London and had a fabulous time. However, because my stay was only a month long instead of an entire semester, I had to be very careful about seeing as much as I could in little time while balancing classes.
One day, I booked a full-day bus tour on Expedia that took me to three different cities in England in one day for an extremely reasonable price. I was able to see things I would not have been able to fit in individually on my own. Booking these one-day sightseeing package tours, especially bus tours, is a great way to see as much as possible with limited time and not much money.
These are a few simple ways you can make the most of your trips and hopefully save you some money down the line. Just because traveling is expensive doesn’t mean you should give up on it. Now get out and see the world!
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