6 Ways To Save Money While You Travel
Saving money while travelling may sound like an impossible task, but it’s definitely doable for those willing to stick to a budget.
If you have the willpower to cut costs, you’ll be able to save money along the way so that you can splurge later. Here are some ways that you can save money while travelling overseas.
Plan your trip?
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Be flexible with your flights
If you’re not restricted to a certain time frame, you could potentially push your trip forward or move it backwards to get the best deal.
Typically, flights are on average the cheapest when you book them 17 weeks in advance, but you won’t always be able to book within this time, so take what you can get!
If saving hundreds of dollars on flights means waiting a few extra days before you leave, then it’s probably worth it.
Book through an aggregate website
As well as being flight-flexible, try using a website like SkyScanner to compare flight times and prices before you book. That way you’ll be able to see what the best deal really is. On top of this, consider not flying directly to your destination.
It may not be ideal, but the more stopovers you have on the way, the cheaper your flight will be. On the plus side, it could mean you have some extra time to spend in Singapore or Dubai on your way to your final destination.
Don’t buy food at the airport
Airports and service stations are known for marking up the prices of confectionery and chips, so steer clear of these places when buying your food.
Buying snacks for your flight at a convenience store or supermarket before you get to the airport will probably save you a fair amount of cash. Even a bottle of water will be cheaper by a couple of dollars.
Take out travel insurance
You never know what could go wrong while travelling overseas, so make sure you’ve taken out a basic travel insurance policy at the very least so that you’re covered in case of the worst.
Travel insurance can provide compensation for costs that arise from anything ranging from theft through to unexpected hospital expenses, so it’s definitely worth considering.
It may not feel like you’re saving money when you purchase your policy, but an unexpected medical issue could cost you thousands so it’s important to be covered. You can compare policies online to get the best value.
Take a travel money card that won’t charge you any fees
Some travel money cards won’t charge you any fees for using an international ATM. While the actual ATM itself may charge you a fee, your provider won’t charge you any withdrawal fees on top of that.
Whether it’s a prepaid travel card, a travel credit card or a debit card, compare all of your options online to find the card with the least fees. And if you’re keen to stick with your current bank, head to a branch and chat to someone in person so that you know you’re getting the best deal on offer.
Take advantage of free walking tours
Walking tours are a great way to see the sights by foot instead of paying a hefty tourist fee for hop-on hop-off bus tours or a cab. Even better, there are several companies in major cities that run these tours for free and usually in smaller groups too.
This gives you the opportunity to really experience certain locations, hear about the history and get some exercise, and all for a very small price. Usually all you have to pay is a tip of an amount of your choosing at the end of the tour.
At the end of the day, although saving money while travelling overseas may seem almost impossible, it’s definitely something you can achieve. As long as you stick to your budget and plan ahead, you should be able to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket.
