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5 ways to save money before you travel
By James Yeo
Are you looking for a great, fun-filled and adventurous holiday but are terrified of the high costs that come with it? Don’t worry, because you are not alone.
Many people want to vacation in exotic places, but they have limited savings. However, what they do not know is that exotic travel can be manageable and less expensive than they think.
Here are five ways to save money on travel:
1) Look for cheap flights and book early
It is important to be flexible with your plans, and you can save a lot of money by searching for cheap flights online. Book discount airline tickets ahead of time when they’re cheap.
Moreover, airline fares are usually based on the market demand and not distance travelled. Therefore, you are likely to save more money if you book longer routes or indirect flights.
Secondly, book your accommodations as soon as you decide to travel, because the closer you are to the travel date, the higher the prices usually are. Besides, you may miss out on bargains because people tend to book cheaper rooms sooner, especially during peak and holiday seasons.
2) Skip the hotels
Save on accommodation by choosing less-expensive options other than full-service hotels.
For example, you could go camping with your loved ones. Or consider home-swapping, which allows you to visit a new place with a luxury of a home to go back to.
Airbnb is another great option for cheaper overseas stays, but do make sure to be careful as there has been a number of unpleasant reports about Airbnb lodgings recently.
3) Pack smart
Pack smarter to avoid excess-luggage charges.
Bring a few dry snacks or packaged foods, especially if you are traveling with your family to save money. In addition to that, bring toiletries, as these can be expensive to buy in some countries.
Moreover, I feel that there is no point in buying any over-priced guidebooks anymore. Instead, borrow library books to understand more about the place and then use Google maps to navigate within the country. Moreover, you can easily tap any available Wi-fi services.
4) Take public transport
My wife and I always like to have a debate on our transport modes around our visiting areas. She favours public transport, as it is the most cost-effective way to get around. For instance, even in Dubai, the Metro there is a great option.
However, I personally feel that by taking public transport, you are wasting your holiday just to save a few dollars. And since we always travel around in a family, it makes more sense to take taxi.
5) Food and fun
Try street food for a change to savour the local cuisine. If you are a party lover, you owe it to yourself to party into the early hours while you are there. And for drinkers, pubs everywhere offer great happy-hour discounts.
You can also enjoy other activities free of charge or at a very low cost. Some places organise different shows for the general public during the weekends. If you want to save money and do shopping as well, find outlets that offer tax-free shopping.
Conclusion
All in all, if you do some research before your trip and plan accordingly, not only can you find a lot of fun activities to enjoy, but can also visit plenty of beautiful places at a relatively low cost.
James Yeo is a finance professional in the Asset Management industry for more than 6 years. He also founded an investment blog at www.smallcapasia.com which is dedicated to helping retail investors find winning stocks.
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