5 Tips on Saving While Traveling
Posted by missmelon on October 21, 2011 in Money Saving Tips
We live in a busy, rushed and stressful world and it’s usually hard to set aside the time and money for a proper vacation. When you finally are able to pull it off, worrying about money is a surefire way to ruin all the fun. To keep you from stressing over your funds, here’s a list of five ways to save money while traveling that you can use before and during your vacation. Follow these tips when planning, as well as while you’re on your excursion and you can keep your mind on fun, not on your wallet.
1. Throw Your Rigid Planning out the Window
The downfall of planning an inexpensive vacation is usually inflexibility. If you only want to go to one specific destination during a certain time of year on one particular airline, then your options for saving money are severely limited. Keep an open mind about destination, time of year, airline, hotel and other features and you’ll have more options. More options allows for comparison shopping, which will save money.
2. Think Long-term
Planning a vacation at the last minute is a sure way to overspend. Airlines raise rates and fees the closer you get to the trip date, and cheaper hotel rooms fill quickly. Booking well ahead of time can ensure you get the best rates on airfare, accommodations, car rentals and more. Planning ahead like this also helps travelers plan a budget for the vacation, which will definitely decrease money worries while traveling.
3. Buy Groceries
Food shopping on vacation sounds as fun as taking your taxes with you and working on them on the beach. You want to live it up, right? Well what better way to ensure you have money for actual vacation activities than by buying groceries instead of “eating all your funds?”
Restaurants in vacation spots can cost twice as much as their counterparts here. Wouldn’t you rather “suffer’ through a sandwich in the hotel room and have money for sightseeing than spend $25 on a hamburger? That’s not to say that you should avoid the local cuisine entirely. Plan enjoyable restaurant trips; just don’t eat out for every meal. While you’re at it, pack snacks for excursions. Tourist traps along your route will sell water and treats, sure, but the markup is incredible.
4. Save on Phone Calls with SIM Card Deals
Your phone carrier loves when you travel abroad, because that’s when they can double your bill with roaming charges and international fees. Considering most phones today also constantly receive email and texts, and it’s easy to see how bills skyrocket when traveling. To avoid costly cell phone charges, find a company that offers local SIM card deals. This allows you to buy a SIM card with local airtime and preloaded with minutes that you can use in your own phone. It’s another easy way to budget and avoid unnecessary charges while traveling.
5. Get the Local Scoop
Talk to the concierge or hotel employees to find the best deals on hot local attractions. As locals, they’ll know better than the brochures you ordered ahead of time. As an added benefit, they will know about local activities and sights that may be off the beaten path and not so “touristy.” What better way to get a feel for the true flavor of your vacation destination?
Brianna Littleton writes tech at comparison site Sim Only. With an affinity for sim card deals and information, Brianna brings the latest industry news and developments.
Note: Photo courtesy of o5com via FlickR Creative Commons.