We love to travel, but we also love to save money. Don’t you?
When planning a vacation or business trip, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind and not consider all of the ways to cleverly save your hard-earned dollars. But you’d be surprised at the little things you can do that will save you big on your next trip. Here are five ways on how to save money for travel.
Book the Cheapest Flight
Flight comparison sites are a great way to find the best priced ticket during the days you want to fly. And if you are flexible with your travel dates, even better! You will quickly be able to see which days are cheapest to fly. Visit sites such as Momondo, Skyscanner and Booking.com. Flying mid-week, and on holidays, is usually when prices are best.
Transportation Once You Get Off the Plane
You can save on transportation from the airport to your final destination with GetTransfer.com. They offer affordable transport between airports and cities worldwide, and offer a variety of different options to suit your needs. With this service, a user can offer their own price, and then the driver can accept it or offer his. This marketplace model helps balance the best prices for two sides. Also, per your request, a driver can meet you right at the airport. This all will also save you the stress of wondering how you will get to your final destination in a new city.
Get the Best Deal on Accommodations
As with flights, there is a wide array of websites to help you find the best deals on hotels, etc. The first question to ask yourself is – what do you prefer? With the popularity of Airbnb, it is possible to have an authentic local experience by staying with a host who can give you inside information on what to do, see, etc. and often for much less than a sterile hotel room. If you do prefer hotels, websites such as Booking.com and Momondo are great for comparing prices. If there is a specific hotel chain you like, sign up as a member (free to do!) to get their best loyalty program deals.
Save Money on Meals
We all know that going out to eat for every meal is not cost effective. One option is to book accommodation with a small kitchenette so that you visit the local grocery store and prepare meals in your room. Or, if you are in a large city, there are many different cheap (but good!) places such as food carts and inexpensive cafes. You will have to do your research here! Groupon is another way to save big on restaurants all over the place.
Travel During the Off Season
Find out when the high season occurs at your destination…then don’t go at that time. High season is when all travel companies jack up their prices, as they know lots of people will be traveling during that time. Book your trip during the shoulder or off season when prices are lower. This is especially true for hotels and airfare.
Saving money on flights, accommodations, meals and the like will free up more money for you to spend on souvenirs and maybe even that extra day away.
