Travelling On a Budget
When travelling on vacation, it is important to keep a close eye on how you use your money because it is easy to overspend and to forget about your budget. When you are off to somewhere with the intent to relax and unwind, the last thing you would want to think about is money. However, this might be the case if you find yourself splurging on the first day of your vacation, finding out that you have an empty wallet but still have a few days remaining left in your vacation or worse, drowning in debt. After all, the reason why you are going on a vacation in the first place is to de-stress and not to be stressed.
Staying at luxury hotels is one sure way to go over your budget. Hotels can get extremely expensive and they can use up your money faster than other vacation expenses including airfares, food and souvenirs. However, before you think that planning for future travels is going to be a daunting task, realize that there are numerous money saving tips for travelers. Listed below are tips on how to save money while travelling.
1. Travel on a budget by disciplining yourself to stick with it as much as possible. For starters, determine a set amount that you would spend on your vacation. Then, decide on the places you will go to, the entertainment that you will watch and so on. If you are planning to engage more on outdoor activities, choose a less luxurious hotel. The size and the upgrades of a hotel room would not matter if most of the time you are going to be spending your vacation outside.
2. Avoid splurging by giving yourself the mentality that you are on vacation and what you are splurging on is for something worth remembering. Making unnecessary purchases can become outrageous and you might find yourself in debt when you get back home. Check your credit score, check your credit reports prior to your travel and write them all on your credit score planner. This way, you will know how much money you have and you will know how to plan your vacation accordingly.
3. If you are fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule, consider vacationing and staying at hotels during the off-peak seasons. Hotels cost 50% less during this season than what they usually charge. Plus, you enjoy the amenities without thehuge crowds.
4. Choose the location of your hotel wisely. If you choose to stay at a hotel farther from hotels near attractions that you wish to visit, compare the transportation costs versus the cost of the hotels near them. It is important that you investigate the location's public transportation system and check if you can walk to the attractions you want to go to.
5. Staying at the same hotel more than once may give you the chance to get acquainted with the managers and the receptionists. Usually, loyal customers are given discounted rates or room upgrades.
6. Availing of travel packages can save you hundreds of dollars. There are several websites such as Expedia that offer cheap airfare, hotel reservations and a rental car in one package.
7. If you are a traveler who is not picky of hotels, consider staying at hostels, camp sites and vacation home rentals. These inexpensive options have improved incredibly over the years to rival luxurious hotels.
8. When you encounter a credit card offer in partnership with hotel rewards programs, apply for it immediately. When you use the card to pay for purchases, you receive points that will total for a free hotel stay. Keep in mind though, that it is not okay to use up your credit in exchange for a hotel room. Be firm in sticking to your budget and do not go overboard as you might find yourself wallowing in debt.
9. Make use of your hotel's amenities. Use your complimentary breakfast coupon, the pool, game room and the free shuttle service. Availing of these would save you the cost of some meals and coffee, transportation and some entertainment.
10. After you have chosen the hotel that best fits what you want and your budget, consider calling the hotel directly before booking at any other site. This will give you the chance to be given a discount or a room upgrade if there is any. Moreover, you can start comparing with other sites and choose the one which offers the lowest rate.
Planning your vacation on a budget might seem to be a lot of work but planning it carefully will bring you more advantages in the long run. When you are on a budget, being picky is simply not an option. Be flexible about when and where you travel, do a thorough research to get the best scores on hotel deals and make use of promos and discounts.
Staying at luxury hotels is one sure way to go over your budget. Hotels can get extremely expensive and they can use up your money faster than other vacation expenses including airfares, food and souvenirs. However, before you think that planning for future travels is going to be a daunting task, realize that there are numerous money saving tips for travelers. Listed below are tips on how to save money while travelling.
1. Travel on a budget by disciplining yourself to stick with it as much as possible. For starters, determine a set amount that you would spend on your vacation. Then, decide on the places you will go to, the entertainment that you will watch and so on. If you are planning to engage more on outdoor activities, choose a less luxurious hotel. The size and the upgrades of a hotel room would not matter if most of the time you are going to be spending your vacation outside.
2. Avoid splurging by giving yourself the mentality that you are on vacation and what you are splurging on is for something worth remembering. Making unnecessary purchases can become outrageous and you might find yourself in debt when you get back home. Check your credit score, check your credit reports prior to your travel and write them all on your credit score planner. This way, you will know how much money you have and you will know how to plan your vacation accordingly.
3. If you are fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule, consider vacationing and staying at hotels during the off-peak seasons. Hotels cost 50% less during this season than what they usually charge. Plus, you enjoy the amenities without thehuge crowds.
4. Choose the location of your hotel wisely. If you choose to stay at a hotel farther from hotels near attractions that you wish to visit, compare the transportation costs versus the cost of the hotels near them. It is important that you investigate the location's public transportation system and check if you can walk to the attractions you want to go to.
5. Staying at the same hotel more than once may give you the chance to get acquainted with the managers and the receptionists. Usually, loyal customers are given discounted rates or room upgrades.
6. Availing of travel packages can save you hundreds of dollars. There are several websites such as Expedia that offer cheap airfare, hotel reservations and a rental car in one package.
7. If you are a traveler who is not picky of hotels, consider staying at hostels, camp sites and vacation home rentals. These inexpensive options have improved incredibly over the years to rival luxurious hotels.
8. When you encounter a credit card offer in partnership with hotel rewards programs, apply for it immediately. When you use the card to pay for purchases, you receive points that will total for a free hotel stay. Keep in mind though, that it is not okay to use up your credit in exchange for a hotel room. Be firm in sticking to your budget and do not go overboard as you might find yourself wallowing in debt.
9. Make use of your hotel's amenities. Use your complimentary breakfast coupon, the pool, game room and the free shuttle service. Availing of these would save you the cost of some meals and coffee, transportation and some entertainment.
10. After you have chosen the hotel that best fits what you want and your budget, consider calling the hotel directly before booking at any other site. This will give you the chance to be given a discount or a room upgrade if there is any. Moreover, you can start comparing with other sites and choose the one which offers the lowest rate.
Planning your vacation on a budget might seem to be a lot of work but planning it carefully will bring you more advantages in the long run. When you are on a budget, being picky is simply not an option. Be flexible about when and where you travel, do a thorough research to get the best scores on hotel deals and make use of promos and discounts.
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