As the world starts to open up again, many people will be searching for ways to take the holidays they’ve dreamed about for the past couple of years. However, with such a surge in demand for flights, hotels, and tourist attractions, some travelers might be a little put off by the costs. Fortunately, there are cheaper ways around all these things and it’s completely possible to travel on a budget and still have the trip of a lifetime.
Sometimes reducing the costs of your holiday is as simple as choosing the right destination, or even veering away from the typical tourist traps and allocating your money wisely. Certain websites, apps, and other resources can also help you make huge savings when it comes to things like flights and hotels. Plus, with a few wise travel tips, you can often cut out a lot of the extra costs you’re usually faced with. Here are five of the best tips for how to travel on a budget in 2022.
Travel Tips in 2022
1.) Look For Affordable Locations
Sometimes traveling on a budget is all about picking the right destination. Some of the most world-famous travel spots come with notoriously high prices, meaning you may be wasting money by picking the same destination as anyone else. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the holiday you want. In many cases, you can still visit your dream destination without going over budget.
For example – let’s say you wanted to visit Paris. While staying in the center of Paris will likely cost you a huge chunk of money, you could always check out some of the cheaper suburbs for affordable hotels and AirBNB’s. That way, you can still use public transport and hit all of the city’s famed locations without having to pay extra simply to stay there.
Alternatively, you could look for nearby locations that offer even cheaper costs. Instead of staying in Paris for a week, you could stay in nearby Lille. Not only will you be an affordable 1-hour train ride away from Paris, but you’ll also be right next to Belgium, meaning you can visit an extra country while you’re on your trip. This can make your holiday more diverse and exciting while also lowering your costs in the process.
2.) Check Different Travel Routes
Airfare is often one of the most expensive costs when it comes to traveling. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to buy the first flight you see. Sometimes tweaking your travel route can result in you saving hundreds of dollars instantly while still allowing you to make it to your destination efficiently.
For example, let’s say you wanted to fly from Ottawa to Lisbon. Considering that this flight route is usually expensive and involves layovers, you might find it easier to take a bus to Toronto or Montreal before flying to Lisbon. You could also check if there are cheaper flights to Porto, which is only a cheap train ride away from Lisbon.
This method doesn’t just work for flights. Many people cut their train travel costs by using “split ticketing”, which involves using websites to split their tickets to make the journey more affordable. You can also lower your transport costs by comparing different train and bus companies. Websites like Busbud and Rome2Rio can help with this.
3.) Change Your Travel Dates
Flexibility is one of the best attributes to have if you’re looking to cut your travel costs. While you might have a fixed date in mind for your trip, you might find that the costs of flights and hotels for your chosen dates are more expensive – especially if you choose to take a holiday during peak travel times. However, you can make huge savings by traveling at a different time.
For instance, if you wanted to visit Spain during July or August, you’ll likely find that hotels and flights are more expensive due to high demand. However, if you choose to travel in September or October instead, you can still enjoy the beautiful weather but with lower costs and fewer crowds, leading to a much better holiday.
Sometimes even changing your dates by a day or two can result in huge savings. For instance, some cheap flight routes only operate on certain days so it helps to be flexible. You might also find a cheaper hotel or Airbnb simply by tweaking your dates, so try altering your travel plans and you could end up with extra spending money in your pockets.
4.) Eat And Get Around Like A Local
Two of the biggest costs to consider while you’re traveling is food and local transport. Both of these will impact your budget daily, and while you’ll find plenty of fancy restaurants and taxis looking to prey on tourists, you can often cut your costs by eating and getting around the same way a local would.
For example, let’s say you’re traveling to the tourist haven of Bangkok. While you’ll find tons of taxis and tuk-tuk drivers trying to take you for a ride, they’re also likely to overcharge you. In contrast, you can get around for incredibly cheap by using apps like Bolt and Grab and utilizing the affordable public transport system of buses, trains, and subways.
When it comes to food, avoid touristy spots and download a local food delivery app like Foodpanda to find the cheapest deals in your area. You could also stray away from the tourist hubs and visit residential areas which often have excellent food at cheaper prices. You could also ask locals where they like to eat and how they get around the city – you’ll get some of the best recommendations this way.
5.) Avoid Pricey Tourist Attractions
One of the biggest costs that often catches travelers out is overpriced tourist attractions. These are often advertised as the greatest things to see and do in the area, but they also come with much higher costs – especially as they’re targeted at travelers with spending money to blow. As such, you might want to avoid overpriced attractions altogether.
Let’s say you’re traveling to New York City and want to get some good views of the city. Heading to the top of the World Trade Center seems like a good option, but it’ll also cost you a huge chunk of money. Getting a drink at a rooftop bar might be a better option, but you could also take in the views from the Highline or Bethesda Terrace for free.
The same applies to all kinds of tourist activities. Instead of paying for a guided tour, you can often find free walking tours provided by passionate locals. Instead of paying for an expensive food tour, you could ask locals for recommendations and have an impromptu food tour yourself. Visiting parks, hiking trails, and local neighborhoods can also make for some of the cheapest yet most memorable holiday activities.
Conclusion
You don’t need to blow a hole in your wallet to have an unforgettable holiday. Anyone can travel on a budget with the right know-how. These five exciting tips can help you reduce costs on everything from your flight to your transport to your food while still having the time of your life.
It’s totally up to you what you choose to save and what you choose to splash on, but even using one or two of these tips can help you save your money for the things that matter to you. Remember to bookmark this page so you can keep these money-saving tips handy for all of your future trips.
