The biggest problem with traveling though is the fact that it can be a rather expensive affair.
Be it to escape the tortures of daily life; to partake in a fascinating cultural exchange or even just to see the pretty sights; everyone has dreamt of traveling at least once in their life. Articles on Facebook recommend it, tempting you with promises that it will change your life, help you appreciate yourself and others more with offerings of new experiences.
The biggest problem with traveling though is the fact that it can be a rather expensive affair.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel if you can’t afford to spend exorbitantly, it just means that you have to be smarter when it comes to traveling. There are many tips available online to help you cut down cost and save. Here are some really good ones you can find on various sites.
Clear your cache
When you’re doing your research online for cheap flights, transportation and accommodation, it’s best to clear your cache as often as possible. Most of these sites may be monitoring your web history and instead of dropping the price, they may raise it even further to raise their margin as they know it’s the destination and date you really want.
Book at the right time
Finding the right timing to purchase airline tickets or even reserving a hotel room really defines how much you’ll end up paying. Book too early and you could miss out on a new sales promotion that could have saved you significantly. Book too late and you may not only pay more but receive far worse offers. So look out for the best deals, keeping track of when cheap promotions are announced and gather information from other people’s experience to help you figure out the best time to book a flight or room.
Be aware of extra fees
Ignorance may be bliss but not knowing all the possible hidden fees involved in your travel plans could be costing you more. Read the fine print of your payment purchases, taking note of the additional fees and how you can possibly cut them out. For example, knowing how much you’ll have to pay for baggage fees could help you from packing just enough without getting hit with extra charges. So find out more on all the extra fees and find ways to avoid them or keep them to a minimum.
Take advantage of reward points
If you have a credit card, loyalty or even membership card that can give you possible free flights or services for traveling, be sure to take advantage of them. Check the amount of points you have and if you’ve collected enough to get what you need, you can use them. But be sure to read the fine print and that there won’t be possible extra charges for the “free items” that you’re claiming. Also, don’t force yourself to spend beyond your means just to get the points that you need as the interest or extra charges you may get may be more than the cost of purchasing the actual item yourself.
Don’t overspend on travel insurance
You can opt for full travel insurance especially if your travel is rather expensive. But make sure that you’re not paying for one when another insurance that you already have has you covered. There are a number of credit cards that offer travel insurance as part of their cardholder agreements, as long as you purchase the flight ticket with the card in question. So check with your provider before making any decisions on insurance.
Saving on food
Other than hotels and airfares, your next biggest expenditure is definitely food. Rather than eat out constantly, look into booking a room at a hotel with apartment or suite facilities that include kitchenettes. This way you could prepare some of your meals in the room and save on exorbitant restaurant prices. In the same way, go for hotels or homestays that offer free complimentary breakfast.
Be sure to do as much research as you can when you’re planning your travels and don’t be afraid to ask the providers questions on any areas that may be unclear. Do read reviews of the services or items you’re interested in purchasing and always check out other brands or services to make a good comparison. Traveling may take a lot of work, but the efforts may make the entire process worth it, so don’t give up! Keep learning and reading what you can online and you’ll soon be enjoying that dream holiday you’ve always wanted.