This is a collaborative post by Isobel on how to travel on a budget.
Going on vacation is an absolute must at least once a year for most people, in order to recharge or quench that thirst for adventure that we all possess. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find the money to fund such an expensive pursuit. But, fear not as we have plenty of tips on how to vacation on a budget so that you never miss out on potentially life-changing experiences.
How to Vacation on a Budget
Transport
If you want to go abroad, then keep an eye out all year round for those one-off cheap flights or ferry tickets. The same goes for train tickets if you’re staying in your own country. You’ll be amazed at the savings you can make by doing this. Traveling at off-peak times is a must too if you’re using public transport. Road trips in a converted campervan can also be a very cost-friendly alternative, and if you want to visit as many countries as you can in one trip, despite the significant upfront cost of cruises, they can be one of the most financially efficient ways to see more in less time. Plus, you’ll have the luxury experience of staying on a cruise ship.
Accommodation
Rather than forking out hundreds or even thousands for hotel accommodation, why not try Airbnb for a low-cost place to stay. If you want to save even more you could stay in hostels, and don’t be fooled by the reputation of hostels because there are plenty that offer a really high standard of accommodation. Taking it a step further, you could even choose camping which really minimizes cost, and just like hostels, there are plenty of top-quality campsites with great facilities so you certainly won’t be slumming it on your holiday. If you need a little extra help to make ends meet for your holiday, then check out gobear.com.
Activities
The key to saving money while you are on vacation is to steer clear of popular tourist attractions and instead speak to the locals to get their recommendations of the best places to visit. This way, you can see what the area really has to offer, without spending the world on certain attractions just because they are in high demand. Price is not always a reflection of the quality of experience you would have somewhere. When it comes to what to eat, try to stick to locally sourced food. The experience of eating in local restaurants is different wherever you go so it’s important to experience it once, however, restaurants are always a more expensive option than, say, buying from a market stall, which will still give you an authentic experience. To really cut costs, try buying a few days’ worth of food from a local supermarket, but stay away from the kind of products you find worldwide.
Going on vacation can be affordable if you stick to certain rules. Make sure you keep an eye out for reduced tickets for public transport, try alternative accommodation such as hostels or camping, get to know the locals so that you can ask them how to have a truly authentic experience of the area, and eat local produce from supermarkets and market stalls. If you’re wondering how to do other things on a budget, then get family budget entertainment ideas here.
