{"id":18651,"date":"2014-10-06T08:48:15","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T12:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/?p=18651"},"modified":"2025-01-30T07:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T07:27:01","slug":"10-ways-save-money-on-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalskyweb.co\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/2014\/10\/06\/10-ways-save-money-on-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Trip Ideas To Save You Money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no doubt that travelling can be expensive; for first-time travellers, it\u2019s easy to underestimate costs and blow your trip budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some of my expert trip ideas to hopefully save you money on your next adventure around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

M<\/span>ake Your Next Trip Affordable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people focus on finding a cheap flight, but that\u2019s not the only way to save money on travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a budget travel expert, I prefer to focus on things within my control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling is a life experience; sometimes the adventures don\u2019t cost you anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour Day may have marked the unofficial end of the summer, but it\u2019s the start of low season when it comes to travel, so expect to find lower prices on flights and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flying off peak isn\u2019t the only way to save big; try these money-saving ideas on your next trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save Money Before Departing <\/span>For Youe Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Trip<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have a budget<\/strong>: Without a proper budget in place,, you risk blowing your budget before even taking off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend setting a yearly budget and saving for it every month; this way, you know how much you have to work with and can plan accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that vacation you want to take go over your budget? If so, change your destination or look for other ways to save. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a vacation on credit is out of the question, so set a budget and stick to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try Google Flights When Booking A Trip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All sites offer the same price these days, so I recommend using a travel aggregator to save money on travel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Flights is your best option here since they list every available flight path and its lowest price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotel Alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stay with Airbnb<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airbnb is a popular hotel alternative that allows travelers to rent directly from the owner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This option isn\u2019t just for budget travelers looking for a cheap room; families or groups of 3+ can rent entire apartments or houses for a fraction of the cost of a hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit With Friends And Family When You Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have friends or family abroad, and they\u2019re generous enough to invite you, you need to go now! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing beats a free stay, so take advantage of these rare opportunities when they present themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save Money While On The Ground<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"10-Expert-trip-ideas-to-save-you-money-when-travelling\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Get cash at ATMs<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you\u2019ll need to pay a 2.5% mark exchange and possibly a small fee when using ATMs, they still offer the best value when getting currency abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks usually charge closer to 10% when exchanging money, and despite their advertisements, travellers cheques are not widely accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use credit<\/strong>: Sounds odd, but one of the best money-saving ideas is to use credit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most credit cards charge a 2.5% fee when you set a foreign currency to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can avoid this by using a credit card with no foreign exchange fees; just remember to pay your bill in full and on time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haggle When You’re On A Trip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you plan on shopping at markets, especially those that cater to tourists, you should be prepared to haggle for a reasonable price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s practically a tradition, if not a custom to go back and forth on prices with vendors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, all the famous tourist markets worldwide are usually huge rip-offs; you\u2019re better off going to the smaller markets where locals like to shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Like A Loca<\/span>l<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every city in the world has free attractions you can visit, so take the time to research before heading on your adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need some inspiration, try checking out Tripadvisor.ca, where they list the most popular attractions in every city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember it doesn\u2019t have to be a physical attraction; you can travel like a local just by exploring a trendy neighbourhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat Street Food When You Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Way too often do I see tourists head to the international fast food chains instead of trying out local foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a huge mistake, if you\u2019re visiting another culture you need to try their cuisine; the best place to do this is at food stalls on the street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only are you guaranteed a local experience but street food is always incredible cheap compared to back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One tip, avoid any vendors where there is an obvious amount of foreigners in line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go for the vendors which have mainly locals in line, if you don\u2019t know how to order just point at what others are eating, this is a guaranteed meal to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use public transportation<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxis can be crazy expensive so try to use public transportation when you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subways are easy to use; generally speaking you just head in the direction of the last stop of the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend printing a map of the metro before you depart and be sure to research if there is any kind of unlimited transit passes that would benefit you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some cities offer an attractions \/ transportation pass but it doesn\u2019t always offer the best value, so just check out what is included and decide for yourself if it is worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Trip Over Money When You Travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s easy to save money on travel when you know what to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, get out that passport and prepare for your next adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussion:<\/strong> Do you have any money-saving ideas for travel? If so, I\u2019d love to hear them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please leave your comments below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Guest contribution: <\/strong>Barry Choi is a Budget Travel and Personal Finance Expert. You can check out his blog at moneywehave.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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