Travel Like a Pro and Save Big With These 14 Spectacular Ideas

Traveling is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions among many people. Sadly, few people accomplish this goal with the most common excuse being finances.

Sure, traveling is expensive and at times not worth it.

Here are the best ideas to help you travel on a budget.

Fly Economy

While we would all like to fly in the first class, if you want to save big, I recommend that you use the economy package. For example, a trip from New York to London’s Heathrow Airport will cost you $390 in the economy class. The same trip in the first class will cost you more than $9000.

Yes, the first class is comfortable but is it really worth 23 times the economy?

Use Plane with Stops

If you are traveling for leisure, then I recommend that you opt for a plane with one or more stops. It is not only cost-efficient but also more fun. A direct flight from New York to Heathrow starts at $1600 while one with stops begin at $390.

Again, since you are traveling on a budget, I believe that the $1200 is worth it.

Book your Trip Months Away

Airlines use the economic principle of demand and supply. When there is more demand, they raise fares. Also, airlines can’t predict the future demand for their services. Their future fares tend to be slightly lower than the current ones. In the example above, the ticket for a trip from New York to Heathrow starts at $390. The price of the same trip in August starts at $270.

Use an Airline Website to Book

When you book a flight on companies like Expedia and Priceline, these companies usually take a commission. To solve this, I recommend that you use an airline’s website or app to book your flight. Doing this will save you a few dollars.

For example, if you use Expedia to book a trip from John F Kennedy airport to Heathrow on Turkish Airlines, you will pay $599. If on the other hand, you book the same flight on Turkish Airline’s website, you will pay only $589. A $10 difference for the same service is not a small deal.

Compare Multiple Booking Companies

If you prefer using flight and hotel booking companies, I recommend that you compare the pricing among different companies. My research suggests that some companies show and charge different prices for the same flights. Some of the companies you should use for your research are Kayak, Priceline, Orbitz, and FlightGuru among others.

Opt for Little Known Areas

Since you are planning a trip on a budget, I recommend that you avoid traveling to the countries we regularly hear about like France, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Malaysia. Everything in these countries is way too expensive.

Instead, go to little-known countries that offer a lot at a very low cost. Some of the countries I recommend are Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia among others.

Use Airbnb Instead of a Hotel

I recommend using Airbnb instead of having to book a hotel especially when you are traveling as a family. Research shows that people who use Airbnb save more than 30% on hotel costs. In many places, the price of a single hotel room can get you a one or two bedroom apartment at Airbnb.

For example, in Nairobi, a hotel known as Sankara charges $250 per night. If you plan to stay there for ten days, it will cost you about $2,500.

In the same city, this 4-bedroom serviced apartment at an upmarket area charges $50 per night.

Use Points or Miles

If you insist on using a hotel, I recommend that you use reward points, which are offered by chains like Marriot and Hilton. For example, Marriot’s reward program gives you 75,000 free points when you spend $3,000 in one of their hotels. You can redeem these points for cash or three nights at a five-star hotel.

Use Uber for Short Distance Travel

Uber is available in more than 80 countries. After landing, I recommend that you use Uber instead of the traditional taxi companies, which operate in most airports. Also, ignore the transportation offered by hotels. Usually, hotels overcharge for these extra services.

Travel Off Season

Since everyone travels during summer, I recommend that you plan your trip in months when other people are not traveling. During the off-peak season, prices are usually not that steep because of low demand. Research shows that off-peak travelers save thousands of dollars per trip.

Eat Like a Local

Your goal for traveling is to have a memorable adventure. You will not have these experiences if you keep buying American food in hotels abroad. These foods will likely be expensive than local dishes. Instead, indulge with the locals and eat their foods. This applies to drinks too. Instead of drinking the Coca-Cola or the Monster, I recommend that you buy local beverages.

Foreign Exchange

Your credit and debit cards will be accepted in most countries you visit. However, I recommend that you make a significant lump sum withdrawal from your local bank before you leave. Withdrawing funds from another country and currency will attract many unnecessary fees. After reaching your destination, if need be, you can convert the money to local currency.

Get paid to travel

There is a large community of people who are paid to travel every day. To become one of them, you just need to have a significant community of online fans. After doing this, you should pitch to local hotels how you will promote them on your social media platforms.

Create a budget and stick to it

Finally, and most importantly, I recommend that you create a budget ahead of time and stick to it. In your budget, include some miscellaneous spending like tips and tour guide fees. To ensure that you stick to your budget, carry the exact cash but don’t forget your card for emergencies.

What other tips have you used to save money when traveling?