Travelling to a foreign location and that too on a limited budget may sound like a distant dream and an impossible task to accomplish. But do you know, it is possible to travel the world without breaking your bank balance? Surely, there are some expenses which are unavoidable and you shouldn’t make any compromise when it comes to things like buying a travel insurance policy before flying. But if we talk about the rest, you can limit your expenses to particularly nothing. So, let me tell you different ways through which you can limit your travel expenses. Yes, it simply means, cutting costs while travelling!
Earn reward points
Foran exotic vacation, the first expense that you incur is your flight ticket. Indeed, it is a huge expense, especially if your budget is a constraint. So, what you can do is, apply for a credit card and start putting all your purchases on it. It means, if you’re filling up your car with fuel, use an airline card, if you are buying grocery for dinner, pay through credit card. The frequent use of plastic money will make you eligible for reward points and many credit card companies allow to redeem these points against low airfares or discounts on hotel booking.
Be flexible with travelling dates
A minor tweak in your travel itinerary can save you some money, especially if you’re travelling with family. Instead of flying on weekends, fly midweek. Small changes can make a huge saving— multiplied by the number of travellers. Also, fly during shoulder season— just before or after the peak season. In short, steer away from the crowd.
Think out of the box
Why most of the popular foreign destinations are costly? The answer is simple— these places are on the wish list of every traveller. There may be no substitute of Paris, London, or Dubai but still you can find countries with the same charm and beauty. How about visiting Preah Vihear and Sihanoukville in Cambodia?
Be smart with airfares
Though, the usual advice is to book airfares two or three months in advance, there are some other tricks as well which you can deploy to play with the price tag. First, instead of a single airline, go with multiple or connecting flights. If you are not a finicky planner, you can also enjoy some lucrative discounts on last-minute bookings when airlines are desperate to fill up their seats. In fact, there are some specific apps for iPhone and Android users, which can be used to avail last-minute airfare discounts. To keep yourself updated about the latest airfare, you can sign up for price alerts on travel aggregator websites and newsletters of airlines. In case the air ticket price falls sharply, cancel the earlier flight ticket, and book the new one, provided there is no cancellation fee.
Make use of social media
Many of you might not have looked at it in that way, but social media offers you some good travel deals. Start following airlines and hotels on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to seek some best deals. In addition to this, you can also participate in contests and hashtags campaigns run by airlines and enjoy discounts on sightseeing, activities, and local excursions. Social media is also a good way to keep abreast of festivals and other celebrations throughout the world and coincide your visit with these events.
Do you know, tour companies offer free excursions in return if you write reviews about them? Of course, honest reviews!
Couchsurfing
Undoubtedly, your major expenses will be on accommodation. Irrespective of the place you are heading to, this can add up fast. This is where couchsurfing has come into the picture. By making use of the couchsurfing, you can stay at the homes of local people at free of cost. All you’ll be expected to give in return is a big smile! It is like, a cultural exchange program as it puts you in contact with locals and gives you a chance to explore the place which would not have been possible during a hotel stay.
If you are not able to couch surf, you can always camp as there are many nations which have free camping laws. You can camp on any unoccupied piece of land if you clean the area after use.
Use local transport
Though, private taxis score above buses when it comes to comfort, they only add up to the total expenses. Also, you can expose yourself to a variety of experiences if you travel by other means or prefer to walk.
Volunteer
From working in hostels, teaching in school to volunteer on organic farms, these are some of the jobs which you can volunteer in any part of the world. There are spots for both skilled and unskilled volunteers. At these places, you will be expected to work for a few hours in exchange for free accommodation and food. In your spare time, you can explore the destination. What could be the better way to travel?
Buy overseas travel insurance
Believe me, ‘this’ one spending will save your money, which you otherwise would have to pay in case of unforeseen situations, like loss of passport/baggage, personal accident, etc. Just imagine, you book multiple flights instead of one direct flight to save money, however, you miss your connecting flight, now you will have to incur extra expenses on a flight as well.
Trust me, accidents and mishaps occur when you least expect them and they may arise even if you are on holiday. So, it is worthwhile to go with a comprehensive travel insurance policy which will offer you coverage against unforeseen events like, medical emergency, personal accident, loss of passport, personal liability, etc.
Who says, you need money for travelling?
Now, you know, it is easy to travel the world, even when there is a budget constraint with proper planning. So, where will you go with your newfound freedom, don’t forget to tell us!
