5 Dead Simple Ways For Traveling On A Budget

Traveling on a budget makes it easier to visit all the places you’ve always wanted to see. Let’s face it, life is too short to see everything the world has to offer.

For the most part, money is the biggest obstacle in our way. But there are many ways to stretch your money and have a dream vacation that is more realistic to save up for.

Here are some simple tricks for traveling on a budget:

Save on Airfare

If you are searching for ways for traveling on a budget there’s no better place to start than the cost of airfare.

Getting to your destination is always the hardest (and most expensive) part of travel.

The internet is a great place to look for budget airfare. But to really save you have to amp up your search game. Don’t just search through Expedia. There are many other websites that can save you even more.

Google ITA Matrix is a prime example. It will let you search multiple airports and many flight dates for lower cost fares.

Skiplagged is another website you should not overlook. It compiles one way flights and odd stop overs to provide you with the lowest airfares.

If the price is equal it is always better to book your flight directly through the airline’s website. Things will be easier to deal with if you have a delayed or canceled flight. There is also a slimmer chance the airlines might bump from your flight.

There is one more thing to consider when it comes to the cost of plane tickets: research has shown Friday is the worst day of the week to buy plane tickets. This has to do with business traveling bookings. Sunday and Saturday are the best days to book flights.

Lodgings On A Budget

There are creative and offbeat ways to save on travel accommodations. You can rent a house for less than booking a hotel by using an international rent a house website like Airbnb.

If you don’t mind doing a little work while you travel, there is such a thing as work exchange. You will work a half or full day in exchange for room and board. The type of work you will do can range from restoring old houses to milking a goat.

Another lodgings approach is to be a house sitter for a family that will be out of town at the time of your travel. This type of lodgings provides an almost free stay. A site you can make arrangements with is Mind My House.

A more typical method is to visit one of the many discount hotel websites. Hotel Tonight is a last minute booking app. Priceline allows you to get low rates for hotel rooms by bidding on unnamed hotels.

Saving On Food

A great way to cut the cost of meals while you are traveling is to check the internet for deals.

Groupon is a website that features local restaurants deals. There are discounts to be had at restaurant.com.

Yelp is a place to find restaurant deals. Their search filter will take you to places that specifically offer discounts.

Another way to save on food is to eat like a local. Most cities and towns will have local markets and restaurants. This food is usually cheaper and you are helping out local businesses. There is no other way to experience the culture better than living and eating like the locals.

Traveling On A Budget Solo

When you are traveling solo there are many things you can use to save money. These tricks still get you the same enjoyment out of your days of travel.

One way to lower your costs is to plan your trip during the less expensive off season. Traveling solo can make easy to choose what you want spend heavy on. If something isn’t important to you, then go on the budget route.

But if you love to eat, go all out and enjoy the best restaurants around.

When it comes air travel, we all know that first class tickets are the most expensive. But there are certain times when first class ticket prices are lower due to lack of high demand. In certain cases you can get a last minute upgrade to a first class seat at a discount price.

Coach seats are the same price, but let’s face it, some are better than others. Seat Guru is a site that will give you the info on individual seats by airline and flight number.

Solo travelers are at a disadvantage when it comes to packaged deals. But there are ways of handling the problem. One source for the right method is at Solo Traveler Advisory.

Traveling On A Budget With Kids

Traveling almost anywhere can be a costly adventure for families. There are ways and methods you can use to lessen your overall cost.

Traveling in the off season you will find it less crowded and busy. This will result in hotel prices and airfare at much lower prices. The crowds will be smaller and you will get to see the sites much easier than peak travel season.

If you build up any airline miles through credit cards use them on your family travel. International airlines offer fare discounts for children 2-11 years-old. Shop around the internet to find the best deal for your situation. 

Another way of cutting the cost of family travel is to stay outside the heart of the city. These places to stay at will be a cheaper alternative. Don’t worry about the commute. There is usually a good public transportation system for you to see everything on your list.

Taking the local approach can reduce the cost of family travel. Local hotels and restaurants generally have lower prices. The big, chain hotels and well known restaurants will hurt your wallet the most.

So help out a local business instead. Being a little off track exposes you to local residents of a city or country. This will help you gain insights into their culture and see how they live. For more about family travel visit travelwithkids.tv

So now that I’ve told you about the simple ways for traveling on a budget..

Go ahead and start planning!

Figure out your budget.. figure out where you want to go.. take time off of work..

What are you waiting for?