If you talk to anyone about their bucket list, the chances are that it will involve some kind of travelling. It may be a slight cliché, but the world is a much smaller place than it was just a few decades ago. There is also the fact that, as a society, we are more affluent than we have ever been. This means that we have the disposable income that allows us to travel and allows us to discover the world. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people want to spend the earth to do this.
It is more than possible to travel and to do so on a budget. While we may be in a better financial position than that of the generations that came before us, it doesn’t mean that we can’t or don’t want to, be a little frugal at times. We’re here to give you 5 top tips that can see you travelling while keeping your spending to a minimum.
1) Hostel vs hotel
When we look at travelling to far-flung destinations it is all too easy just to go ahead and book a hotel. After all, why wouldn’t you? These can be booked with ease and are often in some of the very best locations. They provide a level of comfort that can really add to your travelling experience and often there will be plenty of extras to take this to the next level. The question to ask though is: ‘Is this all really needed?”
The reality is that you can save yourself a considerable amount of money by opting for a hostel over a hotel. No, you won’t necessarily experience the same luxuries that are on offer at a hotel, but what you do get is more than adequate. The amount you can save in this way means that you have more funds available to visit attractions or areas of interest while you are away. If you really are intent on booking a hotel, be sure to look for discounts or consider travelling out of season.
2) International money transfers
Another tip to save money when you are travelling on a budget is to use an international money transfer provider instead of a bank. It is easy to go along with what has been familiar and this may well include opting to use a bank as your first choice. While there is nothing wrong with using a bank per se, you will probably find that you end up spending much more in fees than you have to.
By using an international money transfer provider, you can be sure that your funds are in safe hands. You can also be sure of a speedy and efficient service. One of the biggest draws is that you can save yourself a great deal in fees. You can read here to find out more, but when you have tried out such a service, we are sure that you won’t look back: banks will never seem to be the best option going forward.
3) Opt for the train over plane
Air travel may well be appealing as there is little that can compare to taking to the skies and jetting away. That being said, if you are travelling on a budget, it is not always the best option. For a start, you will no doubt find that air travel is considerably more expensive than rail. As well as the initial ticket costs, you also need to consider the expenses at your destination: airports tend to be located on the outskirts of places and so you have more travel to pay for when you land. Train stations, on the other hand, tend to see you going directly from centre to centre.
Aside from the fact that train travel can see you arrive on a budget, it is also worth looking at the environmental impact too. We have long known how polluting air travel is so for those looking to travel with greener credentials, rail is the obvious answer.
4) Make sure that you plan ahead
While we accept that last-minute travel can be fun, it can also prove to be expensive. Yes, you may be lucky and bag a last-minute bargain, but often when travel is unplanned, spending tends to increase. The problem with the lack of a plan is that you are unable to budget at all. You may well arrive in a country on a cheaper flight or have booked a hotel room with 50% off, but then what?
What are you planning to do when you arrive? Can you save money on excursions? Where are you planning to eat and drink? Where can you find bargain shops? With no plan, you’ll have no answers to these questions. This means that you can’t even begin to budget for your spending. Your plan should include everywhere that you plan to visit, where you are going to stay, where you are planning to eat. Planning may seem a little boring, but you can be certain that it will see you save.
5) Travel for free
Yep, you have read that correctly. It is perfectly possible to travel the world for free – if you’re prepared to put a little work in along the way. Now, we’re not talking about backpacking in the hope that you might pick up the odd bit of work here and there. We’re certainly not talking about an experience that is all work and no play. What we are looking at is companies that will cover your travel costs to some great destinations if you can work some of the time.
Okay, so this type of travel may not be the perfect holiday experience. However, the truth is that you can get to see a whole lot of the world, have your travel costs paid for, and earn some money on the way. This is perhaps the perfect way to travel on a budget and one where you can return home with some money in the bank.
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