The usual concern for most
of us while travelling is the budget. Thoughts like 'will we exceed the
budget?', 'should we cut on a few activities?' cross our mind on a regular
basis. The following tips ensure that one won't have to worry too much about
exceeding the budget, as it will be most unlikely that this will happen.
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| Frankfurt Eisener Steg |
Tip 1 - Booking Tickets in
Advance
Booking tickets in advance
has to be my favourite tip. Having done this at more than one instance, I can
guarantee instant savings even before one has started their trip. A few years
back when I travelled to Germany, my return ticket from Dubai to Frankfurt cost
USD 520. My travel dates were in December (closer to Christmas). If I would
have booked my ticket closer to my travel date, the tickets would cost atleast
USD 620.
A more recent example would
be the return ticket I booked from Dubai to San Francisco for USD 1,057. The
same ticket now costs USD 1,317 (Savings of USD 260). I do know that the ticket
will cost atleast a 100 dollars more, if I wait for a few more weeks.
Remember that as one books
tickets closer to the date of travel, the options are limited and the tickets
become more expensive. You can save this money and use it to visit more places.
Tip 2 – Book Hostels or 2/3
star hotels
It is important to
understand the purpose of your trip. Are you looking for relaxation? Or will
you exploring the city? If your answer is relaxation, this might not be the
best tip for you but if you are looking forward to explore the city, this is
the perfect tip for you.
When travelling, the common
trend is to wake up early, have your breakfast and go out to explore. It is
unlikely that you will be returning to the hotel anytime soon. Atleast for me,
I prefer to be out till the evening or sometimes return at night. What this
means is that you are spending little time at the hotel and paying for a 4 star
or 5 star hotel just for a bed and breakfast. This doesn’t make sense.
Booking a 2/3 star hotel
means saving a few hundred dollars. However make sure that the hotel is closer
to the area where you will explore and it has a decent rating.
Personally, I am not
comfortable with shared bathrooms and therefore avoid hostels, however if you
are not too worried about shared bathrooms, a hostel would be the cheapest
option.
However before booking
remember that most websites do not show you the city taxes. Make sure you
include that in your cost while making your budget.
Tip 3 – Using the bus or
metro
Travelling around the city
or between two cities? Using the bus or metro could save you a lot of money.
However this does come with a disadvantage too, you end up wasting a lot of
time. The list below shows you the fastest and the most expensive modes of
transportation. You can choose the option best suited for you.
By Cost (from most expensive
to the cheapest): Airticket, Cab/Taxi, Car rental, Metro, and Bus.
By Travel Time (from longest
to shortest): Bus, Metro, Car, and Airplane
Travelling via air would
mean missing out on the scenic views between the cities/towns but it also means
saving a lot of time.
Tip 4 – Currency exchange and using credit
cards
It is advisable to exchange
currency in your home country before you travel (make sure to adhere to the
custom rules of how much currency you can carry). In general, if you try
exchanging currency at a hotel or at the airport, it will be a more expensive
option.
Some people prefer using
their debit cards or withdrawing from the ATM. The ATM charges could cost you a
lot and carrying currency around could be difficult and an added
responsibility. Try using credit cards rather. Some might think what about the
exchange rates charged by banks, aren’t these too high? That’s why use a credit
card that gives you cashback on international spends or that gives you points
on international spends. You might not end up saving too much when using the
card but benefits such as cashback or points that you can use towards an
airticket or rewards in the future is not a bad idea at all.
Tip 5 – Pre booking tickets for attractions
and discount offers
It is highly recommended
that you pre book tickets for attractions such as theme parks, museums etc.
Pre-booking ensures that you skip the queues and sometimes it also means
discounts.
Online discount offers are
common. If you try to book tickets online for attractions, you do get discounts
or some added benefits. Do check out these offers before you travel, as there
is no harm in saving a bit.
Do try these travel tips and
let me know what you think about them. Have any more travel tips for budget
travel? Do share them.
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