Traveling is always something that many families think about when they have free time.
The trips are not expensive as you may think if you organize the trip economically and reasonably.
Here are tips to help you have the most economical and fun-filled travel.
Try to Book a Hotel Room Directly
You may have the habit of visiting travel hotel booking websites, but the price you will get when you book this type of room is higher than when calling the hotel directly. The trick for you is to find out the hotel information on the website first.
After you know the price of their room, you call the receptionist to deal with the price. If you book on weekdays and low travel season, you can offer them a little discount.
Do not be afraid to negotiate prices, because no hotel likes to leave the rooms empty, so the chance of successful deals is very high. This way, you can save a fair amount of money on other visits.
Take Advantage of the “Free” Days
This trick is straightforward but very effective. If you travel to European countries, there are many museums dedicated to free opening days for visitors. You need to determine what those dates are and plan accordingly.
Besides, during big holidays, amusement parks often offer discounts to attract more visitors. When going out on this preferential occasion, you will save a lot of money and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
One inconvenience is that since these days are free, the number of visitors coming in is also vast, making you uncomfortable. But right now, most tourist destinations are less populated than ever.
Don’t Visit Too Many Locations
Travel followers share that they love slow travel. That is, instead of racing against time to move from one end of the country to the other, take a closer look at some of the most popular regions.
If you try to take too many long-distance flights, buses, trains or cars you can run short on your budget. So, slow down, stop for longer in a city and discover the fun there. There are plenty of free things to do if you look around.
Get Information Through Locals
When traveling to a new land, many people will immediately think of hiring a local tour guide. This person will help you travel to more localities and understand more about the region’s culture. However, for rent, they are quite expensive.
To save money, you should get acquainted with the local people. They are excellent guides and help you get to more exciting places like local markets and shopping malls. This way, you will have substantial local trips with these guides.
Walk or Ride a Public Bike
Walking is a great way to maximize your cost savings. When you choose to walk, you will save quite a bit of money on renting a pen car or taking a taxi. Besides, you have the opportunity to talk with the locals, wander through the streets, and enjoy the specialties there.
While walking, you can also easily take a lot of photos along the way and explore the local markets that you can hardly do if you sit in the car.
Another idea for you is to rent a bike if you find yourself getting too far and unable to walk. The bike rental is also not expensive, and its speed is not too fast. Not only that, walking or cycling also helps you improve your health.
Many countries are now offering scooters you can find lying around the city. These are inexpensive and much faster than walking.
Go to a Restaurant for Breakfast or Lunch, But Avoid Dinner.
At night is the time when restaurants and bars are always crowded with customers. Therefore, the prices for serving dishes at this time are usually relatively high.
But with that same dish, if you enjoy it for breakfast or lunch, the price is much lower. If you want the cost for meals even lower, why not try the street food? It’s typically cheap and hygienic, regardless of what people tend to think.
You can also learn more about the dish when witnessing the chef cooking on the spot.
Another tip to save on food costs is going on picnics and BBQs. Buy groceries from local supermarkets, markets, or grocery stores, then arrange a picnic at one of the city’s parks. The cost for this outing is not too high, but will leave you with happy and meaningful moments. Many public parks have grills to cook on, but check to see if they’re free or if they have to be rented first.
Don’t Shop in Commercial Centers
When traveling, you may want to visit the big shopping centers, especially those that have become symbols of a city or a country. But remember only to see and not be attracted to offers from the supermarket. Window shopping wins the day here.
You should not spend too much money on shopping as most items’ prices are higher than when buying at the store or market. If you want to buy souvenirs, ask the locals for a few places where they often shop. Again, don’t forget to negotiate prices before buying, if you want a good deal.
Don’t Bring Your ATM Card When You Go Out
You are often advised to bring a little cash instead of an ATM card when traveling, but you should only use the card to withdraw cash, not to pay for food, shopping and so on. This can help you set a limit on your daily spending.
Every time you go out, If you carry the card, you will be able to swipe the card many times and cause you to miss your budget.
Instead, aim to see how much money you need that day and bring a little extra, you will avoid not having enough money to buy something or visit a place you love.
Be Flexible With Flight Dates and Times
If the trip isn’t too rushed, you’ll have plenty of time to choose an attractive flight. Take the time to hunt for tickets for low-cost airlines.
Don’t forget to choose to fly in the middle of the week and during low hours (such as early morning, late evening, etc.), because the fare will be lower.
The ideal time to book tickets is at least 2-3 months before the trip. Besides, do not ignore the registration to receive email notifications to stay up to date with airlines’ reasonable prices.
Final Words
To save the maximum cost of your vacation, you can refer to the above guidelines.
I hope you have the most fun and inexpensive family travel possible.