by Shannon Lintott
You’ve planned. You’ve waited. You’ve packed.
All that’s left to do is to get on that plane, hop on that bus or rent that car and your travels have begun. You’ve worked hard, maybe even put in extra hours at work, and you are determined to enjoy yourself. This means that you want comfortable beds, nice meals and maybe a few drinks on the side.
I am going to try to convince you to give more thought about the every day basics of travel (roof, food, transportation) and how this, in the end, will maximize your experience and leave you and your family with stronger memories and grander stories once you return home.
Here are my 5 smart budget tips for travel that will save some cash; cash that you can use for something spontaneous, extravagant and unique (skydiving, anyone?).
5 Smart Budget Tips for Travel
1. Budget Accommodation
We all want luxury when we can afford it. A soft pillow goes a long way after a 10 hour plane ride and bath robes make even the toughest critiques feel like royalty.
Accommodation can add up quickly and for good reason: no one wants dirty sheets, stained bath tubs or bugs after a long day touring a city. As someone who has stayed in four star hotels and also slept on the floor of an airport (more than once), I feel I have learned a few tricks to finding decent accommodation without blowing 60% of your entire budget.
Try to rent apartments. There are a lot of reputable, easy to use sites for just that (i.e. Airbnb). Sometimes if you’re alone it doesn’t make sense to do this, but when splitting the costs with a group it can make a huge difference and can end up being cheaper than a bed at a hostel.
Not that a bed at a hostel is bad, some hostel are actually closer to budget hotels with ensuites, breakfast and 24 hour reception. Even if you are with a family there may be family rooms at some locations. A well rated hostel is always better than a two star hotel; better vibe, nicer staff and cleaner rooms are just some of the reasons to try hostels if you don’t already.
Tip: Try to book hostels through their actual website and not through hostelworld. It’s good to search for reviews but contacting them directly can mean cheaper rates, special offers and discounts.
2. Transportation
Renting a car can make a simple trip extraordinary but the insurance, gas and stress over getting lost can ruin the romanticism of a road trip.
Trains are not always the best option these days. There are lots of budget flights that save you time and money. If you want to see the country side, see if there is a bus company that can connect you. Boarder control and over crowding can ruin train rides, while buses can take less time, can be cleaner and are usually more direct.
Tip: Over night trains and buses are cheap but come at a cost. Even if you can sleep, it’s fragmented and when you arrive to your destination you feel groggy, hungry and sometimes stinky. Weigh the option of travelling by day and adding another night of accommodation – it might end up saving you a day of cranky sightseeing.
3. Cook Your Meals
I know, I know. You have been slaving away for months or even years to get the time and money to relax and put your feet up. Unless you’ve booked an all inclusive package at a resort, I highly suggest renting an apartment or finding a B&B that allows the use of their kitchen.
You might be surprised by how much of your travel budget gets spent on food and snacks. By limiting your grab and go food experiences, you can save up for scuba diving lessons, hot air balloon rides and things much more memorable than a bland, ham sandwich on a day old baguette and some french fries.
There are many reasons besides the obvious money saving factors: if it’s a long trip it’s good to make your own food to ensure you are eating well (quality over quantity), shopping like a local is the best way to immerse yourself in the every day life of local people (markets are the best bet) and it’s a great way to meet other travellers and bond with fellow guests.
If you cook two out of your three meals, you can afford to do some research and go to one amazing restaurant a day instead of three cheap, unimpressive places you stumble upon. You’ll know for sure that the money you spend at a phenomenal restaurant will be well spent.
Tip: Don’t have a kitchen? Find a grocery store, buy some cheese, bread, fruit and veggies to have a picnic in the park. A picnic is fun for the entire family and will end up leaving a lot of your money in your wallet for later.
4. Free Tours
A lot of places now offer free, tip based walking tours. I always start my first day off in a city with a walking tour so I can learn about the history of the place, gain some local insight and get my bearings.
It can be worth while to read some blogs about free things to do in the city you’re visiting. Sometimes you can discover things far off the tourist paths and find hidden pockets along the way. See if there are free Botanical Gardens, beaches, galleries and installations. That way, if the weather is bad or the art disagrees with you, it doesn’t matter – it was free!
Tip: waiting in line for two hours only to enter a museum and be surrounded by thousands of people who are all standing in front of the piece of art you came all that way to see…well, it might not be worth it. If it is, read online about secondary entrances, buying tickets online or quick-pass ticket options.
5. Luggage
Luggage? How can my suitcase save me any money?
Down sizing to a smaller suitcase or backpack can not only save you money, but it could also save you a lot of grief when you have to haul it up three flights of stairs at a metro station.
All budget flights allow a small size luggage for carry on free of charge. Buses can also charge for stow away luggage and trains don’t always have a safe place for larger suitcases. If I can travel to 18 countries in 6 months with a carry on bag only, you can too. Trust me. It becomes easier with each trip and the money you save will far outweigh the cost of having to buy a shirt or a pair of jeans along the way.
Tip: Buckles are your friend. Backpacks are your best friend. A suitcase is great to roll around but there are always stairs at some point and you will curse the Gods as you break you back getting them up and down. A backpack is easy, it is designed to be comfortable and has all sorts of straps and buckles to make your large pile of clothes small and, well, carry-on-able.
Some of these options may not work for you, but I urge you to try one or two the next time you travel. If you have a carry on suitcase, eat out once a day, only stay in a fancy hotel once a week and take bus rides over trains, you could end up having enough money for skydiving, a music festival, a full day sailing or a dinner cruise. You could even add an extra week if you want or visit a new country along the way that you didn’t think you could afford to see.
Who knows, with these tips, you may never come home!
Happy and safe travels!
Shannon Lintott spends her free time reading, writing and travelling as much as possible. Check out her travel blog at travellingcanuk.blogspot.com and her movie review blog I Like (good) Movies and follow her on Twitter.