Travel Tips on the Cheap This Winter
The holidays are over and the busyness that comes with them is slowing down. Some people are thankful to get back into their regular routine and others are sad the season has come to a close. Despite which category you fall into, now might be a great time to think about traveling. Getting some rest and relaxation isn’t a bad idea, especially when Christmas vacation can be more stressful than peaceful. Christmas is a very expensive time of year, so if you’re going to travel you will want to find the best deals. Here are some ways you can save money and travel!
- Look for Flight Deals
Flight deals might be hard to find sometimes, but they are definitely out there. Try to make your travel dates flexible. You can use the Google flight calendar to see what the best prices are on flights throughout the week you want to travel. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are often the cheapest days to fly!
- Travel to an Affordable Country
If you’ve got the travel bug and you just don’t care where you go, pick a country that is the cheapest to travel in. Countries in Southeast Asia like Indonesia and Cambodia are super affordable. You can pick up a meal for as little as $1 in US currency. There are no shortage of sights to be seen there, too. You will love the mountains and beaches that those countries have to offer!
- Pack your own food for road trips
If you’re going on a long road trip, you’ll want to pack your own food. Not only does it save you money, but you will feel much better snacking on something healthy in the car instead of stopping at fast food restaurants and filling up your car with greasy paper bags. Just pack up a large cooler and store it in the trunk of your car, or the backseat for easy access. For breakfast, pack foods like bagels, muffins and hard-boiled eggs for protein. For lunch, pack sandwiches, fruits and veggies, and cookies for dessert. There are tons of easy foods to pack, especially since you can get almost anything individually wrapped. If you have kids, keep plenty of snacks on hand. It will keep them full and give them something to do!
- Choose the Right Rental Car
If you are flying somewhere and you need to rent a car, be sure to rent something that will save you money in the long run. Rent reliable cars with great gas mileage. You can be picky. Often rental cars will have out of state license plates, so be sure to pay attention to the speed limit because highway patrol officers will often ticket out of state cars. Also, make sure you don’t get a car that is more likely to be pulled over by police officers. Getting pulled over is most certainly not a good time, especially on vacation!
- Use a travel agent
Sometimes it’s easiest to just hop online and buy a flight and rent a car from home. You may save money by actually discussing your travel needs and budget with a travel agent, though. They know what they are doing and they might be able to help you spend less as you travel!
- Follow social media accounts of air lines and train lines
Sign up for newsletters from air lines, train lines, travel agencies, or even hotels! And don’t hesitate to follow them on social media. Often these companies will offer exclusive discounts, promo codes and freebies. Pro tip: Create a different email account just for finding deals if you want to avoid the hassle of sifting through junk email.
- Don’t book a hotel
Avoid hotels if you really want to save big. Websites like Airbnb or Couchsurfing is the new way of vacationing somewhere. You can save big time by home swapping, too. Let someone stay in your home for a few week, while you stay in their home.
- Rent a bike
Avoid the hassle of gas prices and the hundreds of dollars it costs to rent a car. Rent a bike instead! If you’re visiting a city that has all of its attractions close to each other, you can save a ton of money. It costs more to drive a car in city traffic because you are constantly stopping and going. You might save money and time by renting a bike to get around. It can be fun for the whole family!
- Do Free Stuff
Don’t forget the free stuff! Go to a park or hang out at the beach. Hike or swim in a lake. Check out local museums because they often have a free admission day at some point in any given month!
Are you looking to travel now that holiday season is over? Be sure to try out these tips for a more cost-efficient experience!
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