Every time holiday season rolls around many people find themselves with few options due to budgetary concerns. As the cost of air travel and accommodations increases, the average person can rarely afford to explore distant locales. Good news, financial restrictions do not need to hold you back. There are a number of options for thrifty travel that can fit into nearly any budget.
Air Travel
The airport can be one of the most financially draining places you will come into contact with when planning a trip. Thanks to the technology you have available to you, saving money on airfare has never been easier. Sites that offer deeply discounted last minute flights can help you save a lot of money right from the beginning. Familiarize yourself with the airline’s guidelines and know their additional fees; otherwise, you could end up spending all your savings on something like baggage check. Checking your bags used to be free but times have changed, you may need to pare things down to just one small carry-on to avoid extra charges. Even with the carry-on get to know the limitations, that way there will be no surprises at the gate. Flights with layovers are often cheaper than direct flights, do your homework and you could end up exploring more than just your planned destination. Lastly, if you book online print your boarding pass at home, some airlines will charge to print it for you.
Hotel
The prices for hotel accommodation vary drastically. Shop around and find the room that suits you in the price range with which you are comfortable. Be sure to check hotel websites as well, often times they will offer exclusive deals when you book directly through them. These packages can include meals, car rentals and tours. Keep in mind that some hotels offer loyalty rewards, so if you travel a lot you could end up saving more in the end through participation in one of these programs.
Home Exchange
If you are not concerned about having someone else in your home, a home swap or exchange may be the answer to saving money on accommodations. There are websites set up to help connect people worldwide who would like to swap their houses for a week or even more. This is beneficial if you are concerned about seeing your destination from a local’s point of view. Once you have paid for airfare, your spending is complete with the exception of food and mementos from your trip. Your food expenditure can also be minimal if you decide to cook instead of eating at restaurants.
Couch Surfing
Couch surfing is cost effective and as an added bonus you can make a new friend. Maybe you can even get some information about points of interest that only locals know about. Again, there are websites whose sole mission is to hook surfers up with couches.
Hostels
A hostel is a very modestly priced option. If privacy is not an option, this communal setting may be for you. Very seldom are rooms private, usually there are bunk beds and all guests share the remainders of the hostel. The interesting thing about hostels is that you can stay in an old out-of-use prison or even a medieval castle. If you are truly looking for a social and one of a kind experience, this may be for you.
Volunteer Vacations
To make your trip a little more meaningful, consider a volunteer vacation. Many organizations that are doing great things in other countries need volunteers. A majority of these programs require that the participant pay their airfare and then food and a place to sleep will be provided by the charity. The only requirement is that you volunteer an agreed upon number of hours during your stay. This is a memorable experience that allows you to see somewhere off the beaten track and to give back to the hosting community.
Packages
If the lap of luxury or close to it is where you see yourself check out one of the many sites offering last minute resort packages. Many people have had the all-inclusive vacation of their dreams for sometimes as much as fifty percent off. This is a good idea if you are not too fussy about the dates or if you are open to any destination.
Eat domestically
If you are not at an all-inclusive restaurant and have to fend for yourself in the way of nourishment, talk to hotel staff and those who live locally. They will generally have insight into the best places to eat and these places are less costly than those usually populated by tourists are. This means you will need to eat the foods that the locals eat which can make your trip a more culturally rich experience. The only place this is not wise would be in destinations like Mexico where the water can make you sick.
There you have it. There is no reason for you not to realize you travel dreams. Saving money on travel does not mean sacrificing. As you can see, quite often budget travel can mean a more rich and fulfilling experience.
About the Author :
Simon hails from Europe as a Blog owner and regular contributor for various financial Blogs, among others the financial Blog of the UK based text loans provider Poundaccess. He also likes to write in various other topics and fields and prides himself in being a versatile professional writer.