Top 10 Money-Saving Travel Tips

Top 10 Money Saving Travel Tips Everyone likes saving money, so listen up and you might just learn a thing or two about cutting costs while on vacation. Welcome to MojoTravels, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Money Saving Travel Tips. For this list, we’ll be looking at tips and tricks that will help save you money on your next vacation. #10: Shop Around For Flights This piece of advice cannot be overstated. While it’s easy to settle for the first flight you come across, you’ll save a lot more money if you take some time to examine your other options. Nowadays, there are hundreds of different apps and comparison websites that make it quick and easy to shop for flights, allowing you to find the best deals in a matter of minutes. And remember, sometimes, even when flying, there is more than one route to your destination, so be sure to weigh up all of your options first. #9: Pack Snacks We’ve all browsed the airport shops for a last-minute snack only to discover that they’re charging $10 for a bag of chips. To avoid the pitfalls of overpriced snacks, be it at an airport, hotel, or museum, swing by a corner store before starting your day. Their prices will usually be much cheaper and you can stock up on an array of different treats that will not only save you money, but will also keep you on the go. Having a snack on hand is the perfect remedy for that mid-afternoon crash you’re certain to get after walking around a foreign city for six hours in the sun. #8: Understand Your Credit Card When travelling abroad it is important that you know in advance how you’re going to pay for things. While you should always have some local currency on hand, your credit card will more than likely be doing the brunt of the work. As such, it is imperative that you understand how it works while travelling. Before leaving for your trip, check to see if your card charges a foreign transaction fee. Most cards do, but some don’t. This can save you a lot of money in the long run. It is also important that you don’t allow merchants to convert sales into the currency of your home country, as the rates will often be inflated. #7: Use Apps Once upon a time, travelers had to purchase maps, visit travel agents, and actually talk to other people in order to find out where the best local eateries were. Man, the 90s were a tough time to be alive. Nowadays, technology has not only made travelling easier, it’s made it cheaper. With thousands of different apps only a click away, tourists can now download maps, translation tools, and guidebooks for free; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You can now browse flight and hotel apps for up-to-the-minute notifications on deals that are being offered. Just make sure you remember to pack your phone charger! #6: Choose a Less Popular Country/City One of the easiest ways to save money while travelling is to visit a less popular country or city. Many Eastern European countries are considerably cheaper than their Western counterparts while still being able to offer exceptional views, fun attractions, and loads of historical monuments. Similarly, the amount of money it costs to visit a particular city is usually tied to how popular that city is. Liverpool might not be as flashy as London, but you can bet your bottom dollar it’s cheaper. Notoriously expensive countries, such as Australia and Japan, can be visited on a budget so long as you don’t spend too much time in their largest cities! #5: Travel During the Low Season While spending a weekend in Manhattan during the Christmas holidays sounds terrific, it may not be the wisest choice if you’re trying to cut costs. One of the best ways to travel on a budget is to visit popular locations during their low seasons. The south of France might be a touch chillier in October, but you’ll likely find better deals than if you visit in July. Similarly, countries like Greece and Croatia have been known to reduce their prices during the off-season as a way of increasing tourism. #4: Hit Up Free Attractions As the old saying goes: free is always better! Most countries are loaded with free attractions; all you have to do is look. For example: many cities will offer free admittance to museums or art galleries depending on what day of the week it is, while others will put on free festivals that will only cost you part of your schedule! And if you’re a student, don’t forget to bring your student I.D. card - it will often allow you to receive reduced fares at museums and occasionally, free admittance! #3: Eat Like a Local If you travel all the way to countries as gastronomically enlightened as France and Italy only to eat at McDonalds, you’re missing out and probably spending more than you think. We tend to think that fast food is a cheaper alternative to local eateries, but you can get an authentic rice bowl from a Thai street vendor for less than a dollar - and it will blow your mind. Similarly, there are hundreds of different mom and pop restaurants in every country that use local foods instead of pricey imported goods; meaning the food is fresh, authentic, and most importantly, cheap! Or you can always hit the local supermarket and make your own meal! #2: Walk/Take Public Transit A good way to cut costs - and see more while travelling - is to walk or take public transportation. Many cities offer day passes that give you access to their transit network for a relatively low price. Riding the bus is a great way to experience a city like a local that won’t hurt your wallet. If walking is more your speed, then you’re in luck. It costs absolutely nothing and it is the single greatest way to soak up the culture of a foreign country. Lather on some sunscreen, grab some water, and hit the streets, there will be sights, sounds, and smells galore! #1: Use Apartment/Home Rentals Welcome to the 21st century, where hotels are out and home rentals are in. If you want to save a ton of money, live in a fully furnished home/apartment and feel like a local, renting is your best option. While a weeklong hotel rental will likely cost you upwards of a thousand dollars, sites such as Airbnb and Craigslist offer bargain prices for unique rental properties all over the world. Browse through hundreds of different listings and choose what’s right for you. You’ll deal directly with the homeowner, who will be available every step of the way to troubleshoot any issues you may encounter. Rentals are the ultimate money saving travel tip.