Do you catch yourself scrolling through your social feed or watching travel vlogs, daydreaming about being far, far away from home in some exotic land? But then you realise that you could never fund a once in a lifetime trip like you see on social media?
If that is the case, you are not alone! Furthermore, you may be surprised how much you can actually afford.
Travelling can be one of the best experiences of your life, but it does not come without a price. Travelling can be a huge expense and this can put people off actually going through with their dream of seeing the world or visiting a certain destination. However, it does not have to be.
In this guide, we provide you with methods that you can take to ensure that you have the best time possible travelling, whilst on a budget and saving money along the way.
Book in private browsing window
Before booking any flights or accommodation, it is wise to clear your browser cookies and even consider using a private/incognito window whilst you are on the hunt for these things. Websites are able to track the places you have visited before via cookies and therefore, what prices you have been quoted. Websites then can change the price that appears to you once they have gathered this information. So, to get the true price, clear your cookies.
Book well in advance
It may seem obvious, but it is important to book as soon as you become able. Prices for things, including day trips when you actually get there, will rise when it gets to closer to the date. Booking well in advance will guarantee you won’t get caught out by extortionate prices where you do not need to be.
If you are booking last minute, there are also good deals on places like lastminute.com, where the prices are specialised – but do not rely on a service like this as they do not always have the destinations that you desire.
Consider staying in a hostel
It is no secret that staying in hostels rather than hotels during your travels is going to save you a lot of money. Not only are you going to be getting a lower price, you are also going to get the authentic travelling experience and atmosphere by staying in a hostel.
A great thing which has become a trend is that hostels often provide free food. Breakfast is usually a given, but plenty of hostels are now offering free food all day.
Plan around off-peak travel times
Do some research into when on and off-peak seasons are according to different countries. When it is considered off-peak in the UK may not necessarily be considered so in another country. With a little bit of planning, you can be sure to save some money booking things around the tourist peaks.
Make use of air miles
If you have a credit card which allows you to build up rewards such as air miles, consider trying to use this card wherever possible to get some air miles behind you before you book a flight.
You may already have air miles in place, so do not forget about these and use them to get discounted or free flights if you have enough.
Shop at local markets and haggle
When you are on your travels, something you can do to save money and dive deep into the rich culture of the place is to shop at the local markets. Experience seasonal and local products. This is an opportunity to try new these which may not be domestically grown in the UK.
In many cultures, it is the norm to bargain down the price from the asking price. This may not feel natural to you, but try it out to get comfortable with it and you will be saving money in no time. You should learn when to stop and pay a decent price however as to no offend the seller.
Eat street food
Eating street food tends to be the cheapest way to feed yourself when you are on a budget. It will also open up your eyes to new cuisine. You can actually watch it being prepared and cooked in front of you, so you can make sure it is legitimate also.
Visit free tourist attractions
Wherever you go in the world, there are a variety of things that you can do completely for free; such as museums or art galleries. Cities in Europe are full of these; simply do a bit of research to see what is available to you wherever you are travelling.
At Payday Bad Credit, we offer a short term solution whereby you can borrow a certain amount of money and simply pay it back when your next pay cheque clears. If you do decide to take out a loan, please be responsible and work out whether it is the best option for you financially.
