Travel demand has been on the rise lately, allowing travel agencies to charge higher prices without fear of losing clients to competitors. This resurgence in travel comes at a time when inflation has reached its highest point since 1981. If you want to take a vacation, sign up for new experiences, and create lifelong memories, you must cut costs to simplify your travel. However, travel doesn’t have to be expensive unless you make it so. Stay alert and avoid falling into bad habits. Here are a few practical suggestions on how to save money on travel.
Review Your Budget
Since spending is set to soar this year, manage your spending so that you can afford to get away. You don’t have an unlimited budget, so figure out how much money you need. Add your travel expenses and the number of people to obtain a total and per-day vacation cost; don’t overlook travel insurance or ground transportation. Most importantly, plan for the worst-case scenario and have enough money set aside to cover emergencies. You might get caught in a natural disaster, so understand what your medical insurance will cover when you’re outside of the country. Remember that your travel budget is a guide, not a strict set of rules, but try to stick to it to thrive.
Book A Flight and Parking Space in Advance
Even if airfares are down 18% from their record highs in May, they’re considerably higher than they were this time last year. And they’re expected to rise. Booking a flight ahead of time can give you a more affordable deal, as you have enough time to find and track the best price. Airlines take advantage of last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up. In some cases, you can book a couple of weeks in advance, while in others, it’s best to book months ahead. It’s strongly recommended to book your airport parking at least one month in advance. The price of parking at Newark Airport, for example, depends on where you stay and the length of time.
There’s no time limit on how far in advance you should reserve airport parking, but advance booking is recommended because you have access to a wide array of car parks. A secret to saving money you might not be aware of is booking long-term parking. The cost of short-term parking is much higher than the cost of long-term parking, so if you leave the vehicle at the airport overnight, you’ll end up paying more. Short-term parking charges by the hour while long-term parking charges by the day. If your flight departs from Boston Logan Airport, start searching for Boston Logan Airport parking options right now.
Don’t Overspend on Accommodation
It’s understandable that you want to stay in a luxury suite in the heart of downtown. This extra takes your experience from great to fantastic. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t overspend on accommodation. At the end of the day, the last thing you want is to end up in a tight spot. Book your hotel room using the points you’ve accumulated to avoid dipping into your cash savings for the vacation. There are cheaper alternatives for accommodation, and you’ll be happy to know that booking a hotel room with rewards is easier than booking a flight. All you have to do is transfer your reward points to a hotel partner or use a hotel-branded credit card.
Use Your Own Money
If you’re like most people, you use your credit card when traveling for security, convenience, or just out of habit. Using a credit card comes with a great many advantages, including but not limited to fraud protection, better exchange rates, and more flexibility in transactions. Still, you spend substantially more money when you make purchases on a credit card instead of cash. Not only are you more likely to buy items at a higher price, but you’re also likely to give higher tips and indulge in impulse buys. This is precisely why you should use your own money. When you see the cash coming out of your own pockets, you’re less likely to spend more than was planned or agreed; it’s a psychological hack that makes you aware of your spending habits.
Explore Tourist Attractions That Don’t Cost Any Money
Finally, yet importantly, make sure to explore tourist attractions that don’t cost a dime. Trips to notoriously expensive places don’t have to break the bank. Let’s take an example. If you’re visiting Istanbul, pay a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the epitome of Turkish architecture. Roughly 4000 shops operate here, which doesn’t come as a surprise because Istanbul is one of the biggest and oldest covered markets worldwide. Browse the window displays, even if you have absolutely no intention of buying any merchandise. Window shopping is a recreational leisure activity. If you know the entrances, you can easily reach the places that sell jewelry, carpets, ceramics, footwear, food, clothing, handicrafts, etc.
If Australia is on your bucket list, you’re fortunate because this country is all about natural wonders, amazing adventure opportunities, not to mention fascinating lifestyles. Go to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, which spans across Melbourne and Cranbourne. As you wander through the garden, think about the importance of hardy drought-resistant plants in our warming planet and find serenity in the Fern Gully, the last rainforest. As you can clearly see, you don’t need money to have a good time. There are many no-cost things to do, so prioritize free tourist attractions. You can have so much fun without spending a lot.
Conclusion
Recent increases in travel reflect broad inflation, so you can expect the most expensive holiday travel season ever. Taking a vacation isn’t as easy as it used to be. The good news is that travel isn’t an insanely expensive thing, provided you know what to do. Before you splurge money on travel, put money aside to cover possible expenses, such as medical bills. Of course, if you want to travel right now, it requires more planning.
