Are You Traveling on a Budget? Here's How!
Are you dreaming of amazing adventures but worried about the cost? I've got you covered! See my top 5 tips, below on saving money while travelling.
- Budget Accommodations
- Eat Like a Local
- Travel Off-Peak
- Prioritise Experiences over Souvenirs
- Plan Ahead
Opt for Budget Accommodation:
Skip the luxury hotels, you know the ones all the Instagrammers post photos of and embrace budget-friendly options like Airbnb, Holiday Inns or Ibis hotels.
My go to are Holiday Inns, and more recently Novotel has become my go-to for budget family friendly hotels as they are often on the cheaper end of the scale but you know they’re still a good standard, clean and often a basic breakfast is included to help with a good start to the day. Many hotel chains like IHG and Accor have the option for you to become a member for free allowing you to earn points on your stays, which you can then put towards free nights!
Eat Like a Local:
Sometimes self-catering is the best way to keep costs down but if you really want to eat out then local cuisine is normally more affordable. I’ve found often the best places to eat are down the little side streets, they tend to be quieter and I haven’t been anywhere yet, where I’ve disliked the food!
Travel Off-Peak:
Where possible plan your trips during off-peak seasons to enjoy lower prices and fewer crowds. If you have a young family it might be easier said than done to travel off peak, but even if you do have to travel in school holidays, the cheaper options will be the February half term and October half term. If school term time isn’t an issue for you I recommend March, June and November as some of the cheapest months to travel, but still with reasonable weather.
Prioritise Experiences:
Instead of souvenirs, why not choose unforgettable experiences like guided tours or adventurous activities. I always say that my memories and photos are my souvenirs, I will often keep tickets and leaflets from places we’ve visited and then create a memory box when I arrive home. That way our spending money is actually available to spend on those museums, palaces, wine tasting or spa days. It also saves space in your luggage if you’re not having to bring lots of bulky souvenirs back with you, win win!
Plan Ahead:
Booking flights and accommodations well in advance can give you substantial savings. When planning our holidays, we always discuss about a year in advance where we want to go, our budget and then we will start booking as soon as possible, I always book flights first and then the accommodation but I will always check availability before booking either of these to make sure our ideal option isn’t fully booked.
Once I’ve booked accommodation I then look at things to do in the area that we’re staying and start planning a rough itinerary for our stay. My husband is normally in charge of researching food stops and transport options. A few months out from our trip I will check out the places we want to visit and make sure I book any tickets online in advance if needed. I find the earlier in advance I book things the easier it is to spread the cost of the holiday over the year or months leading up to it.
Traveling on a budget is possible and you don’t have to skimp on value. By following these tips, you'll create unforgettable memories without blowing all your savings on one trip.
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @ablondesadventures to see more of our adventures!