Although traveling seems to come with a lot of hidden and unexpected extra fees and costs, there are definitely ways to minimize your planned costs to help offset the unexpected costs or, even better, to save you money on your overall trip budget.
The number one key to saving on your travels is to plan ahead and do your research. A little research into your destination can help you figure out what you might need to spend money on and where you can save. You can also find out what necessities are cheap versus those that are much more money. This can help you to determine what things you will need to travel with, and those things that you could purchase on your travels.
The people you travel with will also determine how much you spend. If you are traveling alone…that’s great. The only person you will have to answer to is yourself. But if you are traveling with friends, make sure they are frugal friends. Friends can pressure you into spending or saving on your travels. If you are traveling with a tour company, choose a budget minded tour. These tours will attract other travelers who are also budget-conscious, and the tour will be built with budget in mind.
Knowing your spending weaknesses can also help you to avoid those scenes and situations that make you want to spend unwisely. Travel seems to thrive off of last minute purchases and necessities, as well as tourist traps and convenience spending. Right from the time you enter the airport you are faced with overpriced convenience. Overpriced food, entertainment for the flight, and everything from clothes, toiletries, and pillows are all meant to attract those travelers stuck for any alternative. This type of conveniently located, price traps will follow you throughout the whole of your trip. That is why it is so important that you pack wisely. A packing list will help you immensely with your organization and ensuring that you’ve packed everything you intended. You can find pre-made packing lists all over the internet that will help you come up with ideas of what you will need.
In order to avoid overpriced touristy food, souvenirs, accommodations, etc. you will once again need to do a little research. Venture off the beaten path to discover more local and authentic services and items. Shouldn’t traveling be about experiencing another culture anyways? Being stuck in the middle of tourist-central will not provide you with that type of experience. In touristy areas everything is catered to what the locals think us westerners will enjoy. And, they expect us to pay for the overpriced tourist kitsch…mostly because we do. However, as soon as you move out a little from the main areas you will save money on everything while getting a better experience. You will be able to find much better souvenirs as they will be original and authentic, and sometimes even better quality.
When trying to keep to a budget or save money while traveling, planning ahead is the most important factor in your success. While traveling, make a game out of not spending. See how long you can go without spending money, and try to search out deals. Just think, the more cheaply you travel, the more often you will be able to travel.