No question about it: once the world is coronavirus free, people will travel once more. So, why not start planning now? Here are some easy financial travel tips that will save you some cash on vacation!
Finding A Destination
One of the easiest ways to save money on vacation? Head somewhere less expensive! While places like Japan, South Korea, and France are beautiful destinations, they are very expensive. Why not look outside of popular destinations? “Regardless of whether you want to go near or far, destinations like Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, will give you a huge bang for your buck,” Becca Siegel and Dan Gold, the couple from the blog @halfhalftravel, said. That’s precisely how they afford better hotels, food, and transportation on every journey!
Picking A Date
The dates you head on vacation also matter, believe it or not. While booking, try and remain as flexible as possible with the dates, in order to earn the best deal. Most of the time, visiting places on weekdays will result in better deals. So, if you can, save up the vacation days and take some weekdays off!
There are also plenty of online tools you can use to save a few bucks before traveling. “My husband and I will use Skyscanner to find cheap travel deals based on month,” Helene and Michael Sula from the blog HeleneInBetween.com said. “Going in the off-season, during the week, or when a deal pops up is a recipe for savings.”
Using Credit Cards Abroad
Did you know that many credit cards will charge fees for transactions abroad? Many don’t! In fact, many don’t know until they show up on the bill. “Always use a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees — otherwise, you will most likely be paying 3% (or more) on top of your purchases,” John E. DiScala, founder of JohnnyJet.com, warned.
Of course, also always make sure you look into the local currency and transaction standards in the country you are visiting, if traveling abroad. “Your home currency, such as US dollars, would seem to be the more convenient option, and the sales clerks may make you think that, but in reality it’s not,” DiScala said. In any case, it’s better to take a few different credit cards along. When one is blocked or denied, another will come in handy.
Dining Smart
So you’re on vacation! Are there any ways to save some cash while out and about? Of course! When you head abroad, bypass the fancy restaurants near the hotels. Instead, ask locals where they like to eat. It’ll likely be cheap and delicious.
“If you ask people with a vested interest or ones that deal with tourists all day in their job, they are going to go for the safe bets and the fancier places, not the hole-in-the-wall places where they would really go themselves on a budget,” said Tim Leffel, the author of The World’s Cheapest Destinations. On the other hand, merely going to the grocery store and shopping for food is even cheaper!
Sources: BusinessInsider, Finance101