It goes without saying that most people are not satisfied with staying in the same spot for very long. We love to travel, whether it be a week-long family holiday to the south of France or a month spent backpacking around south east Asia with some friends from University.
The only thing stopping many of us from doing this frequently is the money it inevitably costs. However, there are a number of things that you can do to save money on holidays that should make it cheaper without taking away from the overall experience of a long-awaited holiday.
Where possible, buy in advance
This one especially applies to plane tickets, which if booked a few months in advance are several times cheaper than if purchased the week before you jet off. Depending on the type of holiday you are planning, as well as your own personality, you may want to either book as much a possible and have a clear path laid out for what you plan to do, or you may prefer to arrive at your destination and then go wherever the wind takes you.
If you are traveling to multiple locations with friends or on your own then pre-booking hostel or hotel rooms may not be ideal for more than a couple of nights, but if you are staying in one area or just like your plans to be structured then try to book accommodation in advance. This won’t save you as much money as buying flights way in advance, but it’ll definitely save you enough to treat yourself to something!
Use public transport
Hiring a car can be expensive, and getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road in an unfamiliar city can be an absolute nightmare. So, why not take full advantage of public transport and get someone else to do all the work for you? Lots of popular travel destinations and big cities have stellar public transport networks with easy-to-use bus and train/metro passes.
Lisbon tramways by Pedro Ribeiro Simões (CC BY 2.0)
Think about when you’re traveling
Nobody wants to touch down in an exotic paradise to find it packed full of drunken louts or families with small children. School holidays do not just mean that flights are much more expensive, they also have the potential to turn your relaxing backpacking holiday into a fortnight spent struggling to get onto overcrowded beaches and into booked-up hostels.
Being forced to spend more money than you hoped for can lead to disastrous consequences in a foreign country, and without money lenders like Wonga to get you out of a tight spot, it isn’t a situation that anybody would want to be in. Be sure to have properly checked when is the best time to embark on your holiday you’ve planned.
Pack for every situation
Even if the location you’re heading to hasn’t had any rain in the last month, that doesn’t mean it will be shorts and t-shirt weather for your entire stay. You shouldn’t take a large winter coat, but failing to take some jeans and an anorak may force you into spending fifty euros when the heavens finally decide to open.
Take advantage of free entertainment
Museums, art galleries, theater and music gigs can all come at a steep price, or they can be seen for free if you know who to ask or where to go. Instead of paying 15 euros to get into an art gallery full of tourists with bored or screaming children, why not try to look for same smaller venues and exhibitions around the city that contain stunning art in a much more intimate, and cheaper setting. Websites like Tripadvisor can help you find some stunning events.
Matt Small Exhibition by urbanartcore.eu (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Don’t eat out every night
Eating out at local restaurants and cafes is admittedly appealing, and indulging occasionally is encouraged, but eating out for lunch and dinner every day can rack up a hefty bill. Foreign cities don’t just have good places to eat out, they also tend to have quality food shops like bakers, butchers and even takeaways that can give you a taste of culture that you otherwise may not have had.
It’s also much cheaper! With internet access in foreign countries now relatively easy if the correct research is done beforehand, a quick look on online will give you the necessary information for a pleasant home-cooked meal.
How do you save money on your holidays?
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*The unedited beach image by Paris /CC-BY-NC-2.0
Excellent tips. Depending on where we go, we try to get a place with a kitchenette area so we can buy food and make it ourselves. It does save a lot to not eat out every night.
Awesome advice. Planning ahead always helps in the saving department.
What great advice, I try and plan in advice and book where possible at the cheapest price to help with savings. x
These are all good tips. We often go to Europe during our Spring Break here because it’s chilly there…meaning no lines, not a lot of visitors, etc. We love it!
We actually don’t even travel on the holidays. It’s too crazy!
I love them all except the not eating out – I always get stuck with the cooking so eating out is my favorite part of a trip usually! We do book in advance though when we go places.
Great travel trips. I don’t get to travel much and I love any kind of money saving ideas
These are great tips especially enjoying the free entertainment you can find.
Traveling can be so expensive during the holidays. It is definitely good to plan ahead.
That is what I try to do on holidays. I love saving money while still enjoying myself 🙂
I love these tips. Since we homeschool, we strive to not travel on the holidays because it gets harder, but all of the these do apply, anyways, and my favorite is taking advantage of free entertainment!
Eating out every meal will KILL your budget!! Saving money while having a great time is so important!
Great tips! We don’t travel much but when we do this will be great to know!
I try to book as far in advance as i can. If its a last minute trip i watch for seat sales. Thanks for sharing these great tips.
I like when you can make something quick in room. Especially with kids, sometimes it is more work to head to the restaurant.
These are all great tips. I enjoy travelling in the ‘off season’. It is cheaper and a whole lot less stressful. I am a teacher and I very rarely travel during holidays. If I do, (like I am planning to go to the UK next summer), I book way in advance.
Public transportation is the best! Though sometimes with a big family it does tend to get pricey. All great advice, Ave! 🙂
Thanks for the tips, I’m sure to save a little money here and there now. Sometimes planning a vacation is hard because of the expense you know? Where to splurge and where not to splurge is always the question! Thanks again.