5 Critical Skills to Travel on a Budget Remarkably Well

Travel can be a large expense, especially for more elaborate trips. But taking your next family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out these skills all adventurers should have to plan a great trip, within any budget.

1. Travel with Friends

The first tip is to travel with others. This is a great way to save money when all parties are willing to participate! Items like plane tickets, hotels, and intermediary travel can be cheaper when bought in bulk. Another benefit of traveling with others is room accommodations. By choosing to travel with others, you can rent a larger room or house, and share the expense. As the saying goes, many hands make light work.

2. Shop for deals!

This is the biggest skill needed when it comes to traveling on a budget. Many big-ticket items will go on sale, which can decrease the overall expenses. There are also apps which can help you plan the appropriate timing of purchases. Apps like, Hopper, Skyscanner, AirFareWatchDog, and JetRadar can help you track your destination and the best time to purchase the tickets. Another great resource is Airbnb, which allows travelers to find local rentals at a discounted rate, typically cheaper than a traditional hotel.

3. Take time to plan.

Planning ahead for your vacations can save a significant amount of money. Often, purchasing tickets online in advance can be significantly cheaper than purchasing at the gate. For instance, tours and museum tickets are oftentimes discounted when bought in advance. When purchased at the door/gate, these discounts are unavailable.

4. Plan around seasons

When looking at dates and purchases for traveling, it’s best to plan around the best season for the destination. If you have the freedom in your schedule, plan your vacation around non-peak seasons. For example, Europe in the summer is a heavy travel season. Theme parks near holidays are a peak season. By planning for seasons, you can save money on your trip and avoid the crowds!

5. Book rooms with amenities

This is our final hack for a reason. If you choose the right rooms, you can save a significant amount of money on food. First, look for hotels which offer free breakfast. This is one meal of the day you will have included in your expenses from the hotel. The second amenity to look for is rooms with a kitchen or refrigerator and microwave. By utilizing these amenities, you can save additional expenses on food by buying groceries and cooking in your room! Some hotels even offer additional amenities such as a slow cooker. Utilize these services and save money on your food!

So there you have it! Our top five tips for saving money while traveling. There are many other ways to do so, but these are our most frequently used here at FFL. What tip are you excited to use on your next trip? What hacks do you use that we didn’t list? Let us know in the comments below.