Traveling can be quite expensive if you fail to come up with a proper budget. It is important for you to first of all establish how much you are willing to spend on your trip. Most people these days consider traveling a luxury especially given the hard economic times being experienced worldwide.
However, it is possible to travel on a budget and be able to enjoy your holiday at the same time. The following are tips on how to travel on budget.
How much are you willing to spend?
This is a very crucial question to ask yourself before you can to start thinking about your destination. How much money do you want to spend on your trip? You should know how much money you can comfortably spend without leaving a dent in your finances.
Once you have established this, then this should be the starting point of your trip or holiday. You should set aside the amount of money you have allocated to your trip, and then you can proceed with your travel plans. You should avoid spending more than you can afford, remember you will need money for use when you get back from your trip or holiday.
Choose an affordable mode of transport
After you have ascertained how much money is available to you, then you can choose the most affordable means of transport. You should do research on the Internet and find out who has the best deals on air, road, ship, rail etc.
You are likely to find a few budget airlines at a very attractive price. If you don’t have time to do research, then get help from a travel agent who will give you a wide selection of some of the affordable travel packages that are available. There are several travel packages available from which you can choose from, and that offer huge discounts.
Look for affordable accommodation packages
Another important component of your travel is getting good affordable accommodation. Do an online research and look for good deals on accommodations which are available along your route. Usually, you will find some affordable hostels such as those for backpackers. These are safe and have all the basic facilities needed.
Avoid spending nights in dingy looking like places; such places are risky and usually have high rates of crime. You should also consider sleeper and couchette trains which have an affordable package of travel and accommodation.
You can also choose to spend the nights with friends as a way of saving on your expenses. Inform your friends in advance and stay with them instead of staying in a motel.
Spend less during daytime
As a traveler, you should spend the day walking around instead of jumping into a cab every now and then when touring the area. Tour the city, or town, walk and get a good view of the area. Avoid spending too much while on holiday; you should find out from the locals some of the places where you can spend less, especially when it comes to meals and leisure. Avoid buying too many souvenirs, and instead put your camera to good use and capture the scenery around in photos souvenirs.
Use cash
Do not be tempted to use your credit/debit cards instead use cash as a way of restricting yourself on how much you spend. This is a brilliant way of making sure that you don’t spend unnecessarily while traveling.
Travel light
It is also advisable for you to travel light. Avoid taking a large bag and only take what you will need. This is also a good time to only pack clothes that you can use in multiple ways. For example, instead of carrying bed sheets and extra clothes, use a sarong as a bed sheet at night, and a wrapper during the day.
Make your own food
Instead of spending much on eating out, it is advisable for you to buy your own groceries and prepare your meals if possible. This is a brilliant way of making a saving on the cost of food while traveling.
Traveling is fun, and it is your right to enjoy your holiday every minute of the way without having to worry about spending too much.