My Top Tips for Travelling Cheap
As a newly graduated student (with a part-time job), I am what you would call a "penny pincher". I will take any chance I can get to save a dollar or two here and there. Sales are my best friends, especially when they're on airfare or hotel rates. I L.O.V.E to travel, but it can get really pricey (at least at my preferred frequency..). However, there are tons of ways to save on your next vacation! Pay attention because these are my tried and true tips/secrets to saving as much money as possible when travelling.
BROWSING INCOGNITO
You would be surprised at how much your browsing history is selling you out when it comes to e-commerce. When you continually search for the same flights in your regular browser, the cookies catch your search and the cheap rates disappear! The more you search for the same flights the more the prices appear to increase. Switching over to private browsing or incognito prevents your search history from being saved and jacking up your airfare. Try it out and see how much you can save!
BOOK ON OFF DAYS
Everyone and their mother is booking their flights for Thursday, Friday, Saturday etc. It seems as though travelling on these days is ALWAYS more expensive. Booking your flights and accommodation for a Tuesday or Wednesday guarantees you get the lowest prices of the week. This is especially true for Tuesday mornings, as airlines are constantly competing to match each others' deals and prices. Flying when most people don't want to can seem like a pain, but you'll save yourself a ton of money and likely a ton of time/layovers.
ARRIVE PREPARED
My tips don't only apply to booking your trip, they also apply to once you've arrived at your destination! One of my favourite things to do to save some money is to bring snacks and an empty water bottle with you! This will save you money at the airport AND once you've landed. Fill the bottle up at your hotel or AirBNB, and save the snacks for when you have the munchies but don't want a full meal. Another thing I bring with me when I travel is a set of travel size Tide sachets to wash a few basics in the sink. Think a few pairs of underwear and socks, a bathing suit, or maybe a tshirt here and there. They really come in handy when you're away for under a week and don't have access to a washer and dryer!
LOOK FOR SPECIALS AND DEALS
Restaurants and attractions at home have specials and deals, so your travel destination is no different. Looking out for them is a great way to save money on food and sightseeing because it can get pretty pricey when you're away for more than a few days. Get breakfast, lunch, or dinner on a dime, or even cheap drink deals at bars (those ones are my fave). You may even be able to find deals on local attractions when booking your flights/hotels, so be sure to do some research and keep an eye out for travel packages! A great resource for this is Groupon. They always have great singles/couples/family bundles to save you a bunch of cash all at once.
Travelling cheap allows you to spend less money on your current trip and more planning your next trip! Plus, saving money and finding deals always feels good. Use these tips and tricks when planning your next vacation, and be sure to share any other travel secrets you may have with me in the comments below! I have a permanent case of wanderlust so I am ALWAYS looking to book another trip. Bon voyage!
