It’s Summer and many of us are traveling to other countries, but sometimes we end up spending much more money than we expected! So here are some easy tips to save money during your trips!
- ☺ Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly! (Then wednesday and saturday)
- ☺ Bring a plastic bottle with you when walking around, fill it at fountains or wherever you can, don’t pay for water. Do this only if the country’s water is safe!
- ☺ Locate the closest supermarket to your hotel and buy snacks, they will be cheaper than anything you can buy at the hotel.
- ☺ Snacks are good also to avoid paying for desserts when eating out. Just skip dessert and have your sweet treat somewhere else.
- ☺ Don’t pay for your suitcase, it will be cheaper to buy the toiletries you need in a supermarket.
- ☺ Or carry travel size toiletries, you can also fill tiny containers with what you need.
- ☺ Find the days of the week museums in that city are cheaper or free!
- ☺ Don’t buy the tourist transport card, check the ones the locals use!
- ☺ Want to visit some parks or gardens? Do a picnic there and save a restaurant meal!
- ☺ Buy instant soup, noodles and any other foods that just need hot water for some cheap hotel room dinners!
- ☺ Buses are usually the cheapest way to move, get a map downloaded to your phone!
- ☺ If your room doesn’t include breakfast don’t pay for it, most of the times they are overpriced. Go to the closest cafe and you’ll find cheap breakfast deals and better coffee!
- ☺ Put the places you want to visit on a map, take a bus to one area and walk to all the places nearby.
- ☺ Local drinks and products are cheaper than imported stuff: beers, vegetables, dairy, wine, etc.
- ☺ Avoid touristic areas’ restaurants and bars, check online for the ones the locals like, usually they are cheaper and cooler!
- ☺ Want some souvenirs? Invest in magnets they are cheaper than tees or mugs and take less space and weight in your suitcase.
- ☺ Check the hotel’s reception for discounts and offers, they can also give you advice on places to eat good traditional food.
- ☺ Make sure your hotel has wifi and use internet just at free wifi hotspots: museums, cafes… you don’t need it 24/7 you are on holiday!
- ☺ Foursquare* is a great app to get advice and recommendations from locals and other tourists.
- ☺ Fancy a drink out? Check for places with happy hour!
- ☺ Buy your own resealable bags for your liquids and bring some extra to carry cookies, crisps or nuts in your bag.
- ☺ Avoid coins as plague, the more coins you have the easier you will spend them on useless things, and if you have any when you get home no one will exchange them.
- ☺ When going from and to the airport always buy a return ticket you will save some good cash there.
- ☺ Some countries give you Tax Refunds! So research before you leave the country!
- ☺ When making your bookings clear your browser’s cookies. Maybe just an urban legend**? Just in case better do it.
- ☺ Check the city’s free walking tours! Many have a few!
- ☺ Before leaving home follow places you are interested in on Twitter: hotel, museums, restaurants… You won’t miss events and might even get a few discounts!
- ☺ Brunch is a much better option than breakfast+lunch to save money daily!
- ☺ Use apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Google+ Hangouts to call for free!
- ☺ Check the money you have for travel expenses and set a budget for each day.
- ☺ Buy snacks and food for the plane in the airport, don’t pay airlines’ overpriced snacks!
- ☺ Check B&B and guesthouses before you book a cheap hotel. Some have higher food and room standards and you might get best local advice from the owners and workers there!
- ☺ Buy maps and guides on your destination city not at home! They are much cheaper there.
- ☺ Check museum passes, some are worth if you want to visit a few!
- ☺ Carry a small container with some washing powder, so you can use it to wash your underwear and light clothing in the hotel bathroom which means you’ll have to carry less clothes!
- ☺ Try local ride-sharing services like Blablacar*** instead of renting a car.
- ☺ Need a toilet? Don’t go into a bar/cafe and pay for a drink just to use it, look for the closest free museum or library, they are usually near the entrance.
- ☺ Vaseline is a good cheap life saver: your feet are sore? vaseline, your lips crack because its too hot or too cold? vaseline…
- ☺ Don’t have an adapter plug? or forgot yours? Before you hurry to buy one ask in your hotel, many have a few to lend guests for free.
- ☺ Coffee chains are super expensive, go for a local cafe! Why travel to a place with amazing coffee like Italy and enter a Starbucks?
- ☺ Get an international student ID card! (If you are a student!)
- ☺ Big airports have trains and buses that bring you straight to 2 or 3 different big cities, so you might have more than one perfect airport to get to your destination place!
- ☺ You went shopping and your stuff doesn’t fit in your suitcase anymore? Wear your biggest shoes and heavy clothes, even layers. Once past security control you can take some out.
- ☺ Food markets are nice to visit, a part of any city’s culture! Also you can buy delicious fresh cheap food there!
- ☺ Renting a bike can be an amazing way to see a city and do longer distances than by walking!
* Foursquare.
** Cleaning browser’s cookies!
*** Blablacar.
