HOW TO PLAN A VACATION WITH LITTLE MONEY
HOW TO PLAN A VACATION WITH LITTLE MONEY
You have big travel dreams, but your travel budget is small or possibly non-existent? How do you eke out an international trip with little money? No problem! I am here to share some helpful tips and step-by-step guidance on how to plan a vacation with little money. The focus will be on overseas travel and not a Staycation. So, continue reading to learn how to plan a vacation with little money like a pro.
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Plan According to your Savings/Budget
What is the first step in planning a vacation with little money, or should I say budget-friendly vacation? Begin by planning and working with what you have already saved towards your trip (not your life savings). If you have not begun saving any monies or have insufficient funds, (click here for tips on how to save money to travel), and continue saving until you have reached your goal.
The main idea is to MAKE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT, NO MATTER WHAT!!! No loan unless you can repay it before the interest is due or in a short-stipulated time. Added to this, be sure you are not planning to max out your credit card to pay for any part of your trip.
First, I am going to focus on the main travel essentials:
- Airfare/transport
- Accommodation
- Basic amenities like food, ground transport, and tours in the intended country. Therefore, have a budgeted figure for each and base your research within that price range only. The key is, you must plan and budget within your means. Remember, “do not hang your hat where you cannot reach it!!”
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1. COMPARE THE COST FOR TICKETS/TRANSPORT PER COUNTRY
You have your notepad and pen ready. Let us begin by making a list of the countries you would most like to visit. Be realistic, of course, remember the closer the country, the cheaper the airfare/train/bus fare will be. More than likely, you already have an idea which countries you would like to visit. If not, check my top 12 favourite destinations for some ideas.
The first step is to use one of the many online flight comparative booking engines like CheapOair, to compare the costs of the airline tickets to the countries of choice. After the comparison of prices, note of the cheapest ones. However, if the airfare is low cost, don’t get excited too quickly.
The fact is, the airfare to a country could be a bargain, but the food, amenities, accommodation, etc., might be super-expensive. Undoubtedly, this will affect the overall cost of your trip. For me, Iceland was a perfect example of this. Because the airline ticket was cheap, but everything else was so expensive.
Those not wishing to use a plane but prefer to use a bus, train, or even ferry, have no problem. In this case, it is easy to find ground transport companies by a simple google search “How to get to (country name) by land or sea.” You will find a list of all modes of transport to your intended destination, the timetables, distance, and prices. You can then decide the cheapest and most convenient option and company to use.
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2. ACCOMMODATION SEARCH
On to the second step, finding reasonably priced accommodation using comparative search engines. Moreover, the goal is to find accommodation in an inexpensive and convenient location.
- Use a hotel booking search engine like Booking.com or even TripAdvisor, for not only the price comparisons but accommodation reviews as well. Search for the best prices (within your budgeted price range) in only the countries with the cheapest airfares. Consequently, make a note of the countries with the most reasonably priced accommodation.
3. SEARCH GOOGLE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After ascertaining an average cost of airlines/transportation and accommodation. It is time to narrow down your choices to one country based on the estimated costs of transport, food, and amenities. You then visit Google to search: “Daily rate of transport, food prices, etc. per visitor in (country name)” and any other information regarding safety, etc. for the chosen country.
Furthermore, this information will give you an idea of the taxi, bus, train/metro, and even the fares from the airport to your hotel. Now that you have obtained the relevant information, it is time to choose one country to visit. This country will be the cheapest overall, including transport/airline ticket, accommodation, food, and amenities.
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4. BOOKING THE CHEAPEST AIRLINE TICKET
You have done your comparative research and have chosen a country to visit. Depending on your location and your desired destination, you may have many alternative transport choices other than planes. That is a bonus, especially if flying is more costly.
So, for those who must use an airplane to get to their destinations, here are some ways to find the cheapest airline ticket.
How to Locate and book the Cheapest Airline Ticket
Essentially, these tips will help lower your budgeted airline costs by locating and booking the cheapest available flights. The point is, every dime adds up when you are planning a vacation with little money. So, as previously written in my article (20 things you should know about travel), here are some (money-saving) tips to consider before purchasing an airline ticket.
- Don’t book your airline tickets too early or too close to the travel date. An average of 2 to 4 months in advance is good.
- Book your ticket online. It is cheaper because you pay no service fees to a travel agent or airline ticket agent.
- Plan your flights to travel on certain days like Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. Those days seem to be the cheapest days to fly.
- Flights in early mornings (dawn) or overnight (midnight onwards) tend to be cheaper.
- Avoid seasonal (esp. summer and spring), major holidays and weekend flights. In most cases, they are more expensive.
- Mix segments of your trip, along with airplanes. Use trains, buses, or ferries to cut costs. If you don’t mind the long journey.
- Long stopovers/connecting flights can be cheaper than direct flights. Use them especially if you are not in a hurry to reach your destination.
- Search for package deals that include amenities such as accommodation and transport when booking your flight. Undoubtedly, CheapOair and or Skyscanner can help with this.
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5. CHOOSING BUDGET-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
For those who have friends, family, or will use Couchsurfing in the chosen country, for sure, you will save money because you will not pay for accommodation. Remember that it is a budget-friendly vacation, and anything to lower expenditure is gold.
Without a doubt, I recommend a hostel for those who must pay for their room and lodging. It is still the cheapest form of accommodation to date. Whereas it might have its privacy drawback, just suck it up and focus on the savings.
Before booking your accommodation, it is advisable to use TripAdvisor. It not only gives you price comparisons from all booking sites but candid reviews from prior guests.
You will get detailed information about the best location, cleanliness, etc., (you can also find guest reviews on Booking.com). These reviews give honest and helpful information to help you decide on which accommodation to avoid and which is best for your budget and needs.
How to Choose the most budget-friendly Room and Boarding
For some people staying at a beautiful hotel is a big part of their vacation. In most cases, this costs a lot. My advice is to focus on the activities and sightseeing instead of the room and its aesthetics. Remember, you only sleep in the room, so why go lavish and expensive?
The travel memories are more priceless than that of the room. Therefore, it is better to pay for tours and get out and see the country.
Here are some money-saving options and tips to consider before choosing and booking your room.
- Smaller hotels are usually better priced than the ones with big brand names.
- Explore House Swaps. Many people will exchange their homes with someone else for free. If you are comfortable with someone else in your home and vice versa, why not do?! Google search homeexchange for more information.
- Couchsurf to the rescue, as I previously wrote, this option will provide free lodging. Additionally, if you have a hospitable host, they will more than likely feed you, provide transport, and sightseeing also for free.
- Choose apartments or Air BnBs’ because they are usually cheaper than hotels. They come fully furnished and functional. Added to this, you can save on meals by purchasing groceries and cooking your meals every day.
- Book a hotel that offers breakfast included in the room rate. Consider how much you are saving compared to a room alone at a similar price.
MUST HAVE ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR ALL TRAVELLERS
These are my essentials and gadgets I can never do without for a smooth and stress-free vacation. All are available on Amazon for direct links to the products and information and suggested uses .
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YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED YOUR TRIP
You have compared airlines, accommodation, average food and transport prices, and secured the overall lowest prices. If the total cost is within your budget, then its time to begin booking each starting with airline, then accommodation, using the tips I previously shared.
Now remember to read the booking tips before you buy your ticket, and reserve your accommodation in the country most budget-friendly. So continue reading for additional tips, how to save even more and spend less, before and during your vacation.
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- It has an 8-in-1 functionality: The Ninja Air fries, Air roasts, Air broils, Bakes, Dehydrates, and keep warm all in one appliance.
- Additionally it takes up 50% less space when you flip it up and away to store against your backsplash.
6. MISC. TIPS TO HELP YOU SPEND WISE & SAVE MORE MONEY
Here are some additional tips to help you with travel costs, manage your budget and save extra whilst on vacation.
- Use travel points to purchase your ticket, if you have a credit card that offers this option.
- Calculate your daily budget and stick to it.
- Avoid baggage fees. Pack the allotted kg (according to the airline) for both carry-on and checked luggage. It is better than paying exorbitant overweight fees. If your baggage is over the stipulated weight, dump some crap from it to avoid paying extra costs. I have been there and done that a few times.
- Cut back unnecessary purchases like clothes and trinkets from every country you visit. Those who drink can also run up a tab, cut back on the drinks, and treating others as well.
- Invest in a city/tourist card or City Pass, which can save you a lot. They are usually for transport (taxis excluded) and or tours in and around the city for one flat price. Avoid taxis if you can, unless necessary, because their high prices. Instead use the metro and buses to save more.
- Use cash, not cards, for your purchases. Many establishments frown upon the use of credit cards and unwillingly accept them. Also, if the stores offer a discount, they will not offer it to you if you use a credit card. Besides this, in most times, they also charge you foreign exchange fees.
- Avoid having meals at the hotel or touristy restaurants because the prices are usually higher. Do some research on TripAdvisor and find the local restaurants or even opt for the buffet-style meal options, if available. I can highly recommend many of the Ali Baba Restaurants that are popping up in many countries. They are usually very cheap and offer tasty and complete meal options. A much better option than surviving on junk/fast foods.
- Look for the free city group walking tours. Many European cities have these and can save you a lot. At the end of the sightseeing tour, the tour guide receives a small donation. Check TripAdvisor for their locations etc. and how to connect and meet up with them. For more tour and sightseeing options, it is best to book in advance.
- Bring your airport/onboard snacks when travelling. I can vouch for this as a real money saver. Because snacks at the airports and onboard some airlines that do not offer refreshments, are super expensive. Some people go an extra step by taking an empty bottle to fill with tap water at airports. I will not recommend this unless you are accustomed to drinking it with no issues.
WRAPPING UP
As previously mentioned, you do not have to be rich to travel. It just takes some self-discipline to save towards it. Therefore, trade-off something else to achieve your travel goal. When you book the right low-budget destination and plan well, your budget vacation can feel and look very expensive.
By saving on one trip, you are technically saving for a second one without realizing it. So, now you know how to plan a vacation with little money. It is time to do some research and plan your next budget-friendly vacation. Therefore, invest in the (#Ad) best compact travel camera (available Amazon) to capture your memorable moments on your trip.
Share your comments on this topic and any other tips regarding cutting costs on a low-budget trip. Also, subscribe to be first to receive future articles.
The best compact travel Camera, the Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera, with 18-135mm Zoom Lens.
It is perfect for all travellers and photographers.
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