Tips on planning a trip on a budget

Planning a trip can be a daunting task, but it can feel impossible when you’re trying to stay within a reasonable budget.

Dreamstime/TNS

By Lacey Pfalz
TravelPulse (TNS)

Planning a trip can be a daunting task, but it can feel impossible when you’re trying to stay within a reasonable budget. Yet Travel Insured International offers a few important tips to remember to help make your travel planning process go smoothly and ensure you’ll stay within your budget, no matter how far you’ll be traveling from home.

Be realistic about your budget

The first step to any travel planning is to be honest about how much you can reasonably spend on your trip. Consider everything from transportation and accommodation (the two biggest expenses), to things like food and even souvenirs. If you already have a destination in mind, search for those flights and accommodations, and write down what you expect them to cost based on your research.

Travel Insured International also recommends to include a small buffer for unexpected expenses, and to allocate some money towards purchasing a travel insurance plan, which can help you save money if you need to cancel or change your trip, or for certain unexpected events like losing your luggage.

Choosing your destination

Let’s be real: Some destinations are just pricier than others. We recommend using online resources to find second-city destinations or, if you’re traveling internationally, to pick destinations where the U.S. dollar has a higher value than the local currency, ensuring you’ll likely get more for your hard-earned dollars.

Remember to be flexible with travel dates and even your destinations when planning on a budget.
If you can’t choose your destination, or you know you want to visit a more popular, pricier locale, then the next tips are definitely for you.
Travel off-season

This is one of the best ways to travel cheaper, and there are also some great benefits, such as fewer crowds in popular destinations. Flights, accommodations and even some attractions will all be cheaper in many destinations when travel demand is low — that’s why we recommend traveling to many summer-popular destinations (like Rome or Paris) in the winter. Sure, you’ll have to pack that jacket, but you’ll also be able to save hundreds of dollars and enjoy less crowded everything!

To save on airfare any time, consider traveling midweek instead of during the weekend, when many travelers consider it convenient to do so. This might save you a few hundred dollars, too.

Additionally, it’s important not to book your flights at the last minute. You should book your flights at least three months in advance to get the best deals, and price shoppers can use a variety of websites to compare airlines and dates to get their preferred deals.
Affordable accommodations

Besides getting to your destination, paying for accommodations is likely the second biggest expense of any trip. That’s why it’s important to choose the one that works for your budget: budget hotels, vacation rentals or hostels might be the best options for those looking to tighten their belts. If you’re looking to save money, consider lowering your expectations.

Use public transportation

Many cities around the world offer cheap public transportation not just for the residents, but for travelers, too. Buses, trains and metro systems are all great options for travelers to save money, instead of using costly taxis or rideshares.

Make sure to research your destination’s public transportation options prior to arrival, and consider a travel pass that allows for unlimited travel for a fixed period to get the most out of your trip.

Meal planning

Heavy tourist areas can offer pricey meals for convenience, so it’s important to plan some of your meals to be more affordable. Check out local markets and street food options, or smaller hole-in-the-wall haunts away from touristy areas.

If you’ll be staying in a destination longer term, consider staying in an accommodation with a kitchen or kitchenette that offers the ability to cook your own food. Doing this instead of eating out at every meal can save you money, too.

Search for free activities and experiences

While it’s important to budget the price of entry to incredible attractions like the Louvre or the Colosseum (and often to purchase tickets in advance prior to traveling), there are also many events and experiences you can enjoy on a budget, or without any cash at all!

The Internet is a great resource for these: visit blogs written by locals in your destination, or visit the destination’s tourism website to get a calendar of the major events. Parks and some museums in certain destinations could also be free, or fairly inexpensive to visit.

Some destinations also offer a multi-use pass that can provide entry into several different museums or attractions at a reduced cost, which might come in handy if you’re interested in visiting the attractions listed.

Use those rewards points

Are you a frequent traveler? If so, it can save you money to be part of a hotel or airline loyalty reward program. Many credit cards also offer travel rewards points that you can redeem for flights, hotels, upgrades and even experiences, which can save you money in the long run.
The bottom line

Traveling on a budget is possible, but it takes flexibility, open-mindedness and the desire to research everything thoroughly. If you think you have what it takes, then take these tips and use them to plan your next dream vacation on a budget.