By now, you’re probably well aware of the way in which COVID has fundamentally altered international travel. After all, millions of vacations have been cancelled over the past two years in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Yet, with vaccination programs rolling out across the world, you may find that you’re packing your suitcase again much sooner than you think.
Photo by GeoJango Maps on Unsplash
While you may be desperate to step into the ocean or to drink a cocktail under sun-kissed skies (or to be anywhere other than your home), it’s important to remember that the perfect vacation requires a lot of careful planning, especially if you’re working within a tight budget.
That being said, you don’t have to break the bank in order to have fun on your vacay!
With that in mind, here are some top tips to save money when travelling in 2022.
- Decide on your budget ahead of time. While travelling is a great deal of fun, it can also be pretty expensive. After all, you have to be able to pay for flights, accommodation, amenities and more – which will likely take a big chunk out of your savings. However, you can ensure you are prepared for this by setting yourself a clear budget ahead of time. This way, you can set aside small amounts of money each month in order to fund your trip. If you find budgeting hard, you may want to download a Budgeting App on your phone which can do the hard work on your behalf.
- Find new ways to fund your travel. While you may be willing to dip into your savings, it’s also important to remember that there are plenty of other ways to fund your travel. For example, you could sell old travel photographs to stock websites – and receive a fair amount of cash in return. This is a great way to earn passive income while exploring the world and can also help you to take the stress out of travel.
- Find the best airline deals. After dealing with thousands of cancellations during the pandemic, airlines are desperate to get passengers in seats once again. However, in some cases, this means that their prices have skyrocketed to cover the losses they have incurred in recent years – which could make travelling costly. As a result, it’s important that you ensure you’re getting the best possible deal for your flight. For example, if you fly with Southwest, you may be eligible for the Southwest Companion Pass. This is a customer perk that allows you to bring along an extra passenger for a fraction of the usual price – you simply need to pay for the taxes and fees as opposed to their flight.
- Contact hotels directly. After paying for the flights, you’ll also have to dedicate a large portion of your budget to your accommodation, whether you’re staying in a luxury hotel or an airb&b. Thankfully, there are plenty of hotel hacks that will save you money when booking. For example, you can use a price comparison site to figure out which travel company will give you the most value for your money. However, you may also find that you get the best possible deal when contacting the hotel directly. This is due to the fact the hotel does not have to pay any fees to the travel company, and as such, can offer you a much better price.
- Avoid the bigger tourists attractions. Travel is the best thing you can do if you want to learn more about the world around you. After all, it gives you a chance to visit some of the biggest and most famous tourist destinations, such as historic landmarks. However, if you want to save money, you might want to try bypassing these sites altogether – especially when tickets are expensive. Not only are they usually pretty crowded, but they also aren’t always the best way to experience everything a country has on offer. Instead, ask locals for recommendations of things to see and do in each city.
- Be prepared for extra charges. Budgeting is a great way to ensure that you don’t overspend when you are on your trip – and while you may have put together plenty of travelling budgets during your time, it’s important to remember that travelling during the pandemic may come with extra charges. For example, some countries may require you to pay for COVID-19 tests ahead of travel and before heading home. In some cases, you may also have to isolate upon your return.
