The following is a sponsored post.
Are you fed up of paying a fortune to go on holiday? Do you fancy saving money on everything from eating out to worldwide travel insurance? Well, help is here in the form of the following cost-effective holiday hints.
Get online
Booking a trip away online could literally save you hundreds, especially if you plan well in advance. Leaving it until late in the day is risky and while the tactic could ultimately pay rich reward if you end up getting a last-minute deal, there’s always the chance you may ultimately have to bite the bullet and pay massively over the odds. Lower the risk and instead source things like accommodation, car hire and flights well in advance. If you require travel insurance compare the various different policies available to ensure you get a good deal and the right cover for your circumstances.
Get inspired
Food is a major drain on any holiday budget, making it important that you think about how best to go about keeping yourself and your travel party fed and watered. Dining out two or three times a day will soon hit you hard in the pocket and leave you in a constant cycle of eating, paying the bill and then tipping. The standard of food could also be underwhelming after a while, so why not prepare a few meals for yourself to break up the monotony of eating out constantly? You could certainly make breakfast and lunch yourself and then treat yourself to a nice evening meal out instead of going from one restaurant to the next every few hours. Scour voucher websites before you go to see if there are any discount deals available wherever you’re heading off to.
Get active
Another expense to consider in the build-up to a holiday is how you intend to get about once you arrive. If you can walk then do. Not only is it a great source of free exercise, but is also a good way of exploring a new city and town as long as it’s safe to do so. Bike hire is another cheaper alternative to using public transport or car hire, although you may be able to get a bargain deal on the latter if you keep your eyes peeled online. Places like Amsterdam and London are bike-friendly cities and this could be an activity that the whole family can enjoy and make a real focal point for an entire day.
10 Comments
Why wait for the holidays? Everyone should start now and do it all year long. It is similar to waiting till a Monday to start a diet. Why wait?
@Krantcents – I know people who do holiday shop all year. I just can’t get my brain around it until a month or two before, but that just me. 😉
Camping is a great way to spend a holiday without spending much money. Your lodging, meals, and entertainment can be very inexpensive. You do need special equipment, but you may be able to borrow it from friends.
@Dave – Excellent points. I also think it’s great; and camping in cooler weather just means making sure you have the right clothing and equipment.
Just got an invite for a gym in the mail. Thought about it and threw it away. Our condo has a pool, the community tennis courts are free, I love to walk, we have a wii and lots of Billy Blanks tae bo videos; hey I’m set!
@Barb – That’s terrific that your community offers so many outdoor features. I personally hate going to a gym and have not had to pay for a membership in years. It’s one less expense I need!
You are right about food being a major drain on a vacation budget. For me, eating out is one of the ‘perks’ of a vacation so I plan and save accordingly (I cook and clean up enough in my regular life that I like a break while on vacation – lol). One tip I use to save money on food expenses while away is to stay somewhere with a free breakfast, eat a lot, and then skip lunch in favor of a large, early dinner.
@Denise – That’s my ‘perk’ too when I’m on vacation. Your tip is great; I’d also add to share a meal with a spouse if you can. My husband and I save quite a bit by sharing a meal, then ordering water as a beverage. That way we can still get away with eating out on vacation, but save a little money.
@Jon – You’re right; you can be frugal all year long!
Not to push my own industry, but traveling in a group can definitely save you money and give you great buying power so you don’t have to sacrifice quality. Most group travel companies even encourage you to put together your own group so you do not necessarily have to travel with strangers, and the tours that they put together are expertly crafted… If you are not going to camp or stay at hostels, then the cost of $70-130 a day for all the activities, accommodations, and transportation is a great deal. Shoot, last summer my family rented an RV at $250 a day which didn’t even include gas just to visit the grand canyon (talking about expensive).