Everyone likes to go on a trip occasionally. It can be a liberating, life-changing experience. For many people, however, traveling can be too expensive to afford. If you like to see the world, but you don’t have a big budget to work with, there are still some ways that you can get on a trip every now and then. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you want to travel on a budget:
1. Pick the right cities
If you are trying to stick to a tight budget when you are traveling, going to the right city can make a big difference overall. For example, traveling to Las Vegas can be practical when you want a trip on the cheap. They offer nice hotel rooms for $20 a night in a lot of hotels there. You can find cheap meals and a lot to do for a reasonable price. Of course, Vegas can also be a nightmare for people who are tempted by gambling.
Another good place to go on the cheap is Branson, MO, in the heart of the Midwest. Branson has some very affordable, accommodations and some cheap entertainment as well. If you’re a country music fan, you can also treat yourself to many historic concert venues. In Thailand, you can devour tasty food for little money.
2. Don’t forget online discounts
When you are interested in getting a good deal on travel accommodations, consider booking your trip online. There are a number of online travel sites that offer great deals on travel accommodations. For example, if you use Priceline, you can name your own price, and negotiate for a rate on a room or flight. In some cases, you may also be able to get promo codes on some of the travel sites that you buy from.
Timing is an important part of grabbing the best discounts too. Check out this piece by the Wall Street Journal.
3. Research, research, research
When you want to be able to save money on traveling, it pays to do some thorough research. In many cases, you might be hit with unexpected expenses that you did not account for when you were budgeting. For example, if you don’t know what your airline’s baggage fees are you might have to pay more than what you can afford once you reach the airport. You also should find out the carry-on luggage sizes so that you don’t have to check your bag unexpectedly. These types of things can really add up when you are taking a trip.
Once you do your homework and plan out every aspect of your trip, you simply have to stick to the plan. It is very easy to get caught up in the moment while you are traveling, and purchase a lot of things that you don’t necessarily need. If you stick to your budget, you can take a memorable trip without breaking the bank.