Five tips for cutting the cost of travel

From accommodation costs to rental services, tour guides to airfare, and everything in between, traveling to any part of the world is never cheap and can even lead one into debt if caution and frugality aren't exercised.  

This then begs the question, what can an individual do to cut back on their travel expenses? Below are five tips to ensure you don't end up too much out pocket by the end of your travels.

Save on airfare

Since you’re looking to hack down your travel costs, the first place you should look at is your airfare costs. More often than not, when people want to travel, they just go directly to the airline websites to book their tickets. But while this might seem like the best practice, it isn't always the best option, especially for someone looking to cut back on their travel expenses. Did you know that there are so many websites, likeTraveligo, that specialises in finding cheap flights for travelers? And if you’re a budget conscious traveler looking to reduce their travel costs, this is a great go-to website whenever you want to book your flight.

Don’t use hotels

While hotels are everyone's by proxy accommodation choice when traveling, they aren't the only option available, and sometimes, they aren't even the most economical or luxurious.  

Sometimes, staying at someone's condo or house can be more luxurious and cheaper than booking a hotel. By using Airbnb or any of its popular competitors, travelers have the opportunity to not only live like locals but also spend far less than what they would need to spend if they were staying in a hotel. By booking someone's house, chances are you won't be incurring so much accommodation costs, while also enjoying access to many basic requirements, including a full working kitchen so you can cook, microwave, or refrigerate your own food, therefore saving you the additional costs of buying your meals and eating out. If you find an apartment that has an internet connection installed, chances are the homeowner won't charge you extra for the wifi either. 

Choose a cheaper transportation option

One of the biggest reasons why people spend more than they need to on their travels is their failure to find cheaper transportation options. While everyone likes to fly to their travel destination for ease and speed, flying isn’t the only transport option available, and sometimes, simply opting for ground transportation can save you a lot of money. Depending on where you’re living and where you’re headed, you can always opt for public transport or metro transport, depending on which one you have around you – from taxis, buses, rental cars to rideshares, and everything in between. So research whats available and choose the best option for your budget.

Use a Travel credit card

Did you know that you can actually earn the right to travel thousands of miles without even leaving the comfort of your home? Well, the simple trick is enrolling for a travel credit card. When you enroll for these cards, you can leverage opportunities like signing-up bonuses – most of which are offered by airline credit cards – to accumulate these miles. In fact, many airlines offer new card users branded credit cards with bonus points up to about 30,000 to 50,000 when they first sign up. Once you get these bonus points and you’re able to accumulate a lot of miles, you can save yourself a lot of money by way of airfare whenever you’re ready to hit the road.

Pack light

Don’t forget, checked baggage fees add up. So, make it a priority to pack only carry-on luggage where possible. Not only will this save you money at the airport, but it will also save you the stress of unloading and loading at various points of your travel.

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