As much as traveling can be exciting, it is also complicated and expensive. This is from packing your luggage to hustling your way through busy airports, getting ready for a trip is never a simple job. Trying to travel as cheaply as possible can be a challenge, there are hacks and tricks that can save you some cash. What are the best travel hacks to save money?
There are a number of hacks that can save money when traveling. The easiest way when traveling is to use the local ATMs instead of the currency exchanges. The foreign exchange rates are considerably higher and there is a commission fee on top of that. The second one is to delete the cookies on your browser before you book a flight or hotel. This is how they track you intend to book and prices tend to go up.
In this post, we will go through the best travel hacks to save money. Let’s get started!
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- What To Do If The Airline Loses My Luggage
- Important Travel Essentials
- Beginners Guide To Airbnb
- How To Cope With Homesickness?
Best Travel Hacks To Save Money
These are some simple travel hacks to save money as well as save time, and be more productive. these are as follows.
- Use The Local ATMs Not Currency Exchanges At The Airport.
- Delete Your Web Browser Cookies.
- Get Water From The Local Store.
- Security Checks Lines.
- Invest In A Travel Organiser.
- Bring An Unlocked Mobile Phone.
- Charge Phone Where You Can.
- Spare Clothes.
- Finding A Promo Code.
- Getting Empty Middle Seat.
- Use Flight Search Sites.
- Set Flight Alerts.
- Follow Airplane Sales Days.
- Use Airbnb.
- Carry A Water Bottle.
Use The Local ATM Not Currency Exchange At The Airport
Using the currency exchanges at airports is always a rip-off. Their exchange rates are a rip-off and to add insult to injury there are also the commission fees.
Use the local ATM to get local currency, your bank may have a foreign exchange fee but you get a better exchange rate. You can also use your debit or credit card for purchases.
Delete Your Web Browser Cookies
It’s well-known that airlines and hotels store their cookies in your browser. And can track that you have been looking for particular flights at certain times. The price tends to increase.
There are a couple of things that you can do to be safe, delete your cookies, use a different browser, and/or use an incognito window when making your booking.
Get Water From The Local Store
Going to the local shop to get basics like water and a few snacks at the local stores instead of the hotel can save you a ton of money. So shop for groceries when you arrive.
Security Checks Lines
During security checks, try to avoid the line that has people who look like they are not frequent travelers, these include families with kids and foreign tourists.
If you are with a bunch that looks more like frequent travelers, you’re likely to pass the security check faster. Put as many of your valuables into your backpack or suitcase as you can when going through security.
It’ll save you heaps of time going through the security checks.
Invest In A Travel Organiser
Invest in a travel organizer to carry all the little things like chargers and pens together, without them getting lost at the bottom of your bag.
Bring An Unlocked Mobile Phone
Take an unlocked GSM phone with you as your travel phone. You can buy tourist SIM cards and is much cheaper for data when using Google Maps, and making calls home than using your personal phone.
Charge Phone Where You Can
Charge your phone where there is a USB port. This includes hotel rooms, McDonald’s, and other fast food places. Pretty much anywhere with a plug or USB port. Make sure to put your phone on airplane mode for quicker charging.
Spare Clothes
Always pack a spare pair of underwear, socks, and a T-shirt in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.
Finding A Promo Code
A quick Google search before booking can yield some pretty impressive discounts or coupon codes.
Start by searching “[hotel name] + promo code” or checking an airline/hotel’s Facebook page can often reveal a 5% or 10% discount simply for liking their page or signing up for a newsletter.
Getting An Empty Middle Seat
When you’re traveling with another person, sit in the aisle and window seats leaving the middle seat free. You’re more likely to travel with an empty middle seat all throughout since people generally avoid the middle seat.
Use Flight Search Sites
Use websites like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights which will scan the airlines for you and bring you comparative rates. You can purchase the best deal directly from them. But I think that Google Flights is expensive.
Alternatively, you can go directly to the airline’s website to see if you can get a better deal.
Set Flight Alerts
Search Kayak for the flight you want, and check the price predictor. If the flight is more than 3-4 months away, set a fare alert, and watch the price.
When you find a price that works, try to book it on a Tuesday or Wednesday when prices are typically lower.
Follow Airplane Sales Days
Some airlines have certain times of the year when they will release their sales fares. They are not as good as they used to be but there are still deals to be found.
You can also do this through websites like Airfare Watchdog and CheapAir.com, which both offer fare-track alerts that let you know when prices drop.
Use Airbnb
Airbnb is a great way to get cheap accommodation. Plus, you get to live like a local and have the facilities to cook, wash your clothes, and save more money.
Carry A Water Bottle
Carry your own water bottle and fill it for free. Over the duration of your trip, you will save a LOT of money. Obviously more so in hot countries.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, there are a number of hacks that can save money when traveling. The easiest way when traveling is to use the local ATMs instead of the currency exchanges. The foreign exchange rates are considerably higher than normal and there is a commission fee on top of that. The second one is to delete the cookies on your browser before you book a flight or hotel. This is how they track your intention to book and prices trend to go up.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this what is the best travel hacks to save money have helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.