9 Tips for Safe Low Budget Travel
Travel is a fantastic thing. It’s a great way to see more of the world, enjoy different cultures and experiences, and learn more about yourself and the world around you. But travel can be very expensive, and so it’s not something that we can all afford to do as much as we’d like to. The good news is that while you may not be able to go to the most popular or exotic destinations if you are on a tight budget, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy travel, without taking risks to your safety to save money. Here are some of the best tips for safe, low-budget travel.
Avoid Peak Season
Peak season is a more expensive time to travel, no matter where you are going. Flights, accommodation, and even activities once you arrive are more expensive at specific times of the year. Peak times usually include school holidays, high summer, and Christmas. Traveling outside of these periods can be significantly cheaper, and even moving your trip forward or back a week can make a massive difference in the price.
Avoid Tourist Hotspots
Tourist hotspots are typically places that are popular with specific groups, especially families, or places with lots of well-known tourist attractions. Staying away from these is an easy way to save a fortune on everything from accommodation to eating out and getting around. Staying away from tourist attractions can also mean that you get a more authentic experience and a chance to enjoy the local culture because everything hasn’t been changed to suit tourists' needs and wants.
Do Your Research
Avoiding tourist hotpots is a fantastic way to save money. But, sometimes, the tourist hotspots are the safest areas. They tend to have good healthcare services, and plenty of help if you need it. If you are going to head outside of the most popular destinations, you need to prioritize your own safety. Before booking, do some research into the area, the accommodation, and anything else that you may need to stay safe, and don’t stay somewhere cheap if you are worried about safety.
Travel Light
Nowadays, when we book flights with budget airlines, hold luggage is rarely included. You might think that you are getting a great deal until you add luggage options. The best way to avoid these extra costs is to travel light, if possible, fitting everything that you need into a cabin bag.
Shop for the Best Deals
One of the best ways to save money on travel and related expenses is to look around for deals, instead of just buying the first thing that you see. Compare flights and accommodation, use cashback apps and services, and look online for things like luggage and accommodation. Never buy anything without looking for a deal, offer or discount first.
This is also true when you arrive at your destination. There will be many providers offering the same excursions, activities, and souvenirs. Make sure you shop around and compare prices, and don’t be scared to haggle a little.
Book in Advance
When it comes to booking accommodation, flights, or package deals, we can often make the biggest savings by booking last minute. But it’s still worth booking in advance, especially around Christmas and other times when there might be large sales. However, booking the activities that you want to do when you arrive is almost always cheaper if you can book them before you leave home.
Fly Midweek and at Night
The most popular and sought-after flights are at the weekend, during the day. Most people would rather avoid flying very early in the morning, or during the night if they can, and flying midweek can make booking time off work more difficult.
If you are in a position to fly during the week and don’t mind flying at night, this can be significantly cheaper. Just make sure you factor in travel to the airport, which can be more expensive during the night.
Cook Your Food
Eating out is a wonderful treat and one of the parts of travel that most of us enjoy the most. But heading to a local market and cooking your own food is cheaper, and a great way to learn more about local produce and learn a new recipe to take home.
Walk Everywhere
Another big expense can be traveling around when you arrive. Try to walk as much as you can, or if this isn’t possible, look at travel passes for local public transport.
Instead of seeing your budget as a setback, see it as an opportunity. When we travel on a budget, we often visit places we might not have thought of if money wasn’t a consideration. We meet more local people, we learn new skills, and often, we enjoy a more well-rounded experience. As long as you stay safe, traveling on a budget can be a glorious adventure.
