There are only a few things in life that make us truly happy. The rest is just dull admin – the things we must do to enjoy the good stuff. It’s a photography adventure!
Travel is on that short list of happiness-inducing activities
Well, for most people. But there’s a slight problem: travel costs a lot of money, right?
It is one of the most expensive ways to entertain yourself. But it also helps open our eyes to the world and experience new things. Nobody wants to remain in the town where they grew up forever.
Do you think you’re too broke to travel? Try some fantastic ideas to boost your budget and keep costs down.
Book Flights Strategically
Airlines love charging different people different prices. That’s because they know everybody has a number in mind that they’re willing to spend for a particular trip.
That number depends on your income, what else you like spending money on, and overall personality.
(That is, how much do you value travel and convenience).
All the time, airlines are trying to figure out how much you as an individual are willing to pay and then charge you just below that amount.
Not good. To get around this, you can do a couple of things. One is to book your flight on a Tuesday afternoon, and the other is to book seven weeks in advance, making sure you use a comparison website.
Research from the Airlines Reporting Corporation says these are the best times to book for the lowest fares. Avoid package deals at all costs.
Bump Up Your Budget
Low-interest rate personal loans have allowed you to bump up your budget relatively cheaply.
They mean you can now pay for that holiday you want later rather than upfront.
Book Hotels Directly
There’s a reason large international hotel chains are so popular: membership discounts. For instance, Hilton Hotels pays members off when booking a room directly.
You could save 10 per cent on a double room, or around $150 throughout 6 nights.
Use Credit Reward Programs
Credit cards aren’t always cheap, especially if not paid off at the end of the month. But they can help make travel a little less expensive.
Many credit card companies offer holders to earn hotel and travel rewards. American Express, for instance, offers customers to get money off hotel rooms on a rolling 12-month basis.
Use Overnight Trains
If you’re travelling to Europe, one of the first things you’ll notice is the reasonable prices for public transport. What’s great, though, is that those prices go down the later it gets.
Overnight trains in many European capitals are just a fraction of the cost during the daytime. The same applies to buses.
Eat In Local Eateries
Don’t follow the tourists. Instead, find the places where the locals eat. Not only will you get authentic food, but you’ll also avoid inflated tourist prices.
