Think that travel is reserved for the wealthy? Think again! The fact is that almost everybody can afford to go on a well-deserved holiday as long as they are budget-savvy enough. The question is, how do you go about saving up for a getaway, as well as keeping costs to a minimum on the holiday itself? Here are some amazing budget travel tips to remember.
Plan well in advance
According to a study conducted in the UK, the average international family holiday is said to cost £2417 and lasts approximately nine days. That equates to a little bit over R46000 a pop for a family of four. There is no denying that this is a scary number. However, if you strive to save 12 months ahead of your trip, that means that you only have to stash around R3800 away each month. If you are planning on keeping your travels within Africa and booking cheap flights to Windhoek, Cape Town, or Accra, for example, you can expect to pay substantially less. So, all in all, it is a reasonable and attainable savings goal!
Book early
The importance of booking your flights and accommodation early cannot be emphasised enough. You can save hundreds of rands on both if you make an effort to book at least six months in advance. Also, be sure to do plenty of research in terms of your dream destination’s off-peak season. This is when tourists are scarce and when prices are at their lowest. Most European holiday destinations, including the UK, France, and Italy, as well as the United States of America, have their off-peak season during wintertime (aside from the festive season) in November through to March the following year. In Australia, off-peak season is usually from mid-April to the end of August.
Compare prices
Wouldn’t you prefer to travel knowing that you managed to secure the best possible price for your flight? We know we would!
This is why so many budget-savvy travellers opt to use flight comparison websites such as SA-Airlines. Our easy-to-use comparison tool will help you find the cheapest flights on offer from various domestic and international airlines according to the specific dates on which you would like to travel. Our tool will even notify you if there are cheaper flights available on dates that are different (but still close to) your originally selected dates. The end result is both maximum savings and maximum peace of mind.
Be strategic when booking accommodation
Some travel agencies will offer all-inclusive travel packages with accommodation already accounted for. This can initially seem to be an affordable way in which to travel, until you notice all of the hidden costs that crop up throughout the duration of your holiday. In almost all instances, it’s better to book your flights and your accommodation separately. When it comes to booking accommodation, you may find that you get a better deal by booking with the hotel or guesthouse directly. However, it can also prove useful to try booking via a hotel comparison website, like Trivago. Similar to SA-Airlines, these websites will compare hotel booking prices in your destination of choice and in terms of what type of room you are looking for (single room, double room, family room etc.).
Sign up for a prepaid credit card
Taking your regular credit card on holiday with you is asking for trouble, especially when you walk into a particularly impressive souvenir or boutique fashion store on a high street! This is why countless travellers are now opting to sign up for a prepaid credit card instead. This type of credit card is designed to curb impulse spending by ensuring that you have no extra credit on the card. You simply load a specific amount of money onto it before you travel, and it is only that amount that you will have available to spend while you are away.
Follow Marie Kondo’s advice
For some reason, most of us are just more likely to overspend when we are on holiday than when we are at home. As such, keep Marie Kondo’s (Japanese organisation extraordinaire) advice in mind at all times and especially any time that you are about to approach the till. Ask yourself whether or not the item that you are about to purchase truly ‘sparks joy’ for you. If it does not and you are buying it ‘just because’, put it back on the shelf!
With the help of these tips, you are now well on your way to becoming a true budget-savvy traveller. Ready, set, save!