Traveling, particularly overseas, can be a great experience. For many people, it can also be an expensive one, which means you need to know how to save on expenses.
Saving Money When Traveling
For many people, traveling is the ultimate method of rejuvenating their zest for life. On one hand, you get away from the constant interruptions of daily life that occur at work and home. On the other, you get to see a whole different way of living in another location, even if it is in your country. The only problem with traveling, of course, is it can put a whammy on your bank account.
Saving money when traveling is not as hard as you think. The number one thing to remember is that practically everything is negotiable. If it is not, such as the cost of flights, there are often timing issues that can result in savings. While there are hundreds of tips, here are a few you might be unaware of.
Traveling in a group is a great way to save money. Businesses in the travel industry like groups because they represent a pool of guaranteed money. If you can swing a group of 10 people for a trip, hotels, cruises, guides and such will provide you with their services for free. Just you, not the entire group. This may sound like a strange strategy, but it can work if you are mad about some location. You simply offer to provide a guided tour to the area and do some marketing. The cost of your trip is next to nothing and you may be able to write-off much of the remaining expense on your taxes. Of course, make sure to run it by your accountant.
When it comes to hotel bookings, it is important to understand that the price of every room is negotiable. A hotel assigns four, five and even ten different rates to each type of room they have. Obviously, they want to get the most for it, but they offer all types of deals to attract bookings during slow times. The best way to take advantage of this is through online hotel booking sites. Since these sites move massive quantities of bookings, they usually get the lowest or close to lowest prices. You just need to compare prices, point and click.
If you are traveling somewhere by plane, you are inevitably going to need ground transportation. Car rentals at airports tend to be price compared to in town options. If you must rent at the airport, the best way to get a deal is through your frequent flyer miles. Rates can be half as much as those posted at the desks. If you do not have frequent flyer miles, try to book through the online sites for the various rental companies. A number of them will be offering specials that can really add up to significant savings.
Taking small steps to save money on trips can make all the difference. Follow the above advice and you should see less of a drain on your bank account.
