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If you are honest with yourself, it is possible to enjoy your travels. on a budget. Many tips sound good in theory, but depending on your travel style, they can make your hard-earned trip seem like nothing more than a vacation. If you're looking for the best ways to save money while traveling this summer, these helpful tips are a great source of inspiration.
How to Save Money While Traveling This Summer
Flight, accommodation, food, ground transportation, and activities are the main costs to consider for your trip. These recommendations help you offset these costs so you can freely explore a new place without constantly watching your wallet.
1. Reward Credit Cards
For the financially responsible, many credit cards offer travel rewards points that can pay for a round-trip flight to your favorite destination, a hotel, or transportation costs. The key is to not carry a balance, or you'll be charged interest. cancel all savings you could win. Nerd Wallet offers a list of popular credit cards with travel rewards.
Make sure your card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Always pay in the local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion, which would charge you higher exchange fees.
2. Power supply
One of the best parts of traveling is being able to experience another culture's cuisine firsthand. However, eating out two or three times a day adds to your vacation. Decide how often you want to eat out, and supplement your other meals with inexpensive groceries from a local grocery store.
Additionally, packing as many non-perishable snacks as possible will help you avoid buying overpriced food at the airport or easily accessible tourist trap restaurants.
3. Transport
If you are traveling within the country, consider driving, taking the bus or train; or if you are traveling by plane, plan ahead. Expedia 2024 The Air Travel Hacks report states that travelers should book domestic airfare 28 days before departure and international airfare 60 days before departure. Additionally, the report highlights that the cheapest day to book flights is Sunday.
If your flight arrives during the day, consider taking the bus or train to your accommodation. Many well-connected cities have services right to the airport gates, making it easy to get to and from your destination without breaking the bank.
4. Activities
Walking tours are a great way to learn more about a city. With so many types of walking tours, you can learn about history, art, or food, for example. Many walking tours are free or require a donation at the end. Other activities like historic sites or museums have free days or are often bundled into a package that the city's tourism office or other company offers at a discount. Researching how many things you'd like to do and comparing prices will help you save as you plan your exploration.
Here are some ways to save money when traveling this summer. The time of year you travel can also impact how much you spend on your trip. Consider traveling in the off-season, before or after peak season. Ultimately, you can save more money to meet your needs or figure out what compromises you can make in your adventures.
