We may be in a cost of living crisis and we're constantly preparing for possible increases in rent, mortgages, gas, and groceries, but that doesn't stop some of us from planning the next big travel adventure.
More than half of Generation X (54%) are still preparing to leave an international trip over the next six months, according to Australian tour operator Costsaver. But how do you make this work when you want to see the world on an ever-shrinking budget?
Yahoo finance spoke directly to the pros – a travel influencer and personal travel manager – for their tips and tricks to ensure travelers get value for their money.
1. Maximize your annual leave
First of all, make the most of your annual leave by use on public holidays.
“If your travel dates are flexible, you can be judicious with your annual leave to align it with the public holiday and double your time off,” said travel influencer Tim Abbott. Yahoo finance.
To help you plan your time off during public holidays, see Yahoo financethe guide here.
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But you should also try to avoid the busiest times of the year.
“Travel outside of peak season,” said Dana Brown, Travel Managers' personal travel manager. Yahoo finance. “By avoiding peak season, you not only save money, but you also enjoy less touristy places.”
2. Plan early
There's definitely something to be said for early birds getting the worm, and that's especially true when it comes to travel.
“Plan your trip in advance,” Brown said. “By doing this, you can enjoy discounts for early bookings on flights, tours and more expensive items.”
3. Choose inclusive tours
Group travel is not only a way to travel with a group of friends you haven't met yet, it's also a more cost-effective way to tick off places you're interested in.
“Tours are great when traveling alone (to) make new friends and see as much as possible at an affordable price,” Abbott said.
“I added a… tour at the end of my trip to America to visit as many national parks as possible. On the Spectacular Canyons and National Parks tour, I had the chance to fly over the Grand Canyon as part of my tour at no extra cost.
“Tours are a very efficient way to see the sights and have someone do the heavy lifting arranging food, accommodation, flights and transport.”
4. See a travel agent
Think you can do it yourself? Think again, according to Brown.
“Make your travel advisor your best friend,” she said.
“They have access to wholesale deals that you won't find online. For example, yesterday I found a four-night hotel stay in Vancouver for $400 less than anything my client could see online.
5. Read reviews
Don't waste your money on hotels that aren't worth it: read the reviews.
“There is a lot of truth to the online criticism, for better or worse,” Abbott said. Yahoo finance. “When arranging accommodation or experiences, always check reviews first.
“It may mean spending more each night, but it saves you bedbugs and a moldy bathroom.” Unfortunately, I speak from experience.
6. Don’t waste time with jet lag
If you want to make the most of every second of your vacation and not waste time sleeping during the trip, Abbott's best choice is to deal with jet lag as early as possible.
“Download the Timeshifter travel app,” he advised. “This is a game changer for maximizing your free time.
“Developed in collaboration with NASA, this free app will tell you the best times to sleep, eat and drink caffeine based on your travel itinerary.”
7. Pack only your carry-on luggage
This one might be overkill for those with an Instagrammable wardrobe, but you might want to seriously consider this hack since luggage prices can be astronomical.
“Go light,” Brown said. “Traveling with just carry-on luggage can save you more than half the flight price when flying with budget airlines in Europe.”
And that should be enough to get you trimming that fat out of your backpack.
8. Take a city pass
Go all-inclusive when you can, as it's bound to save you a few bucks.
“Most cities offer passes full of inclusions that can save a lot of money compared to individual admission prices,” Brown said.
“The New York City Pass is a great example. »
9. Eat like a local
Avoid the overpriced tourist traps and do as the locals do.
“Stay away from the main touristy streets and try local cafes, restaurants and street food,” Brown encouraged. “You’ll fill up for a fraction of the price and get a real taste of the destination.”
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