Travelling overseas can be an enlightening experience that brings to you new sights, people and perspectives. However, it can get rather expensive depending on the time of year, location, and economic climate. This doesn’t mean it is impossible to do so! There are a few tips and tricks to make travelling overseas a privilege that anyone can enjoy.
Flights, hotels, visas, transportation, food, communication – there are a number of ways to reduce the cost on all of these points if you plan far enough in advance. Here are a few travel hacks on how to travel cheaply.
Know the peak seasons
This should be a major factor to consider when deciding on where to travel. Different locations will have different peak seasons; and these peak season will also affect the price of plane tickets and hotels.
Generally speaking, prices tend to be lower during off-peak seasons. Try to keep an eye on the dynamic prices of both aircraft tickets and hotels in advance to make sure you are getting the best possible deal.
Get the best deals on budget airlines
Low-cost airlines have made air travel quite a bit cheaper by offering fares that are usually much more appealing than regular airlines. However, this lower price comes with consequences. Budget airlines will generally have less amenities compared to regular airlines. Many lack things such as business class and premium economy; they may have lower allowances for luggage and more service fees. Some might also not offer refunds if you need to cancel your ticket.
Despite its cheaper pricing, ticket prices are always fluctuating. As such, it is best to keep a constant watch on airline websites to nab yourself the best deal possible and plan your trip according to which period the ticket will be the cheapest.
Avoid baggage fees
When travelling overseas, it is best to pack light. Take what you need and do away with unnecessary luggage. Doing so will grant you several advantages. The most important of these advantages is that you do not have to pay for excess weight.By doing this, moving your luggage around will be much easier and offer a more pleasant experience than if you were lugging around a huge suitcase that is filled to the brim.
Low-cost airlines also tend to be strict with their baggage weight limits. So if you want to travel cheap, skip out on as much luggage as possible and stick to the free limit you are given. If you really need to pack more stuff in, then choose what you bring wisely.
Optimise your transportation
When you travel to a new city, you might want to do away with the hassle of more travel and get into a taxi straight to your hotel. While this is certainly the easy route, it is likely way more affordable to consider alternative transport options. Many airports around the world are often connected by trains, buses, subways, etc, that can get you from the airport to the city centre.
It is better to study in advance the ways of getting from the airport to the city and spend much less with public transportation than you would spend in a taxi or transfer offered by the hotel or airline management.
Plan ahead for big intercity trips
For some of the more adventurous tourists, a single city is not enough to satisfy their wanderlust. Similar to the previous tip, it helps to do plenty of research in advance regarding transportation options and pricing beforehand to get acquainted with the kinds of trains and buses of the city you are visiting.
Regional and international transportation can vary wildly. If you are travelling in a group, sometimes renting a vehicle might be the more favourable option. In this case, consider the costs of renting, insurance, fuel, parking and roads.
Budget yourself before travel
While there are plenty of ways to cut down on spending during a trip, the best way to make travel more affordable usually begins before your plane even takes off. Take a look at your monthly expenses, what can you cut?
Maybe you can give up taking your usual morning coffee from your favourite store for a while to save up some extra cash. Maybe start cooking at home more often than getting delivery. After a few months, you might have saved hundreds in delivery fees. If you funnel a portion of your paycheck to a travel savings account, you can sit back and watch as the money grows.
Try volunteering as a Worldpacker
If you want an even more unique travel experience while also saving some extra cash on accommodations, you might want to consider becoming a Worldpackers volunteer. While it is not for everyone, this voluntourism platform can certainly offer you a unique experience that you will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
The platform can help connect you to plenty of different projects worldwide where you can help out with your skills in exchange for free accommodation. Do you want to try living and helping out around a farm in Portugal? Or do you want to try practising your cooking and bartending skills at a campsite in Brazil? There are nearly endless opportunities for a one-of-a-kind overseas experience.
For those who are nervous about volunteering, the Worldpackers team is trained to help you and your host to have a fun and safe experience. You can choose what you would like to do as a volunteer according to your purpose of travel and your talents.
Nab cheaper flights with a VPN
This might sound unbelievable, but did you know that flight ticket prices can actually fluctuate greatly depending on your current location? Well, more specifically, it is your IP address, browsing or purchase history, postcode, and even which Wi-Fi you’re connected to that often determines this difference in pricing. This is also known as dynamic pricing and is meant to offer you the best prices based on market demand. However, demand is different depending on your location, and we can game the system to our advantage.
With the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can change your IP address to trick the system into thinking you are somewhere else, allowing you access to potentially cheaper ticket prices. Simply use your preferred VPN, connect to a different country, check your favourite booking website for new prices, rinse and repeat. Just remember to clear your web browser’s cookies before changing IP addresses. With some luck, you could probably shave hundreds of ringgit off your ticket prices.
