Vacation Without Breaking the Bank

Seoul  Airport

I wrote in one of my previous posts on why people do not travel and one of the reasons i talked about was costs. I have decided to expatiate on how to have a fabulous vacation on a budget. A vacation does not have to be luxurious for it to be fun. A vacation is supposed to be a time of relaxing and exploring of new things and the world around you. Meeting people, experiencing new things and culture, and learning is the whole goal of travelling and so all of these can be achieved without burning a hole in your pocket. Let's take a look at some of the ways to curtail cost and better maximize your money.

Travel during off season: This is a no brainer, we know that there are high and low seasons for any destination we wish to visit. To get the best value for your money sometimes mean going to a destination of your choice in their low season. Accommodation, flight, and activities will usually be cheaper in the low season than high season. Clue #1 every destination's summer season will always be the high season, so keep that in mind. Some destinations have their winter season as high season too if they are known for skiing and other snow events.

Travel in groups: Traveling in groups can significantly reduce your cost. You will be able to get group rates for tickets and some activities. Accommodation can become considerably cheaper because you are able to rent a Villa rather than individual rooms at a hotel. Having accommodation with a kitchen can mean saving some money on part of your meal. One big mistake you don't want to make when traveling in a group is to pick people that are not on the same page with you when it comes to activities. If you like adventure, do not travel with people that just want to sleep and shop all day everyday. Pick your group right.

Hosteling: Lodging in hostels is another excellent and cheaper choice for solo travelers and small group travelers. Research the country you are visiting for hostel availabilities. Some of these hostels have private rooms for people that do not want to share rooms. This is also a great opportunity of meeting new people that you can end up traveling with if you are a Solo traveler. Hostelling International is a good place to start your journey.

Local Host: Another great way to save money is to stay with the locals. Some locals like hosting travelers for a small amount of money and sometimes you can even help with some chores for a free stay. Staying with a local can also mean opportunity to truly experience the culture of the people and an avenue to see the hidden gems of that town. However, be very careful with this choice as we know the world is not as innocent as it used to be. Proceed with caution on this choice.

Mileage and Point usage: If you travel, you need to enroll in mileage programs with the airlines you use the most and accrue mileage on your travels and if you stay in hotels, you need to accrue points as well. Eventually these points come in handy when you want to save money on your travel. You can travel with your mileage and use your hotel points to get some free days of stay. It is not all the time that you will be financially buoyant, but using all the tools that are available to you can still help you achieve your goal.

Let me know what your thoughts are about the points mentioned. I want to know if you agree or disagree with any and if you have other suggestions, so kindly speak out by clicking comment to leave your thought.