An Explorer’s Guide in Spending Less While Traveling


Travelling to places is a good way to relax and experience other cultures. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come cheaply and may cost you much of your savings. Unless you’re as rich as Bill Gates or a celebrity with millions of dollars in your savings account, one of the biggest issues you may encounter when going on vacation is money.

Nonetheless, you can go on a trip without spending too much. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still have a worthwhile vacation at your chosen travel destination.

Purchase Tickets Early

If you have already decided on the exact day you’re going on a vacation and have already taken time off work, then the best thing you can do to save money is to book tickets early. Booking early, especially on weekdays, can help you save money for flight tickets. Many airline providers give huge discounts or great early bird rates for passengers who book months in advance.

Travel Light

To save money on your flight ticket, consider travelling light. Airlines charge you more money if you bring extra baggage weight. Thus, to avoid paying more for your luggage, try to bring only what you need and leave items that are unnecessary for your vacation. Airlines give large discounts and great deals for those who prefer to keep their baggage to the minimum.

Travel Off-Season

Everyone wants to go on vacation during summer, but what’s preventing you from going during off-peak season? The best time to go to the beach, for example, to Boracay Island, Philippines, is during summer, when the weather’s hot and all you wanted to do is bask in refreshing water. Nonetheless, going on a vacation during off-season is a good idea if you wanted peace and relaxation. During these months, the flights and accommodations are cheaper. Plus, there will also be less visitors so you could enjoy your vacation better.

Choose an Affordable Accommodation

If you wish to save money in your next trip, then try to look for a luxurious but affordable accommodation. Some hotels offer discounts so always check for deals offered online to get the most out of your money. Also, check out all your options before booking a location to get the best deal.

If you are planning to go to Boracay this summer vacation, look for the best accommodation. Some major considerations when choosing a hotel in Boracay are the cost and quality of the hotel’s service. Look for a hotel that gives you a run for your money.

Create Your Itinerary

A good way to make your vacation cheaper is by creating your own itinerary. The internet offers vast information on different tourist locations so take your time to research on your preferred vacation spot. Specifically, check what activities you could do in that area and check the prices of your chosen activities. Once you’ve created your itinerary, make it a point to stick to it so as not to go over your budget.

Carry a Fixed Amount of Cash

One of the best ways to spend less money is to not have access to it. Seriously, you can’t spend what you don’t have. Therefore, before going on a vacation, research first on the activities you will do and create a budget suitable for your desired activities. You can bring a small amount of extra money in case of emergencies but try to avoid bringing a large amount of cash. Having too much money during your trip may tempt you to spend more than your allowed budget.

Cook Your Own Food

The best way to eat healthily and affordably is to cook your own food. If the room you are staying has its own kitchenette, then you could buy the ingredients you need at a nearby marketplace and create your own meal.

By doing so, you will also be sure that what you are eating is safe, healthy, and budget-friendly.

Take Home Leftovers

If you’re eating at restaurants, you can save a lot of money by eating at places offering large portions of food. Look for restaurants that sell inexpensive food with large portions. That way, you could take the leftovers back to your hotel. You could then eat your leftover food at a later time, thus saving you a lot of money.

Search and Haggle

One of the worst things to do as a tourist is buying the very first thing you see. Don’t waste your hard-earned money on things you don’t need. In addition, whenever you need something, try to look for the shop that offers the lowest prices. Haggling is a good way to get the best deal from shops. Always try to ask the vendors for their best price to get the most out of your money.

Look at Hours and Rates First

If you’re planning to go sightseeing at local tourist attractions, look up the hours and rates of your preferred attractions first. This is one of the best tips for saving cash while travelling. Most of the time, people go to tourist attractions on weekends. And many of these places have lowered entrance fees (or are usually free) on weekdays. Therefore, make sure to check the details first before you spend hundreds or thousands of bucks if you could get it for free or for a lower price.

Buy Local

If you need to save some money while travelling, try to avoid malls. Malls often hike up rates to unbelievable prices. Instead, get outside the city and find local stores. Many local merchants have better bargains and are more willing to barter. Plus, local merchants have authentic local items so you can get unique items for a lower price.

Learn to Commute

If you are on a tight budget, then instead of hiring a van to go around your vacation spot, you can ride a tricycle, a jeepney, or a bus to go around the place. Commuting is much cheaper than renting a car. If your next destination is just a few blocks away, you could also walk to save transportation costs. Aside from being cost-friendly, walking is also good for your health.

Travelling to places is a good way to relax and get away from life’s stresses. However, you don’t need to put a hole in your wallet just to travel. Apply these tips on your next vacation to get the advantages of travelling for a lesser cost.