Uy may long weekend na parating sa October! Tapos December malapit na rin! Saan kayo magbabakasyon? Pero teka… handa na ba budget mo?
Traveling is one of the best ways to experience new cultures, learn new things, and have fun. However, traveling can also be expensive, especially if you don’t plan ahead and look for ways to save money. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks that can help you go on a budget-friendly vacation!
Book in Advance
One of the easiest ways to go on a budget-friendly vacation is to book everything ahead of time. Booking in advance can help you find the best deals, avoid price surges, and secure your spot. You can use online tools and apps to compare prices, find discounts, and get alerts for cheap flights and accommodation.
Another benefit to doing so is that you’ll ultimately be prepared on your vacation. Spontaneous activities are usually what eat up the funds of travelers. While you should have some spontaneity, it should be balanced with already having plans so that you don’t go way out of you means.
Find Cheap Flights and Accommodations
Finding cheap flights and accommodation can make a big difference in your travel budget. Aside from booking in advance, even small changes can help you save big as you go on a budget-friendly vacation.
For flights, it’s usually possible to find cheaper fares if you look hard enough. The most common way is to fly with low-cost airlines. However, another trick many don’t know is that you can set alerts on Google Flights or other trackers to let you know if prices just dropped. Sometimes the money saved can be minute. However, if you’re lucky enough a substantial drop could occur.
Explore Different Platforms
What many don’t know is that prices for the same accommodation or activity can often change depending on where you’re looking. Different online platforms like Agoda, Booking.com, and others often have different prices. If you diligently compare the available pricing, you’ll most likely find cheaper offers than the first one you find. Heck, if you’re really diligent you can even check what rates are when you book directly with hotels or agencies. Effort goes a long way towards making a budget-friendly vacation possible.
Make Use of Travel Rewards Cards
If you travel frequently, you can take advantage of these. Travel rewards cards often provide you incentives in the form of points, miles, or cashback for your vacation purchases. You can even use travel rewards cards to access perks such as airport lounges, free checked bags, and travel insurance. However, make sure to choose a travel rewards card that suits your travel style, spending habits, and goals. It’s always best to know if the rewards you’ll get are worth for what the cost of owning the card is. If you’re not sure, you can always compare the different credit cards available here.
Lastly, stay within your means
Traveling and going on a vacation is something we should all be looking forward to. However, don’t fall for the traps of “minsan lang naman ‘to” or “sige itodo ko na yung gastos ngayon lang naman.”
Have fun, but make sure to be responsible as well! It will go a long way towards making you at ease and comfortable, even after you get back home.
