Top Tips For Saving Money While Travelling
#1. Pack Lightly
Pack your bag, then take everything out, put half back in and go with that amount… Trust us when we say you won’t need half the things you’ve packed! That head torch that ‘might come in handy’ nope! That white top, it will just get dirty and ruined. On the first trip, I (Reanna) took I took a 95kg backpack filled with 90% clothes, it got so heavy I ended up throwing away half of the contents within the first couple of weeks and carrying around a half-full bag. Trust us, the lighter is better! Also, being able to chuck your bag in hand luggage instead of checking it in will not only save you money but will also save you time when leaving the airport.
#2 Research But Don’t Book
Research all of the places you’re going. See what amazing sites they have and what they would cost you, which routes to take, the little quirky restaurants and bars, and the incredible hikes you want to do. Research in-depth so you know exactly what it is you want to get out of each place but don’t book anything (with the exception of unique experiences which get booked up months in advance). We say don’t book because being locked into a plan when you’re travelling is one of the worst mistakes you could make. It saps all of the spontaneity and fun out of travelling. Trust us, you really don’t know who you’ll meet, which places you’ll love (and which places you’ll hate) and therefore how long you’ll spend in each place and which route you will end up taking.
#3 Sign Up For Reward And Loyalty Programmes
It may seem like a bit of extra hassle but once you’re claiming your money off and free stays it will be totally worth it! Loyalty programmes seem to be changing all the time but if you regularly stay at a hotel/ hostel chain, check to see if they have one. Whilst we were travelling booking.com had an amazing refer your friend’s scheme and when you travel in a big group, there are a lot of times you can refer each other.
#4. Use Comparative Sites
Whilst we’re on the subject of booking.com, always use comparison websites! Booking.com, hostelworld and Skyscanner are some must-haves for finding cheaper accommodation and flights. 90% of the time they will offer you a cheaper rate than you can find elsewhere, occasionally it is worth checking on the company’s website to check there not running their own offer though! Another thing you can do is set up cheap flight alerts, that get delivered to your email inbox, via websites like airfarewatchdog.com or jacksflightclub.com.
#5 Eat Local Food
Local food is almost always a lot cheaper than trying to source western food, especially whilst travelling in Asia. A local Pad Thai will set you back 50p in Thailand whilst a pizza could set you back as much as £5! (Which sounds cheap, but when you’re doing this every day, it adds up!) Eating local food means you’ll also get to really experience the local diet and culture.
