Travel is a break with routine, a fun time for which it has often saved throughout the year to afford a well-deserved break by visiting a new destination
But the trip could be more expensive than what we had imagined, spending extra unplanned higher prices than what you have been notified, small pleasures or shots that come to burden the heart budget.
To control its budget or save on spending on holiday, each of us has his tricks. Some of you will probably go for the cheapskate service, but when money is tight you have to resort to some tricks.
Tips to spend less on travel :
1. Choose a hotel that offers breakfast buffet: With this formula, your breakfast will be the main meal of the day. You will often choose between a few pastries, bread and butter, jam, fruit salads, yoghurts ... enjoy it to the full energy before heading out to explore the city where you are. You'll save time and money by skipping lunch, and if you have little hungry discreetly placed one or two growing in your bag before leaving the room where you take your breakfast.
Be aware however that it is not easy to find a hotel offering a hearty breakfast in some cities such as Barcelona or Paris. But by choosing bed & breakfast in Rome or certain pensions or in most hotels of the cities in South America, you'll often surprised by the buffet that you will be offered.
2. Spend more time in one place: hotels often offer significant discounts if your stay is prolonged. Take the opportunity to fully explore the city where you stay and save on transport pass through more economic or three days a week, instead of paying for individual tickets.
3. Choose a hotel room with a kitchenette: This is the case in general for apartments rented by the day for tourists in cities such as Barcelona, Rome or Venice. You have a kitchen to heat food bought at the supermarket that will be cheaper than eating out.
On the other hand, many hotels are available in room mini fridge and / or a kettle. You'll save on drinks by buying them fresh at the supermarket and you can enjoy a hot beverage without leaving the hotel bar or street corner.
4. Ask the water with your meal at the restaurant: In countries where water quality does not pose problems, the drink will be a little flat, but much cheaper than a bottle of wine, a glass of beer or a Coke . Unfortunately for travelers who visit countries like India, it is better to ask for bottled water to avoid unpleasant surprises. You'll save on other expenses.
5. Do not dress like a tourist: In many countries, tourists are prey and those who live on the manna of tourism know to recognize them and make them pay more for certain items or services. Try to go unnoticed, avoiding the camera around his neck, sunglasses and a flowered shirt. Communicate with the public to know some prices on the market, taxi fares and other benefits.
6. Prefer walking to public transport or taxi: Wherever it's possible , walking is better to explore your destination city. This will make you exercise, what is good for your health and your wallet, and you will discover the treasures that you could not see while traveling underground in a bus or taxi.
7. Doing things yourself: In many hotels it offers many services to make your life easier. Unfortunately, these services have a cost. Carry your bag yourself to the bedroom, you'll save on the tip to give to the hotel employee. Look yourself a taxi, it will avoid paying an extra at the hotel. Take a little soap in a tube to wash your clothes, you'll save on laundry. Scroll down the street to call, you will avoid additional charges levied by the hotel.
8. Peel the tourist brochures: Quite often hotels have received many brochures available to their customers. Feel free to bring in your room all that will interest you and view them at your leisure, you'll find coupons for bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, promotional offers for tours.
9.Let your children to their grandparents: Taking a vacation is also able to find a couple, quiet, soft moments to enjoy both. Do not feel guilty leaving your children with their grandparents, they will certainly be delighted to indulge their grandchildren in your absence.
On the other hand, the best travel deals are almost always offered outside the school holidays. If you intend to travel at the lowest price it will make them understand they can not miss school and that is Grandma and Grandpa who look after them in your absence.
10. Prefer an all-inclusive: Some prefer to arm their trip from scratch by buying their plane tickets separately, reserving the hotel and going to the restaurant. But quite often this type of travel can cost much more expensive than a formula called All Inclusive including flights, transfers between airport and hotel, full board including drinks and many activities on site.
Travel agencies are now large companies that can negotiate rates with hotels and airlines, when they do not have their own unique holiday villages. So why not check out the holiday offers all inclusive travel agency as New Frontiers, or Thomas Cook Travel Look, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
And be wary of seemingly good ideas that you'll lose more money than expected like taking a Ryanair flight that would land at low prices at midnight in a remote airport to your final destination. You must accept that the taxi fare will not hesitate to raise the price of the race because of the late hour, and you must pay a supplement in some bed & breakfast or apartments for having the unkindness to wake the owner night.