How to save on travel if the road is already on the doorstep

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Tremble, procrastinators! We want to tell you how to get off your seat and hit the road as soon as possible, even this weekend. And how not to make a control shot in the head of your budget.

Catching "last minute" offers

Those who plan their vacation in advance have the opportunity to save on early booking. But there are pluses for adventurers who spontaneously take off. Catch "last minute" tours, special offers on the sites, during the season they are updated several times a day. You can find very tempting prices here, because operators are trying to minimize costs when there is a sudden decrease in the flow of tourists on an already sold flight. Check out Cheaptrip, these guys specialize in the cheapest vacation options, monitor the websites of the major travel agencies. The main thing is to be ready to pack your suitcase very quickly:)

Looking for a room in a new hotel

In newly opened hotels, it is often possible to rent a room much cheaper, since the hotel is forced to unwind and attract customers. For example, here you can look after yourself a good option. In general, when going on a short and sudden trip, there is no point in choosing an expensive hotel for yourself and bother reading reviews. Better to choose "last minute" deals with discounts, for example,.

Choosing a vacation within your means

Want to get out somewhere (really, anywhere) this weekend? Visit the site. Indicate your city, the current month and the amount that you would like to meet. You will be given all the results in a given price niche.

We save on air tickets

Always check the full ticket prices when ordering. The inscription "without taxes and fees" near the price is an alarming signal. As a result, after making a purchase, you may see wild numbers, sometimes exceeding the basic tariff. Calculate connecting routes: Sometimes connecting flights can be very budgetary. Check neighboring airports - there are times when it is more profitable to fly not to the destination itself, but to the nearest small city, from where you can get to the place by land transport. A little tip: it's better to book in the middle of the week, because many airlines post great deals on Tuesdays, and by Thursday there may be nothing left. When searching, do not specify the exact time. As a rule, the best prices are for flights during inconvenient hours, at night or in the early morning. And one more thing - don't be afraid of LowCost airlines. Yes, free wine and pickles will not be served there, there is usually no ticket binding to a specific seat in the cabin, but the aircraft of these companies are not inferior in terms of reliability to the aviation giants, and the prices are very democratic.

We are looking for removed armor

It so happens that people who booked a ticket in advance, for some reason, canceled the trip. If you leave the day after tomorrow, and there were no tickets at the box office yesterday, check again - perhaps someone's seat has become vacant today.

We are looking for fellow travelers

If there are easy-going people among your friends, invite them with you. Sharing housing and food costs will benefit everyone.

We eat sparingly

The seasoned traveler knows that the most expensive food is in hotels, airports and on popular tourist routes. Therefore, try to buy there as little as possible. Chinese restaurants and Turkish eateries are an excellent choice, the bill there will be two times less than in an ordinary European cafe, and the quality, unlike dubious Russian cheburek, is quite decent. Another option: to buy some products in the supermarket, where all the locals shop, and not overpay for the service. When going on a trip, take a small dry ration from home with you: crackers, crispbread, dryers, nuts, etc. They will help to kill the worm on the road or in the waiting room, where all the same is sold at exorbitant prices.

Tourist cards and travel tickets

When you arrive, the first thing to do is to find a tourist office in the city. There you can always get hold of useful brochures and booklets, find out about discounts and local attractions. Don't be afraid to look stupid: people in such offices are very patient and accustomed to everything. I remember how, being passing through the French city of Carcassonne and not being guided by geography at all, I tortured the unfortunate girl at the counter for a long time, where is the sea here:) Many of these offices have travel cards that will give you discounts when visiting museums and others places of worship. If you are using ground transportation, buy a pass right away. You will probably have to drive more than you think and the economy will be good. If you have a laptop, there is no need to take any extra books, travel guides, reference books and all that from home at all. Wi-Fi in all civilized countries is on every corner.

Take your student card with you

If you have a student ID, please bring it with you. Discounts and benefits are often offered to students, especially in museums. If you have some impudence and big beautiful eyes, you can try to issue any suitable document in an incomprehensible language for a student card (for example, a library card).

Be flexible in route planning

As soon as you have already left your hometown and set off on a spontaneous journey, do not strive to follow the intended route exactly. If you wanted to get, for example, to a specific city by the sea, and the tickets turned out to be expensive or some unforeseen overlap happened - discard this option. Look for another nearest city by the sea, it is the same everywhere on the same coast. If there are no train tickets, take the bus. If you left in the wrong direction by public transport, take a look around, maybe there are a lot of interesting things where you arrived.

But most importantly: any vacation is an expense. You don't need to think about saving every second, you just need to be able to optimize these costs and remember about useful chips and services. Sometimes you just want to drop everything, leave the house with a travel bag and disappear somewhere for the weekend. Turn off your phone and just fall through the ground. There is no need to resist this desire every time, give in to it at least once! Such spontaneous trips can turn out to be a great adventure, which you will then fondly remember for a long time, sitting at your workplace.