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Traveloka SG

04 Sep 2016 - 6 min read

Travel Guide: 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling

Travel Guide: 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling

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People always think that traveling is expensive. Well, it doesn’t have to be. You can enjoy traveling even with very little money. I’m telling you this based on my own personal experience.

Now let’s go back to basics. What should you do before you travel? Save money. The more the better!

Do that and you’ll find yourself staring at the ocean, or even getting lost in a land where nobody speaks your language. If you want to travel tomorrow, start planning it today.

As long as you know how to handle your money wisely, I can assure you that you’ll have a wonderful trip, and who knows, you can even extend your vacation!

#1 Fly with Budget Airlines

Fly with Budget Airlines to save money

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Thanks to budget airlines, people can travel to places they thought were once impossible to reach. That’s because flights were way more expensive back then. Those days are gone, and we are now in an era where flying cheaply is not impossible. At Traveloka, you can get cheap flights to wherever you like.

My friends and I travel with budget airlines too. Of course, even cheap flights have their downsides.

For example, you might not have the most comfortable sitting experience on a budget airline, as seats are usually smaller and closer together. If you’re traveling on a short trip, it won’t be much of a problem. But if you’re going to spend more than 5 hours on the plane, I suggest you opt for a slightly more expensive flight.

But don’t worry. You can always book them for cheaper prices at Traveloka. Traveloka offers cheap flights all year!

Tips: Plan your trip in advance. Book early to get the best rates. If you subscribe to the Traveloka newsletter, you will be entitled to irresistible discount coupons.

#2 Stay in Budget Hotels

Stay in Budget Hotels to save money

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Another great way to save money while traveling is by choosing the right accommodation preferably one that suits your budget.

Budget hotels are very popular among single and young travelers. Most families on the other hand prefer hotels whose standards are between 3 to 5 stars. Whether you’re traveling alone or in a group, it’s always important to ask yourself these questions:

What’s the purpose of my travel?
What’s my budget?
Is it worth staying in a cheap hotel/guesthouse?
How much am I willing to spend on a hotel room for my whole family/myself?
Will my choices affect me financially?

These are a few of the questions that always play in my head whenever I try to decide on where to stay during my travels. My decisions are usually based on these questions. And of course the value that I get to enjoy during my trip is important too.

I honestly don’t mind paying for a hotel room that is slightly more expensive than average if it’s more value for money. I will definitely walk away if I find a hotel to be overpriced for what it offers.

#3 Take Advantage of Discounts

Take Advantage of Discounts to save money

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I don’t know how many emails I receive daily from marketers who try to convince me to buy something. Most of them annoy me. As a result, their salesy materials end up in my spam folder.

I will only open, read and keep newsletters sent by flight, hotel or any travel-related companies (even travel bloggers) which I’ve subscribed to in the past. I’m sure you can relate to this too, right?

Like many other travelers, I constantly follow companies that can give me the best deals. I’m only interested in special promotions and discounts. What else does a traveler like me want from these companies other than savings to help me keep traveling?

Recently, I used the Traveloka coupon to book a hotel room for a discounted price. I managed to save about USD20! Man, it was totally worth it.

#4 Travel During Low Season (or Refer Back to #3)

Travel During Low Season to save money

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It’s nice to be able to travel during the holidays. But it’s nicer to be able to spend more on your trips when you travel off-season. It’s typical for everything to be extra expensive on holiday seasons. So it’s always best to avoid traveling around these times.

But it’s hard to not join the crowd. For example, families tend to participate in these hectic times because they want to spend time together. Parents would want to take their kids out traveling during school holidays. They can excuse themselves from work to spend quality family time. On festive seasons on the other hand, we all want to go home to see our families and celebrate the occasion together. We all do that, don’t we?

If you visit the Traveloka homepage, you’ll notice all kinds of ongoing deals on its slider. Now take advantage of these discounts so you don’t necessarily have to always travel during low season to save money!

#5 Have Less Baggage

Have Less Baggage to save money

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Packing light is what I always do when traveling. I hate to travel with too much stuff. Not only will my bag get heavy, I’ll get tired easily too. That’s because I don’t usually travel with strolling bags.

Whether you’re traveling with just a hand-carry, a backpack or a strolling bag, the weight of your baggage should always be a concern. Overweight baggage can be super expensive, so it’s best to always carry only what is necessary for your journey.

Before you leave home, it’s good practice to weigh your baggage.

I remember this one time when my friend’s bag got a little overweight and he was then forced to get rid of some of his stuff. He was mad at the airline for not letting him go on board until he complies to the baggage allowance policy.

If he had checked the weight of his baggage beforehand, he wouldn’t be in such a frustrating situation.

Read 10 Tips for Packing Light for tips on how to travel light.

#6 Eat Like a Local

Eat Like a Local to save money

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Why pay more when you can pay less for the same thing?

When you have the chance to taste a foreign cuisine, eat what the country is famous for; eat like a local! P.S. Local food is usually cheaper than foreign cuisines. So take the chance to savour the country’s best and at the same time, save your money!

In Vietnam, you can find a bowl of Pho for just a dollar. Even in a big city like Kuala Lumpur, there are cheap dishes selling for less than U$2! Amazing.

#7 Get Paid Abroad

Get Paid Abroad to save money while travel

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It’s good that you want to know how to save money. But what if I tell you that you can also make money abroad?

If you’re constantly traveling and need more funds to keep you going, there are plenty of part-time jobs offered all around the world for you to try. From fruit picking to working on a cruise ship, I’m sure there’s something for you out there.

Many of my friends have gone to countries like Australia and New Zealand to pick fruits. Some work for the Royal Caribbean while some work for voluntary projects and get paid a small amount of money in exchange for food and shelter.

Whatever you decide to do to earn money while traveling, be sure to enjoy every moment of it.

If you plan to put no deadline to your travels, follow these 7 ways to help you save money even when on the go. They’ve worked well for me. I believe they could work for you too! =)

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