“Final call for Mr. Hatem. Please proceed to Gate 18.”
After repeating the call three times and no sign of Hatem, the plane took off without him. Is Hatem okay?
Yes, he’s physically fine, but mentally confused. Holding paper and pen, he calculates the amount needed for travel, only to find it unavailable in his bank balance. And so, Hatem misses the flight.
The exaggeration in this scene aims to bring a smile to your face and highlight the high costs of travel—from tickets to accommodation, transportation, gifts, and other expenses.
Now, let’s present 7 tips for traveling on a budget.
1. Enjoy Domestic Or Regional Tourism
In 2019, the United States welcomed over 20 million tourists, ranking 13th globally. What wonders are there in this beautiful country that we haven’t fully explored?
Due to shorter distances, take advantage of low-cost domestic tourism or well-organized road networks for comfortable travel by car. You can also choose to travel to neighboring countries, especially those that don’t require visa expenses.
2. Check Your Options With Travel Agencies
Despite the possibility of additional costs when booking through these agencies, you may sometimes benefit from exclusive discounts not available to independent travelers. This is due to the strong relationships these agencies have with airlines.
If so, you can also take advantage of installment payment services offered by these agencies and receive guidance from their experts on cost-effective cities to stay in or airports with lower travel costs.
3. Plan For A Maximum Of 3 Activities
It may be tempting to book tickets for multiple trips and exciting activities online with the touch of a button while sitting at home. However, be cautious not to make your trip expensive and exhausting, depriving yourself of spontaneity and flexibility while traveling.
Therefore, pre-book for a maximum of 3 trips or activities, as there’s much to discover in the country, and you may prefer to enjoy different, possibly less costly, experiences.
4. Avoid Traveling In Large Groups
Traveling in a group limits your freedom in various choices related to hotels, daily destinations, or restaurants, which can increase your shopping bill or create some tension at times, negatively affecting the quality of your trip.
However, when traveling alone, with your family, or with close friends only, you can easily enjoy the journey and adhere to a specific budget without embarrassment or additional costs.
5. Take Only What You Need
The smaller your travel bag, the easier it is to prepare, transport, and move around. Only take essential items in limited quantities, especially clothes.
If you’re staying in a hotel, don’t bring items you’ll automatically get, such as soap and towels. The goal is to save space for your new purchases from the country you’re heading to without paying any extra for overweight baggage on your way back.
6. Use Points and Miles
Most airlines offer a program to convert points into miles for travel. It’s not surprising, as many credit cards provide rewards points for free travel tickets, upgrades, or free access to VIP lounges, depending on the balance.
The same system applies to hotel bookings, so check your points balance first and explore ways to benefit from them.
7. Choose the Right Time to Travel
The most crucial rule for saving is not to travel to countries during their tourist seasons. Complete the booking on a holiday when ticket websites are less congested. Also, know that the earlier you book, the lower the ticket price.
Conversely, the ticket price increases the closer you book to the departure date. These details may seem simple but are effective, like traveling on a Tuesday and before 8 AM.
Have a happy journey!
NomaDock for Financial Awareness
