Here are 10 Best Tips to help you Travel More for Less
1. Take out travel insurance
The best of the 10 best tips to travel more for less is get travel insurance. Travel Insurance is essential to get the best value from a trip. If you can’t afford it, you cannot afford to go. In some countries, an accident or medical expense could otherwise bankrupt you. Shop around for the best value and make sure it covers what you need. If you intend to do adventure activities or snow activities you may need additional insurance. These days many of the best travel insurance policies are online. Some credit cards also have some limited coverage, although these are generally not advised. There are many examples of people who have ended up with bills of $10,000s and even $100,000s for medical that has changed their dream trip into a nightmare.
2. Credit Card Frequent Flyer Program
This is the easiest way to earn free travel money and sometimes extra perks. Sign up for an airline that flies to your city and has the most options through that airline and to a smaller extent through its partner airlines. Every time you spend money on what you would normally spend you will earn points that can then be redeemed for flights and/or upgrades. Use the credit card for paying for everything. Under certain circumstances you may even gain an advantage when flying.
3. Take Advantage of Loyalty Schemes
Many hotel chains, ferry services, etc have loyalty schemes. These mean that you will get free nights of accommodation. However, others allow you to book at a cheaper price that you can get elsewhere and may include meals or free access to an area that you are otherwise not allowed (eg. a club lounge).
4. Find the best way to get where you want
Depending on where you want to go, a number of options may suit. You may want a round the world airfare, you may want a number of one way airfares, you may want to fly into a close hub and then use rail, bus or ferry to get there. You may be able to get an open-jaw ticket (where you fly into one destination and back from a second point). There may be options that allow a free stopover in another destination. Recently, I arranged a 22 hour stopover in Doha on the way back from Europe to Australia.
5. Have flexibility on when you fly
Sometimes a day or two difference can save significant money. We flew on Christmas Day once and saved hundreds of dollars. A slightly out of season ticket will save you money on not only airfares but also accommodation.
6. Use Discount Passes
Airpasses, Railpasses, City Cards, Student Cards, Senior Cards, YHA cards can all save money. Airpasses and Railpasses will normally need to be purchased ahead of time. However, they can provide significant savings. Airpasses in Australia, Railpasses in Japan and Europe offer exellent value. Sometimes just asking of there is a discount for a particular card is sufficient to obtain a discount, especially in Europe.
7. Free days at museums
In Europe, museums often have free or discounted days. They are also often closed one day a week. It can be worthwhile organising to visit on these days.
8. Buy Tickets in advance (+ Skip the Queue)
Buy tickets to big attractions online and in advance. We once bought a Skip the Queue ticket to the Eiffel Tower and saved hours of queuing. When buying tickets for Blue Lagoon in Iceland by buying far enough in advance, you will receive the best price.
9. Organised tour or explore on your own
Sometimes it is most economical to take an organised tour and other times it may be cheaper to take a taxi, bus, train, ferry, etc to visit what you want to see. Compare the options.
10. Eat locally
By eating locally, you will save money but also enjoy new tastes. The best and cheapest food is usually what the locals eat. When eating locally make sure that you follow rules of hygiene.
We hope that these 10 best tips to travel more for less have helped you in your travel planning and travels.
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