5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHILE TRAVELING
Hey vacationers, nice to have you flying along. Seatbelts fastened? Welcome to the Kiki Cheapy Travel Agency. Look, traveling is super awesome/cool/lifechanging and stuff, but it's also quite an expensive hobby. And that's why the upcoming summer months are time for some lessons on how to keep your money smartly in your pocket while traveling.
Copy that, Roger? Good, ready for take off.
1. Skip that room with the view
Admit it, if possible, you also prefer that room with a view. Ocean view, Pool view, Mountain view, it all sounds just a bit better than no view. But also consider this: we spend so much money on perfect views, while we hardly spend any time in that room. Especially during the day. And in the evening, it’s often too dark to even have a good view. And if it's about the photos; in every hotel, there’s usually a common viewpoint. Take that picture there and save your extra money for things like food.
2. Make a checklist
Before you start packing, that is. Because how often do you forget a tube of toothpaste, cotton swabs, shampoo, and a light jacket for when it suddenly gets a bit cooler at your destination? Almost always, right? Or what about a few blister plasters, anti-diarrhea pills, and aspirin just in case? Being organized while traveling can save you a lot of money on items you probably already have at home.
3. Take a free city tour
If you're going on a city trip, look beyond the organized excursions and hop on, hop off buses if you want to save money. First, check if there are also free walking tours available. The only thing you spend on? A small tip for the tour guide. Cities like London, Paris, Venice, and Sydney all have free walking tours. Good for the glutes too.
4. Watch your tips
Knowing the tipping etiquette while traveling can make a big difference. Dutch people often feel compelled to tip everywhere, but in many countries, the tip is already automatically included in the menu. In Spain, Italy, and Greece, you often see that they add service charges separately to the bill. Extra tip? Nice, but not necessarily needed in that case. And suppose you go out to eat every evening for two weeks, that can save you a lot of euros without you even noticing.
5. Go one day shorter
Here too, we want to get the most out of it. I get it. But no matter how long you travel, look closely at the budget difference between the number of days. It's definitely worth checking if it’s not much cheaper to fly back a day earlier. That can sometimes save you up to 150 euros per person. Plus: it also gives you an extra day at home to relax before you step back into the work reality. Who says saving money has to sound unpleasant?
