Okay – you’ve got a great deal with your flights and your various hotels, but when you actually go abroad, it’s easy to fall into every tourist trap going and spend your money left, right and centre. It’s no secret that we’re all still trying to cope with the credit crunch, so here are a few tips to save you some precious cash whilst you’re on your travels.
1) The customer is always right…
…but they don’t always read the small print. If your flight is delayed, your hotel has let you down or even if the airline’s lost your luggage, you’re entitled to transfers, alternative accommodation and sometimes compensation. So instead of forking out your own money for others’ mistakes, make sure that the airline or hotel company goes out of their way to give you the best customer service possible.
2) Book in advance as much as possible
For instance, booking a hostel weeks in advance will not only give you peace of mind and save you a lot of wandering about, but will most likely save you a heap of cash. It’s plain common sense to book your flight as early as possible too, but also check advance bookings for trains. Unfortunately only the UK offers the 16-25 railcard scheme, but most countries will provide discounted tickets for young adults (typically under 26’s) and some even do group discounts, which means you can save even more.
3) Converting money
To get the best deal for your money, shop around. Airport bureau de changes are notorious for bad deals, so do your research and get your money sorted in good time. If you want to be really savvy, then insist on currency in low denominations – as “not only are these less susceptible to forgery (if someone is going to make counterfeit currency, they usually aim high, you also avoid the ‘sorry, no change’ argument beloved of taxi drivers and other traders,” writes The Lonely Planet’s Tom Hall.
Being in a new country with new money can be pretty overwhelming, so get clued up on the value of different banknotes before you go too.
4) Go local
In big cities, it’s pretty well known that the cheapest food is going to be found either in local markets or on the back streets. Restaurants can also be very sneaky when it comes to adding extras to your bill without telling you, so if you’re on a budget, go off the tourist route and live like a local. This way you also have the bonus of experiencing the real culture that your destination has to offer as well as saving a few pennies.
5) Budget!
If you’re really watching the purse strings then keep a record of your expenditure, or set aside a daily budget. Online banking can be particularly useful if you’re keeping close track of your money. (Cheap apps such as MyTravel’s Travel Buddy are designed for tasks like this if using pen and paper isn’t your thing.)
Admittedly, there are some costs that you can’t always save on, such as insurance and healthcare. But using your common sense and following a few useful tips will help. Who knows, with all that money you save, you might be off travelling again in no time…
