Preparing for a trip is always exciting, but sometimes in the rush of things, we end up buying travel essentials at the last minute. This means we usually just go with the first items we see and pay full price for them. The secret in saving money during travel is to get things on sale. There are a lot of travel-related items that you don’t really need to spend full cost on.
If you just do a little bit of research early on and endeavor to devote some time for preparation, you can enjoy great discounts and steals on many travel-related expenses and items.
Airfare is the first thing you should start with. There are many great deals on budget airfare to almost any destination around the world. The key is to check out airline websites from time to time and plan your vacation time in advance. If you can also afford to take time off from work during off-peak vacation seasons, airfare for those periods will surely be at lower. You can grab very attractive deals in these situations.
Accommodation comes next. Similar to airfare, you need a bit of patience and perseverance in scouring the web for great vacation hotel packages and other accommodation deals. Especially if you are traveling in a group, you can leverage the number of people in packaging room rates. The off-peak season is also a good period to consider in order to get affordable and discounted hotel rooms.
Seasonal clothing such as winter gear is something many people inadvertently end up spending a lot on. Some travelers advise to simply buy winter clothes when you arrive at your destination, but this is not always practical and easy to do. Unless you are a seasoned traveler, this will only pressure you into settling with whatever you see in stores. The result is spending a lot for clothes that you will seldom use.
The best idea is to keep an eye out for off-season sales here in the Philippines. Almost all brand-name apparel and boutiques now carry winter clothes in their collection, because they know a lot of Filipinos are savvy travelers and are now leaving for a lot of foreign destinations. Just when the winter season is about to end is a good time to buy clothes because they will surely be put on sale. Keeping in mind your vacation plans for next year, you can then keep them until your actual travel.
Luggage and other travel gear are things that you can also definitely save on if you are just patient enough to catch them on sale. There is simply no reason why you have to go with regular-priced luggage because stores and retailers slash deep discounts on these items during the off-season. Again, the trick is in buying them before you need them. Luggage is usually put on sale during the rainy season of June here in the Philippines.
Travel insurance is something you can also get at discounted rates. You can try to negotiate lower premium costs if you are traveling in a big group. There are also retail travel insurance vouchers that you can now purchase conveniently in banks, payment centers, and other financial institutions. These are good for a limited period of time during your travel and can spell a lot of difference in terms of cost savings. Be sure to shop around and compare among different insurance companies as well. Go with the company with the highest amount of coverage and additional benefits for the lower price.
Saving on travel essentials
By being able to save money on travel necessities, you can spend more during the trip itself and make it more enjoyable. Remember that the priority during travel is to savor new experiences in a foreign land, and with more pocket money you can definitely do more things to make the adventure more memorable.
