I have been trying to find a cheap deal for my travel from Kolkata to Bangkok for many days. And after hours of searching and browsing cheap flight sites with different airlines, I saw a fee of US 45 USD. It was priced between $ 150 and USD 300. The fact that I could get such a good deal allowed me to create a complete itinerary around this trip. What should have been a day in Bangkok turned into a two-month adventure in Southeast Asia, which included six different countries, and I survived those two months with less than US 900 USD, including all bus, train and flight tickets! So, you can say that I know one or two things about travel life hacks.
1. Budget Travel Tips: Booking Your Flight
People think it is good and cheaper to book a return ticket in advance than booking two different flights. But according to my experience in my experience, this is not always true. Yes, indeed, return flights are often cheaper, but if you think about it, you can get a great deal, as I did with my trip to Bangkok.
2. Consider travelling in the off-season.
This is also one of the basic budget travel tips. Research and find out when the off-season is where you want to go. Only choose a time of year when the weather is cool but not rainy. Not only will the prices of everything be very low but you will get a more authentic view of this place without all the tourists around. You will be able to observe the real life of the local people and learn a lot about this country.
3. Use booking sites for accommodation.
You will always get a better idea of deals if you use sites and want to visit straight to the hotel.
4. Google for discounts
Before buying anything, always do a Google search for discounts or code words. You can get some really good deals like this. Do this when you have booked your flight and accommodation.
5. View exchange rates
Following the world economy never hurts. Compare your country’s currency with the currency of the country you want to go to. For example, now is a good time for Americans to visit Europe, as the euro has recently depreciated against the US dollar.
6. Consider group tours
When you travel alone, you can still enjoy the benefits of group travel. Let the professionals do all the logistics. It’s also very easy.
7. Hostel
The best budget travel tip that I can give to a lone traveller is to always choose the hotel to stay. You will only have to share the room with other people, you pay only a fraction of the price, and you have the opportunity to make new friends. There are also many luxurious hostels, including pools, gyms and other facilities. You can also think about the homestay and couch surfing.
8. Check hostel calendars.
Many hostels offer a variety of activities for their guests, from theme parties to cooking classes to tours to see a famous landmark. Sometimes the activities are free, but the cost is much lower than what you normally pay when they are not.
9. Get a local SIM card.
Access to maps is invaluable when travelling abroad, especially if you are alone. Getting lost can be a bit scary when travelling alone and when there aren’t many English speakers. It happened to me in Hanoi. If you have a SIM card, not only will you not get lost, but you can walk to nearby places and avoid paying for taxis or public transport.
10. Avoid using ATMs.
The commission may be higher for using your card in a foreign country. A commission is charged from your bank, and most ATMs also charge a commission. Some banks will offer free cards that you can use for annual fees while living abroad. Start by finding the banks that provide this service in your country.
11. Do not exchange your money at the airport.
The exchange rate of money at the airport is very high, so never exchange your money at the airport.
12. Take double the money and half the clothes you think you need.
I know; part of the money doesn’t match the title. But that’s what I learned after losing a lot of money at the ATM. I was not allowed to use the ATM because I planned my budget to the last penny, and I thought the money I got would be enough—plan for your budget when travel never works. And the only part of the wardrobe is that when you are backpacking, it makes it easier for you to move around and avoid the extra baggage charge at the airport. You don’t need half the equipment anyway. If you want to learn how to pack like Pro, check out this guide for minimal packaging and our guide to minimal travel.
13. Use public transport
Needless to say, how much money you can save by using public transport. However, some people do not feel comfortable in crowded public transport vehicles. And these places are often full of pocket cutters. And the best thing about them is:
14. Share your rides.
Uber and most local versions allow passengers to share rides and pay significantly less. Another good thing about this is that drivers use GPS, so you don’t have to struggle to tell where you’re going if the driver doesn’t speak English.
15. Find freebies
The best thing about travelling alone is deciding where and when you want to go. And many cities have a lot of interesting things that are free, such as museums, festivals, concerts, etc., if you do not perform research on time, you can always find the tourist bureau and ask for information.
16. Restrict restaurant meals
Of course, there are also many cheap restaurants, but you may not know them when you first visit a place. For two months, I lived in Southeast Asia 80% of the time, eating street food.
17. Use the benefits of technology
Like everything else, technology can make your journey easier. Find out and download some useful apps that can make your journey easier. My personal favourite is City Maps2Go, which lets you have offline access to maps of different cities.
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18. Get travel insurance
I know most budget travellers will advise you not to take out travel insurance, which is an unnecessary expense. And I agree; Most of the time, you probably won’t need travel insurance. But once you need it, it will cover all the times you paid for travel insurance and didn’t need it. Also, note that choosing the right travel insurance provider is important. One that you can contact anytime and anywhere in the world without any hassle to claim and receive payment as soon as possible.