We love to travel but we have to admit, it can be costly. Exploring places doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you know how to plan well and manage your expenses so you can stick to your allotted travel budget.

Here are some tried and tested tips to help you plan that vacation or travel on a budget.

Airfare/ Tickets

– Plan your travel during off-season. It’s usually a week before or after the best time to visit your intended destination. Ticket prices are usually cheaper on those dates.
– Travel during on a weekday instead of a weekend. Midweek travel prices are lower than weekend flights.
– Book flights in ahead of time. Airlines open their flight seats up to a year in advance and the closer you get to your travel dates, the more the prices increase, especially in the last month.
– Check new flights offered by airlines. They usually have seat sales to new destinations they are flying to.
– Use a frequent-flyer card to earn more points, score more afforable tickets and even get free tickets you can use for your next travel.

Accommodations

– Book directly via the hotel official website. They offer discounts and more perks (guaranteed early/late checkout, airport transfers, etc).
– Service apartments and Air BNBs are more affordable alternatives.
– Book a place that is closer to a hub or train station so you can save on money by using the public transportation system. (Refer to the next point)

Our Air BNB in Haeundae Beach Clover House in Busan, Korea

Transportation

– Check if your accommodation has free airport transfers so you can save time and money in going to and from the hotel.
– Learn how to use the public transport system. Traveling by train is the most affordable and fastest way to get to your destinations.
– Hop On/ Hop Off buses are good if you want to do a sight seeing tour of the famous tourist spots in a day or two.

Food

– Check if your accommodation offers free breakfast/ afternoon tea. If you are leaving early for a tour, ask if they can pack away the food and drinks so you can bring it along.
– Check out groceries so you can buy and stock up on snacks (fruits, bread, crackers) instead of buying whatever is near or at the attractions you’re visiting. Items sold there are usually marked up for tourists.
– Buy a big container of water from the grocery for your reusable water bottle that you can carry with you. Drink vending machines can be almost everywhere but they can be costly.
– Convenient stores also offers ready to heat food for quick breakfasts before you start your day (if your accommodation does not offer breakfast).

Attractions

– Check out free attractions in the places you are visiting like free light shows, free museum/ parks admissions, etc
– Buy theme park tickets ahead of time, online at their official website or look for discount vouchers you can use. If you are planning to visit a park for more than one day in a year, you will find a better deal than buying one-day tickets. Seasonal and annual passes also include discounts on in-park purchases, such as food and merchandise.

Related Post: Free Things To Do in Singapore | Places to Go in Busan with Free Admission