Traveling a long distance for the first time can be stressful as well as exciting. Even when you have the trip planned out, there may still be unforeseen challenges along the way, including homesickness, loss of property, and budget issues. When you’re far from home, you want to make sure you have plenty of money to get you through the journey, so it’s crucial to prepare weeks or even months ahead of time and think about how you can reduce costs while you’re traveling.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can save money and still have fun. Your accommodations, transportation, food, and activities can all be budgeted while allowing room for you to broaden your horizons and learn about other cultures and histories. Whether you’re planning a trip across the country or one across the world, there are many things you can do to keep your spending under control and still make the most of your time away.
Here are some things to think about along the journey:
Plan accordingly
When you’re taking a trip, it’s important to plan as much as possible no matter how far from home you’ll be. Not only will this help you figure out how to maximize your travel time, but it will also allow you to plan how much money to budget for activities, food, and transportation. Check out deal sites like Groupon before you leave to see if you can save on the activities you know you want to do. Pro tip: Just make sure you look for deals specifically in the area where you’ll be.
Be a frugal traveler
Once you reach your destination, you can be frugal and still have fun. Bring your own snacks and water in a small backpack in order to avoid having to shell out cash for expensive fare at tourist attractions. Use free transportation to get back and forth between your daytime activities and your hotel to conserve on gas and mileage. If you’re traveling with friends, ask if they’d like to go in on a few different dishes with you at a restaurant so everyone can share instead of paying for one expensive entree, or split the courses. When you’re traveling, it pays to think outside the box a little.
Get to know your vehicle and insurance
Whether you’re driving cross-country in your own car or renting one abroad, you’ll want to make sure you understand as much about it as possible. This will help to prevent issues while you’re on the road and will allow you to prepare ahead of time by making sure the details are taken care of. Read reviews online and get to know the car a bit before the trip, and always check the tires, windshield wiper blades, and oil before you hit the road. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re familiar with all the car’s functions, from the cruise control to the gas tank lever. A little homework and preventative maintenance now will keep costly problems at bay when you’re far from home.
Only bring what you can carry on
While some travelers wouldn’t dream of going on a trip without an entire bag full of shoe options, it can shrink your budget considerably to only bring what you can carry on when you’re flying. Not only do you not have to worry about checking bags that could get lost, but you’ll also save on luggage fees, which can get pretty costly when you add more than one. An added bonus is that you’ll save money on souvenirs and trinkets because you won’t have room to bring them all home! When it comes to buying luggage, you can save online by looking for deals and promotions on sites like Rakuten.
Traveling doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. If you’re inexperienced with long trips, make it a point to plan everything out to ensure the journey is as simple as possible. With simplicity often comes economical choices, and that will help you save money while still having fun.
Thank you to our guest blogger, Henry, with Fit Well Traveler.
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