Travelling can be extremely fun, relaxing and a way to experience new cultures and make fond memories, but it is no secret that it can also be very expensive. This holds true whether you are travelling within your own country of residence or planning to take a plane to a different continent. Keeping your bank balance at a healthy number which comes in handy not only during emergencies but also if you need to save up for your next trip can prove to be quite difficult. But the factor of money should not stop you from going to new places if you are able to take a few steps in order to make sure that you are not spending an unnecessary amount before and during travelling.
Plan ahead
Pre-planning for your trip ensures that you can track your potential expenditures beforehand and don’t have to spend more money than you should. If you know where you are going and what attractions you’re visiting, make a list of the entry fees and transport passes so you know how much you’re spending without any surprises. Planning ahead means budgeting ahead, so with some research, if you’re able to gather how much you will need to spend during your time there and keep some extra cash at hand, you can experience your trip within your designated budget.
Find cheaper alternatives
Travelling without breaking the bank is not impossible if you know where to look. There are several websites online that let you compare prices of hotels and modes of transportation for the city that you’re visiting. Sometimes, taking an early morning train is the cheaper option as compared to a train that is priced four or five times higher for a journey at a normal time. The only thing you will be doing is sacrificing your sleep for a day, a small price to pay for your savings and the joy of travelling. Often, staying at a hotel which is a little outside of the main city – like the suburbs – costs much less for more room and better service. You’d have to do some commuting to and back for the place of interest, but you’ll also be able to protect your bank balance.
Get a bank account with little to no international fees
When you’re on the road, you will be relying on ATM machines and your debit card to get some cash. If you are travelling to a different country altogether, chances are that the currency will be different, meaning there will be an exchange rate that you’ll have to pay each time you access money from an ATM machine. There are plenty of banks which provide international debit cards that reduce the rates for every transaction. This way, you will be saving money on the go which you would have been otherwise forced to spend.
Get a Prepaid Card
Prepaid cards are a relatively new thing, and they are a favorite among travellers because they are safe and secure and not linked with any bank account. A prepaid card is an international debit card in which you can load a currency of choice, like a prepaid wallet. Since it is not directly linked to your bank account, there is no chance of fraudulent activity which you might be worried about experiencing on the go. It also keeps you from spending more than you need to because there is no way that you can use more money than what is there on the prepaid card. You will need to plan and budget your vacation depending on its use, therefore keeping you from going bankrupt on your travels.
Make more money on the go
If you don’t want to use your hard earned salary on expenditures that you consider as extra when you’re on your trip, you can definitely find ways to make money online instantly and use it for the indulgences that you simply were not able to plan beforehand as a part of your experience abroad. You can find reputable real money casinos by visiting this site, as gambling online is a great way to earn fast cash. Many online gambling sites have a one-day withdrawal option, so if on one of the days you decide to check out the hotel spa that you were just not expecting to use before you actually travelled there, you can spend the extra cash from your winnings and treat yourself to an afternoon of relaxation. Unforeseen expenditures that forced you to use your credit card can also be taken care of by earning money online, which makes it easier for you to pay off that bill at the end of the month.
Make the right meal choice
Dining out for every meal will not necessarily give you the best feel of the place that you’re visiting, nor will it be kind to your wallet. This doesn’t mean that you should depend on supermarket food at all times while travelling, but rather that you should choose certain options that are better on the money front as well as the cultural front. In some cities, street side food is a huge part of daily life, and you can find delicious foods that the locals eat for a fraction of the price than that of a restaurant. If you’re planning to eat out in restaurants for lunches and dinners because you like taking your meals seriously, you can opt for breakfasts at bakeries and local coffee shops to save more for meals for the rest of the day.
These are only a few of the many ways that you can make sure that your bank balance is at a healthy number while you go out there to scratch the travel bug. Once you start with these steps, you will definitely learn more on the way and will be able to spend less to experience all that the world has to offer.
