If you are a frugal person who still wants to do some traveling, you happen to be in luck.
There are quite a few ways for you to save money on your journey. The key will be to have some discipline. Going on a great trip does not need to cost you a lot of money. If you are careful about your purchases, and if you manage your money wisely, there is no reason that you can’t have a very memorable trip without the need to break your bank in the process. If you will be visiting the Big Apple, pick up a NYC travel guide prior to going on your vacation. This will allow you to get around town much more easily.
Here are some useful tips for budget-conscious travelers.
Do not take any guided tours
In the vast majority of cases, guided tours do not add anything to the experience of the place you are visiting. They cost you money, but usually only provide you with information that you already know.
You would be better off buying a cheap travel guide that you can use to give you information on many of the different places that you visit while you are on your vacation. This is a less expensive alternative to paying for many guided tours.
Do not buy any gadgets that are designed to be used by travelers
The travel gadget industry is a huge one. There are many products which are sold for the purpose of being used by travelers. While it is true that many of these gadgets will come in handy for business people, or other individuals who travel frequently, it does not make sense to spend money on them if you only travel once every year.
If you travel very rarely, you will be able to make do without these gadgets. The reality is that most of them do not provide you with very much help anyway. Another thing you should avoid buying is any product that is travel size. These items, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, are packaged in small containers.
However, they are not a good bargain. You would be better off refilling a small mouthwash container before every trip. Do not bother buying travel size shampoo, since every hotel provides this for you already.
Try to find a place to visit that is not popular
There is a general rule when it comes to traveling. If you stay in an area that is popular and full of major tourist attractions, you are going to be paying more for just about everything.
Not only will your hotel cost more, so will your food and transportation. However, there is a very easy way to avoid all of these price hikes. You can simply book a hotel that is located in an area that is away from all of the popular tourist attractions.
If you have to take a short bus ride from your hotel to see the major sights, this will not be the end of the world. Paying for an occasional bus or subway ride will be nothing compared to the money you will save on a hotel. When you are hungry, try to find places to eat that are away from the center of town.
You will pay less for your meals.
This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a complete travel platform that allows you to do everything from comparing charter flights and train rides, to finding the best resort hotels and Airbnb rentals.
