Complete vacation budgeting guide to help you save money

Who doesn’t like to save money when possible? Traveling can be expensive, but with the right strategy, you can bring down the cost. Try these 15 tips on your next vacation and your wallet will thank you.

I also ended a few ways to raise money before you travel.

17 money-saving ideas for your next vacation

1. Look for free activities. If you do a little research, you’ll see there are often lots of free activities in the area. Look at community calendars to see what is going on in town while you are there. Do a self-guided walking tour to familiarize yourself with your destination. Museums often have a ‘pay what you can’ day once a week and sometimes have discounted admission after a certain time of day.
2. Book a room with a refrigerator/microwave or kitchen area. Although some people might not like to cook while on vacation, I don’t mind making breakfast in my room. I love having a cup of coffee on my deck, but room service can be very pricy. I’d rather eat in for breakfast and lunch and then splurge on a fancy dinner. A microwave and fridge will also be helpful for reheating leftovers.
3. Shop at farmer’s markets and local stores. Farmer’s markets often lower the price of their food towards the end of the day. Also, shopping at local stores allows you to taste the local cuisine without having to pay the price of a restaurant. Buy some local fish and cook it up at your condo.
4. Before you book, be aware of the location of where you’re staying. Transportation can add up quickly, so you may want to stay in a central location. Ideally, somewhere you can walk everywhere would work best. If you’re staying in a city, will you be near a subway or bus stop?
5. Carry snacks/water during outings. Kids will need snacks while you are exploring, and it drives me crazy to spend money on silly snacks. Throw some granola bars in your bag and pull them out when the kids need fuel. Don’t even get me started on how much I hate spending money on bottled water when I can buy an entire case for the same amount. Always carry your own water. However, splurge when it comes to treats that you can only find in that location.
6. Scammers - if you are unsure, then walk away. There is never a great deal that will not be around tomorrow. It is too common to find the same items elsewhere for a lot cheaper. You will know when the price is fair. If they are pushy, then leave them be. The ones who aren’t pushy are the ones with a fair price.
7. Use points or miles. Chain hotels, like Hilton and Marriott, have a reward system that gives you points for staying there and they are great to use for free overnight stays. When traveling, try to exclusively stay at those hotels and fly the same airlines to build your points.
8. Look for city tourism cards. Depending on the card, you can gain free entry to top visitor attractions, discounts at restaurants and shops, skip-the-line options at busy attractions, free public transportation, and even free guidebooks. Depending on your itinerary, it might be worth the money.
9. Don’t get the best room. How much time are you actually going to use your room? Will you just be sleeping there? Do you need a room with a good view or so much extra space? Will you use the amenities, such as a pool or a fitness room?
10. Be flexible when flying. If you are not on a tight schedule, can you be flexible with the time of day you fly, the number of stops, or your seat selection? Do you mind having a long layover? If possible, check the dates of your trip and see if the price would go down if you tweaked the dates a bit.
11. Stay outside a city. You often pay for the location, and it’s sometimes cheaper to stay away from areas with big tourist attractions. You can always go to the attractions and then head back to your hotel to sleep.
12. Rent an apartment instead of having to get two rooms. My friends with three or more kids are often complaining about how expensive it is to stay in a hotel because they need to get adjoining rooms. An apartment or condo is often much cheaper. I love to use VRBO, and Home Away and have even used Trip Advisor.
13. Go off-season. You can usually find cheaper plane tickets and hotel rooms by going off-season, and there may be more availability. You will not have to deal with large crowds and attractions could also be cheaper at that time. Just make sure places are open.
14. Have a big lunch. Restaurants often offer lunch specials at less expensive prices. You could also buy extra food at lunch and save it for dinner later.
15. Don’t eat in areas that are close to tourist destinations. In some cities, walking just a few blocks can slash prices at restaurants. I try to never eat at attractions because they tend to raise the price to their captive audience.
16. Create a budget and stick to it! Know when to save and when to splurge. We always eat at a nice restaurant on our last night of vacation. Look for ways to save money but also treat yourself during the trip. Having a budget is a wonderful way to keep yourself on track.
17. Suitcases - Plan on what clothes you will need for the trip and pack carefully. Try to find a local Laundromat if the trip is going to be several weeks. This one cost alone on a long trip will save you hundreds of dollars. Some hotels charge $5 for one shirt to clean. A Laundromat or laundry place will do your clothes, all of them for under $30. I would tip them if I went there a lot. When I traveled a lot, I could bring 2 suitcases without any extra charge, now most airlines start charging for the first bag. Plan around that to save $100 or more, especially on foreign airlines.

Few suggestions to make extra cash.

1. Take up a part-time job
2. Collect old/unwanted items in your house, and sell them
3. Sell your services, maybe teach a kid, write some code, etc.
4. Freelance as a content writer
5. Make and sell stuff like a bake sale, paint something, or sell photographs

You can save money by

1. Taking the bus or train, instead of a taxi or rickshaw, or even walking to nearby places
2. Use up the medical reimbursement or local expenses reimbursement
3. Start saving up a small amount every month
4. If you plan to travel in the future, like maybe an international trip after a year, start a recurring deposit
5. Instead of partying or eating out every weekend, reduce it to every alternate weekend or once a month, or go someplace where your expenses will be lesser
6. Invest any extra cash you have, birizon has a nice vacation that you can regularly top up until you are ready to travel, and you will be amazed at the power of compounding.

I hope this step-by-step guide will help you on your next vacation, enjoy yourself.