Traveling can get pretty pricey, especially if you’re traveling to a high-demand destination like Paris, Sydney, Dubai, or Zürich. If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to spend thousands on a vacation to a high-demand destination, there are definitely some effective measures you can take to reduce costs and stay within your budget.
High-demand destinations are high in demand for a reason; they’re some of the most beautiful and culturally diverse locations in the world. Don’t write off a vacation to one of these places just because they might look expensive at first. Instead, check out these 10 tips that will help you book a more affordable vacation to your dream destination!
Although Airbnb rates run pretty close to hotel rates, when you rent from Airbnb, you’re usually getting an entire house or condo, which means you can split the cost several ways. If a two-bed hotel room costs $150 per night, each person pays $75 per night. On the other hand, if an Airbnb rental is a house with six beds and costs $180 per night, each person pays $30 per night. With Airbnb, you get more options for rooms. You can choose condos, apartments, and houses to stay in.
Or, if you’re traveling alone, you can always look into couch surfing. Couchsurfing.com connects travelers with hosts who are not allowed to charge their guests. Instead, guests are encouraged to help out with groceries or buy their host a bottle of wine to thank them for their hospitality. This is also a great way to connect with some locals and find out some cool hidden spots off the beaten path!
There are several budget airlines you can choose to fly over those that offer higher-quality flight experiences. One catch is that you’ll most likely have to pay a hefty price to check your luggage, so consider traveling as light as possible to carry your luggage on board with you. You can also dodge the seat selection price by being willing to sit anywhere you’re randomly assigned.
Take advantage of airline apps, which allow you to print out your boarding pass beforehand and pay less to pre-check your luggage before arriving at the airport.
Spring and summer are the most expensive seasons to travel because everyone wants to get away for spring break and summer vacation. Travel during a “dead zone” when lodging and airfare are both at their lowest.
The dead zones are early December, mid-to-late January, and early February. If you absolutely must travel during summer, August is the cheapest summer month for lodging and airfare.
As a professional house-sitter, you will get a free room and board in exchange for light housework. Worth it!
Some destinations in Europe, Asia, and Australia offer travelers the opportunity to become a professional “house sitter” to avoid paying for lodging. While you more than likely won’t get paid for your house sitting services, you’ll be enjoying your vacation without having to worry about paying for a place to stay.
You might be asked to perform some light housework or care for your host’s pets, which is a perfectly fair trade for free room and board!
If you really want to take an affordable vacation in Paris, consider lodging in Versailles, Chantilly, Chartres, or Provins, all of which are less than an hour away from the heart of Paris. You can easily take a train or other public transportation forms to reach Paris and still have plenty of time to accomplish all your tourist desires.
If you’re looking for adventure, consider riding a bike or backpacking your way from town to town to see all that the country has to offer. Aside from your high-demand destination!
Pro tip: Use public transportation or go backpacking to see all of the high-demand areas. This will save a fortune!
As I mentioned earlier, splitting the lodging costs, several ways is the easiest way to take an affordable vacation. Many major airlines also offer group travelers discounts, so be sure to do some research before booking any flights or lodging accommodations.
Groupon and other discount websites offer great deals for group activities, so make sure to sign up for email alerts well in advance!
Most travelers want to leave Friday and return Sunday, and airlines set their prices accordingly. If you’re able to book your flight mid-week, then you’re in a much better position to save on airfare. If you’re flying domestically, book your flight anywhere from Tuesday to Thursday.
There are some exceptions to this rule. Make sure that you compare prices for every day over a range of several weeks—or months, if possible—to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal on airfare.
Booking flights in advance is typically the best way to get a good deal on airfare. However, there are also days of the week when airfare is cheapest, like Tuesday or Sunday.
For domestic flights, book within one to four months in advance—if possible, book your flight 47 days before your intended departure. For international flights, book as early as possible. After around 9 months of pre-flight, costs start slowly rising. The 90-day period before a flight is when prices start to dramatically increase.
While it might seem counter-intuitive to sign up for more coupons and deals than you’re already receiving daily. Sites like Travelzoo, Groupon, Orbitz, and Priceline send coupons, promo codes, and other information on local deals to their subscribers.
While it might be a bit of a nuisance to scroll through dozens of emails from these services that might not offer anything useful. You’ll eventually get something that you can use that will help you book a more affordable vacation!
Whether or not you want to believe it, your web browser really is watching you. Shop some vacation sites, add hotel rooms, activities, and other vacation-related deals to your electronic cart, then leave them there. Many of these sites will automatically send coupons to people who almost make a purchase but change their minds at the last minute. So make sure to enter your email when prompted.
High-demand destinations want you to visit and spend money there. So if you show even a little interest, then they might just dangle some enticing offers in front of you to get you to commit!
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