With the festive season kickstarting, it’s autumn paving the way for the chilling winter – the perfect time to pack your bags and travel. It may be possible that after traveling for two consecutive long weekends this year, you will hardly be left with enough money to splurge on exploring places. But this doesn’t mean you should give up on traveling till the next appraisal. Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head of Expedia India, believes Indian travelers are turning more experimental, whether they are a couple, family travelers, FIT, or a group of backpackers. With this newfound desire to explore the world, the concept of travel intelligence is catching up with Indian travelers. Here are some tricks and tips he shares to travel within a budget and give that credit card a break.
Fix your budget
Set a budget while you plan your tour. Based on this, you can look at the trip you want – a weekend getaway, long vacation, or backpacking trip. Now, make a list of possible destinations and the length of stay. Load your phone with apps. Download travel apps on your smartphone. They update you in real-time on airfare sales no sooner than they have started. Get app-exclusive deals that will be more attractive than web deals.
Travel after sunset
Travel at night, as it helps you save on hotel costs. Try taking an overnight train or flight journey. It is suggested that you book the flights well in advance—5 to 6 months for international travel and 2-3 months for domestic travel.
Choose business hotel
Business Hotels are more affordable on weekends, and leisure hotels are more cost-effective on weekdays. Use budget hotels for stop-overs.
Prefer homestays
You can also opt for a homestay if you are willing to explore the destinations and spend more time with the locals.
Buy passes
Buy a visitor/tourist pass. Most countries have a two 5-day visitor pass that helps you save money on public transport, F&B, attraction tickets, and city tours.
Use public transport
If you decide to use public transport, passes are more economical. They are valid for 3 – 10 days and include trains, buses, trams, ferries, and other modes. It’s better than buying single tickets each time, and you save both money and time.
Book hotels in advance
If you book months in advance, you can easily bag up to a 60% discount on hotel stays. Before booking a hotel, read the reviews to understand its hospitality. Additionally, many cities offer up to 40% discounts when buying tickets for three or more activities together.
Say yes to mailers
Subscribe to e-mailers, RSS feeds, etc., from your preferred travel website to receive information about deals and offers as soon as they are announced.
Never deal offline
Use online websites to negotiate a better deal due to the sales volume and keep the transaction transparent. Buying flights, hotels, and activities together get you a higher discount.
Hotels near the airport/ train station
Look for hotels closer to the airport or railway station to eliminate taxi expenses. Avoid renting a car where you have a good public transportation system.
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