the top 10 travel tips to save you money in 2023
2023 is the year of travel! Here's 10 tips to save you cash as you set off on your adventures.
We asked my millennial money listeners what their top 5 financial goals were heading into 2023 - and number 4 on that list was travel! Who doesn’t want to travel, right! But travelling comes with a price tag so we wanted to share our top travel tips so you can learn how to travel cheap.
#1 plan ahead
Being organised and booking things well ahead of time will save you the big bucks when travelling. Booking flights, accommodations, and activities in advance can often result in significant savings. If you try to book a flight to Europe that jets off next week, you’re going to be paying for it sorely - especially at the moment. Plan ahead as far as you can to cut back on those last minute loaded price tags.
#2 be flexible
Have a think - when does everyone want to be travelling to your desired location? Great - DON’T BOOK THEN. Consider travelling during shoulder season or off-peak times when prices are lower - do your research to determine the cheaper times to visit those locations and book for that very first week in the shoulder season.
#3 be smart with how you book flights
For short-haul flights, budget airlines can often offer cheaper fares compared to traditional airlines. Another great hack in this space that guest on my millennial money, Chris Hutchins from the All the Hacks podcast shared, was to use Google Flights to check out flight availability - it has a heap of flexible features to look up flights. But book directly with the airlines. Likewise if you’re travelling to a non-major city that requires a flight transfer to get there, look to book a more local flight from a major city near that city first. Then book a separate flight from your location to that major city. You will need to organise some time to pick up baggage between the flights, but by dodging the flight transfer organised by airlines some people have saved thousands of dollars in flights.
#4 stay in budget accommodation or consider couchsurfing!
Don’t just jump straight to hotel bookings - do you research and consider all accommodation options available at the destinations you’re keen on. Consider alternative accommodations such as hostels, guesthouses, or vacation rentals. Couchsurfing is also a super interesting way to stay somewhere new and meet new people - but obviously do it safely. The fun part of couchsurfing is you can return the favour by offering up your own couch to a traveller when you get home! Check out online sites that connect you with other couchsurfers.
#5 cook your own meals
Food food food! Eating out can be one of the biggest expenses while travelling, so consider cooking some of your own meals to save money and save up for some specific unique local food experiences. Book accommodation that has a kitchen/kitchenette and go hit up the local supermarket! Talk about a way to practice the local language 😅
#6 use public transportation
Taking public transportation can often be a more affordable option than taking taxis or renting a car. Half the fun of travelling is trying to figure out the local train ticketing system - like what does my ticket get me? Am I heading in the right direction? Does this train even go to the Louvre? Who even knows! Embrace the local feel by travelling like the locals do - jump on a bus, tram, tuk tuk or train.
#7 use travel rewards and credit card points
If you're a frequent traveller, sign up for travel rewards programs and use points to offset the cost of your trip. Get familiar with airline and hotel networks that gather points collectively and research well across the areas you're travelling to maximise those points. Even if points don’t cover your whole flight it can help make a nice dent in the cost, plus you’ll be gathering frequent flyers on this trip to use on the next trip. On and on the travel fun goes!
#8 avoid tourist traps
Research the area you're visiting and avoid areas known for being tourist traps, as prices are often inflated in these areas. They love to make bank on tourists! So head to areas just to the left and get exploring where you see more locals go. There might be a couple of tourist things you want to see - budget for those - but for the rest get super local and cut back on the costs.
#9 sort your travel money out + watch exchange rates
A major way you can get stung is in exchanging AUD for local currency - keep an eye on exchange rates and get familiar with the costs of exchanging your cash to local currency, particular if you want to use your everyday debit card to purchase things while away. Have a couple of backup options to pay for things in case you misplace your wallet - use options like travel money cards, debit cards and cash. Also contact your bank to let them know you’re about to travel overseas and there will be transactions made overseas - don’t get locked out of your own accounts because the activity looks suss!
#10 travel with a group of friends or family
Time to phone a friend! Travelling with friends or family can help you save money on shared expenses such as accommodations, tours and transportation. Think through which of your gang would be easy to chat with on long flights or drives, is great at handling having to wait in airports, will contribute to just as much planning as you and wants to enjoy the same kind of experiences as you. They're your golden traveller friends!
