8 Ways to Save Money on Travel Overseas

Are you travelling overseas this summer? Whether you’re sunning it in Spain or frolicking in France or heading to the US, here are some tips to help you save money on your travel and still have fun!

Ways to Save Money on Travel BEFORE YOU LEAVE

1. Figure Out Your Budget

Before you can save money on travel, you need to figure out your budget. Yes, this is the boring bit, but at least you’re getting it out of the way first! Sit down with a cup of tea and see how much you can realistically afford to spend on your holiday.

Once you’re figured that out, you can plan your overseas spending around your budget.

2. Find An Inexpensive Flight

Finding an inexpensive flight is one of the best ways to save on travel. To get the less expensive flights and to find the best possible deals, it’s best to book as early as possible. However, if you have yet to book a flight, try a last minute flight-finding site.

As its name suggests, lastminute.com is a great site for finding a city break to Amsterdam or a package holiday in Ibiza at the eleventh hour, and it’s often possible to bag a bargain with so many options available.

3. When Booking Your Hotel, Consider A Small Commute

As we all know, hotels can be expensive. If you’re in a city, you can get a lot more bang for your buck by going for a hotel that is located in a smaller town nearby. You can save a lot on a 10 or 15 minute commute.

4. Buy Your Flight Essentials In The 99p Shop

Buying bits and bobs for your flight at the airport can be an expensive folly. Instead, pop down to the 99p shop before you leave, and stock up on travel cushions, sleep masks and other flight “essentials”.

Consider buying snacks for your flight here too; while liquids are not allowed through security, food is fine and it saves on expensive airline fare.

5. Pack Light To Save On Money

Not only is travelling with carry-on luggage only less of a hassle. It also means avoiding any pesky fees that many budget airlines like to pile on to their checked luggage-yielding customers.

Of course, if you’re anything like us you like to stuff your suitcase with assorted clothes, shoes and beauty products, just in case. But remember your last holiday, and be honest with yourself; how many items of clothing went unworn?

To pack effectively, decide what you simply have to take with you, then sort that pile into two smaller piles. Discard the least urgent pile and see if you can fit the rest into your carry-on luggage (if it won’t fit, keep sorting!)

Choose pieces that work together so you can mix and match and make a few different outfits with what you have. Your wallet and your back will thank you!

Ways to Save Money on Travel AT YOUR DESTINATION

6. Eat Early

Discovering local food is exciting and can awaken our taste buds, but eating out can be one the biggest areas of spending when on holiday. However, fear not; you can eat out at restaurants and still save money with this little secret.

Many restaurants offer the exact same meals at lunchtime as they do at dinner time, at a fraction of the price. They jack up the prices in the evening because that is when most tourists are having their main meal.

So, be savvy and save your sarnies for dinnertime and have your main meal in the middle of the day.

7. Embrace Public Transportation!

Car hire and taxis can be expensive, so instead check out the public transportation options at your destination.

If you’re holidaying in Europe and plan to explore, many of the bigger cities offer passes on trains, buses and metros that can save you a lot of cash.

8. Save Money On Shopping

Whether you’re stocking up on beauty products in Parisian drugstores or buying bikinis in Ibiza, keep in mind that many countries allow you to claim back all or part of the retail tax you pay, as long as you are willing to do a little paperwork at the airport.

If you’re planning on any big purchases, or lots of little ones, this can save you a quite a chunk of cash. Just make sure you keep all your receipts as you’ll need proof of purchase.