You can find ways to save a lot of money while travelling and still have a great holiday. Picture: Shutterstock
1. Buy travel insurance
When you’re planning a trip, you will look at all the ways you can save money, such as not paying for additional baggage or looking for low-cost carriers. However, you should never, ever scrimp on travel insurance. Travel insurance will save you money should you encounter any emergencies while overseas. For example, if you have a medical emergency while travelling, you can seek treatment at the hospital without worrying if you can afford it as you will be able to claim part of the cost. Buy the best travel insurance you can afford and make sure you read the terms and conditions to understand what it covers. Ensure you read the small print carefully.2. Make use of free Wi-Fi
Unless you need to constantly be on call (and let’s be honest, that kind of defeats the purpose of a holiday), you don’t need to pay for a roaming phone plan or even a local SIM card. You can just rely on free Wi-Fi that’s provided at most cafes and restaurants, and at your accommodation. With apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp for texting and making calls, you don’t have to spend any money to keep in touch with people back home.
Use free WiFi to upload your photos and check the internet. Picture: Shutterstock
3. Look for free or cheap activities
You don’t have to book expensive tour packages to enjoy your vacation. Instead, look for cheap or free activities. This is especially easy to do in larger cities. London, for example, has over 23 free museums, such as the Tate Modern, British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, offers free entry for the last two hours of every day. Search online for more such options. And there’s no better way to really get to know a place than to explore its streets. You can check online for free walking tours that are usually organised by experienced guides. You are free to tip the guide any amount you want at the end of the tour.4. Book accommodation with a kitchen
This is especially useful in cities where it’s expensive to eat out, such as Paris or London. Even eating just one meal a day at home can save you a significant amount of money. The moment you settle in, go for a grocery run to buy ingredients for the duration of your stay. Ingredients like milk, juice, eggs, bread and sandwich meats can help you put together a great and satisfying breakfast.
Gorgeous Bali villas often have kitchens. Picture: Karma Bali
5. Download apps for good deals
If you do want to have a little splurge while on holiday, use apps that can help you locate good deals. Sick of homemade sandwiches for lunch? Treat yourself to a great meal in London by using Bookatable by Michelin. The app lets you find good value set meals from popular restaurants and even those owned by celebrity chefs. For example, you can enjoy a meal at a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant for under £28 (AUD$50), which is a steal! Do some research before you reach your destination to find more such apps. Written by Siti Rohani. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.
