Travel Hacks That Will Save You A Buck (Or A Hundred)
What’s the one part of traveling that has a way of shutting down any wanderlust faster than anything else? That’s simple: it’s the cost of it all. Sure, it’s easier than ever to find cheap flights and the monopoly that hoteliers once had over the sleeping abroad industry has been felled by Airbnb, but there are still a bunch of other niggling costs that can scupper travel plans faster than a life-threatening illness.
That said, there are some genius travel hacks that expert travelers have picked up over the years, and we’ve pulled together the very best of the best to help you save money on any trip you may have put to the back of your mind. Oh, yeah, you’ll want to a) bookmark this blog or b) add it to the growing number of open tabs on your browser.
- Fly In The Afternoon
Prices fluctuate more than the press’ obsession with Z-list celebrities. We all know this. Just pull up a flight comparison website, look at the flight prices over the course of any given week and you’ll see a roller coaster appear. What you may know, however, is that afternoon flights tend to be cheaper. It’s because most people want to get their traveling out of the way early doors.
- Flight Alerts Are Ace
If you are one of those incredible people that worships the privilege of spontaneity, then you need to get yourself signed up to a flight alert website like AirfaireWatchDog, Scott’s Cheap Flights or Jack’s Flight Club. These people scan the internet for the best flight details and then send out alerts. The window is always short, but if you’re up for a spontaneous holiday you could save hundreds.
- Save On The Ground Too
It’s not just airfares you can save on, it’s how you scuttle across the ground too. If you’re going on a city escape, walking is the best option, or cycling, or even taking the bus. However, there is always one day in every holiday when you want to go further afield, which is when Uber and Lyft come in handy, as you can see on Ridester.com. While the average taxi fare is $29.52, Uber and Lyft fares average at $25.73 and $19.20 respectively. That’s a tidy saving.
- Free Accommodation Is Real
Nothing is free in this world, right? Wrong. You can, in fact, book free accommodation, it is just knowing where to look, in which case TrustedHousesitters is definitely one to check out. Yup. We said housesitting, something that almost no one thinks about when it comes to traveling. But it’s not just the free stay you’ll get, or the fact you can enjoy looking after some pets, it is the chance to experience a destination in a way more authentic way.
- Carry-On Only
One of the most frustrating, annoying and wholly irritating hidden costs is a luggage fee. It can make traveling anywhere extortionate, especially if there are four of you flying somewhere. The answer: know how to pack everything into your carry-on bag (which means knowing the size and weight restrictions before you do anything else). It can save you a pretty penny.
