The costs of travel, if you aren’t cautious, can swiftly rack up. If you spend impulsively while travelling, then you’ll end up paying a premium for the goods and services you need around the tourist hotspots. The best way to solve this problem is with a little preparation at the booking stage. Let’s take a look at a few ways to minimise the cost of travel, and to work affordability into an entire trip.
Look for free activities
Some of the best things in life are free – and the same applies to tourist destinations. Enormous amounts of fun can be had simply walking around a big city centre, taking note of the buildings and enjoying the rolling parkland. Take advantage of any free events being hosted on a given weekend. Some attractions might offer a discount at certain times of week, so plan your itinerary accordingly.
Go Off-peak
If you go to somewhere sunny during the school holidays, then you’ll run into thicker crowds and higher prices. The same applies to odd times of the day – fewer people are willing to travel at the crack of dawn, which means that discounts can be had at that time of day. If you’re looking for a train to Peterborough, for example, a group of adults can earn a major discount through GroupSave offerings.
Do your own cooking
If your accommodation comes with its own cooking facilities (or even if it doesn’t), you’ll be able to save on the cost of items like breakfast – which can easily cost more than a tenner per person per day. You might decide that it’s better to economise on certain meals and spend big on others, in order to enjoy some of the best restaurants in the city.
Account for the cost of travel
As well as reaching your destination, you should think about the cost of getting around once you’re there. Taxi trips can quickly add up, especially if your accommodation is miles away from the things you really want to see and visit. Thus, a hotel on the outskirts of town might actually not be as good a deal as it first appears to be.
Look for Discount Cards
The tourist boards of many cities will offer discounts to those looking to visit multiple attractions. Check the official tourist information website of the place you’re visiting, and see if you can save. Often, it’s private companies offering this service – as with the London Pass.
