Planning a budget trip can be tricky, but it allows you to enjoy the essence of traveling and exploring the world without having to spend excessively.
Traveling gives you a great experience, it helps relieve stress and allows you to gain knowledge about history, art, and different cultures. When you travel, you experience the thrill of exploring new destinations, meeting new people, and creating unforgettable memories.
No one should miss the opportunity to travel due to financial constraints. Hence, in this blog, we will cover some tips to plan a budget trip with your friends!
Why Travel With Friends
Traveling with friends can help create many fun memories and traveling as a group is much cheaper than travelling alone. Moreover, you have a sense of safety while traveling with your friend group.
Your friends may have different perspectives and expertise which will allow you to plan your trip efficiently and you and your friends can enjoy a shared experience. Moreover, this experience will help you increase your bond.
Suggested reads: 6 Reasons Why You Should Travel with Friends & Group Trips With Friends: How To Stay Secure?
15 Ways To Plan A Budget Trip With Friends
- Set A Budget
Set a budget you are comfortable with, but ensure that it is realistic. Doing so will help you to adhere to it and allow you to stay within your budget.
Set a budget for various aspects such as stay, food, travel, activities, etc. This will help you to be mindful about spending money unnecessarily.
- Plan And Research
Plan your trip well, give space for relaxation, and research everything. Ensure that you look up affordable destinations, and cheaper alternatives and spend time looking for affordable stays.
Also, research the weather, and read the reviews of the place you plan to stay in. Remember to not compromise on safety while being on a budget. Hence, don’t book accommodations that look fishy or are too good to be true.
Ensure to book your flights well in advance. Planning well in advance will help you get cheaper rates and help you achieve your goal for a budget trip and allow flexibility.
- Look For Group Packages
Group packages may offer amazing deals and will remove the stress of planning a trip. However, this may take away the freedom of exploring the destination on your own. Hence, it is important to make an informed decision.
If you want to choose a group package and wish to have the freedom to explore, you can talk to the people organising the package and discuss your needs with them. Most agencies will try to come up with a common ground that you can work on.
- Travel Off Season
Off-season is a great opportunity to plan a budget travel. You can find great discount prices while traveling off-season. Moreover, accommodations are also available for cheaper rates as there is less demand.
- Use VPN
If your trip requires booking a flight ticket, use a VPN of a cheaper country for the best deals. Also, flights are usually cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Remember that the more you look, the prices are likely to increase because websites often use cookies. Hence, it is important to clear cache and cookies while booking flights online.
- Compare Prices
While booking your flights and accommodation, ensure that you compare prices on different websites and choose the best deals. Additionally, check for any discounts such as student discounts, group discounts, etc.
- Volunteer For Hotels
Many hotels and hostels offer opportunities to work for 1-2 hours in exchange for free accommodation. Hence, look for such accommodations and go for them. You can even call or email to enquire about any such offers. Doing so will help you save on accommodation fees. In case, there is no volunteering option available, then choose hostels as they are much cheaper.
- Use A Credit Card
If you are traveling internationally, then credit cards can still come in handy as they will help you avoid paying currency exchange fees. Nevertheless, it is advisable to carry emergency cash with you.
- Research Destinations
If you are planning a budget trip, it is advisable to research cheap travel destinations from your hometown. Sometimes you may even come across unpopular destinations that are- Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Bhutan, Faroe Islands, Tuvalu, and much more.
Hence, look for more such destinations around your location as it will help you search for affordable destinations. Opting for unpopular destinations will be great for your budget travel because when there is less demand, the rates are cheaper.
- Use Public Transport
Traveling by public transport such as the subway, train, bus, etc. is a great option to save on transportation fees. Public transport is the best alternative for budget travel compared to private cabs.
- Get A Travel Insurance
While this may seem like an extra expense, investing in travel insurance is a must as it helps you in case there is any last-minute change of plans. This can also help you in the case where you have to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Travel Light
If you are traveling by flight, ensure that you pack under the weight restriction provided by your airline. Carrying extra baggage at the airport is expensive, hence, it is advisable to stay under the given weight limit.
- Negotiate
While traveling, try to negotiate as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts. Additionally, when you are shopping at a local market try to bargain for better prices. Often people increase their prices for tourists and sell their products for an inflated rate, stay away from such traps and negotiate for a reasonable price.
- Choose Affordable Activities
A budget trip doesn’t have to be boring, all you must ensure is to choose affordable alternatives. Visit museums, and other heritage sites to visit as they are generally free, or have a minimal fee.
- Carry Your Own Snacks
If you are planning a road trip, carry your own snacks as it can help avoid the expenses. Moreover, carry a reusable water bottle to avoid purchasing bottled water frequently.
While this may not help you save a lot of money but can help reduce some costs.
Anshuman