Ways to save money on vacation.Travel life hacks will be useful for every traveler. Probably, their list can be endless. We tried to choose those that really help to save money on holidays abroad.
ways to save money on vacation
1.Go on profitable excursions
Tickets to museums and excursions are sometimes expensive. If you are determined to go around all the museums of the city, it is more profitable to buy a special museum or tourist card. It will cost you less than if you buy tickets to each museum separately, in addition, the tourist card may include transport trips.
You can also make a list of days of free admission to different museums. And go on free sightseeing tours. Few people know, but they are held in most major cities. Good guides will not only introduce you to the local history, but also give you tips on interesting and inexpensive cafes and shops.
You can find a schedule of free tours in different languages at tourist information points (look for a sign with a capital i). These offices are usually located in the city center and close to major attractions.
A free guide can also be found among ordinary locals, for example, through the Couchsurfing service or in numerous Facebook groups.
2.Look for wifi
Mobile Internet on a native SIM card will cost a pretty penny when traveling abroad. You can search for points with free Wi-Fi using applications. For example, such as WiFi Finder ( iOS and Android ) or WiFi Map ( iOS and Android ).
But don’t forget about safety. Open Wi-Fi networks always carry the risk that scammers can intercept your signal.
Applications help mitigate this risk. WiFi Finder shows access points already checked in terms of security. In WiFi Map, you can see reviews about signal quality and network reliability. The application also tells you whether you need to register on the network and whether access to the Internet is limited by time.
However, you should use closed Wi-Fi networks, for example in hotels or restaurants, to log in to your Internet bank or mobile bank, as well as for other confidential transactions. The password for them can be obtained at the front desk or from the waiter. It is better if the password is unique for each visitor.
3.Buy souvenirs in unpopular places
Shops in the city center or at the airport are always overpriced for goods, especially souvenirs for tourists. They are designed for foreigners who do not want to waste time looking for better deals or simply do not notice the tricks of sellers. Near the city attractions, the most ordinary magnet will cost more than in the market a little further from the center.
4.Change currency in advance
Changing currency at the airport or in the city center at the first bank you come across is not the best idea. Even worse is to use a suspicious exchanger or change money from your hands. This way you can run into scammers. Withdrawing cash from an ATM is usually not very profitable either – commissions can reach 10-15% of the amount.
It is best to change the currency in advance. There are several ways to make this profitable.
If you managed to get a currency card – and even easier, you can change rubles for currency in the bank application.
5.Take advantage of package deals
It is always more profitable for tourists to buy a package of services at once. This applies not only to business lunches (by the way, always ask in a cafe for a “menu of the day”, a ready-made offer of dishes is an order of magnitude cheaper than separately). In many countries, you will be offered uniform tourist tickets for public transport and museums. For example, in Rome such a ticket is called RomaPass, in Riga – RigaPass. You can find out about such opportunities and purchase tickets at the tourist information offices.
6.Rent an apartment
At the peak of the tourist season in popular areas, there may not be hotel rooms at affordable prices, even several months before your arrival. But apartment owners are often ready to offer you not the worst housing options – for example, through Airbnb or Booking – an order of magnitude cheaper than hotels.
The main plus: the apartment will have its own kitchen – again, savings. In addition, the proximity to the locals will allow you to better feel the atmosphere of the city.
7.Get discounts
In many countries, coupons are very popular — Internet services that collect profitable offers from a variety of companies. With a big discount – up to 70-80% – you can eat at a restaurant, go to a theater or an amusement park, ride a pleasure boat or ATVs. To do this, you just need to purchase a coupon on the aggregator website (for example, Groupon or LivingSocial – there may be local similar services in different countries). On some of these resources, you can even book a good hotel much cheaper.
