Bringing your international travel budget under control

Sum of many parts

Apart from the flights, you will need accommodations and you will need to put a certain amount away for the activities you will be involved with. You will be using local transportation, so you should find out how good the public transport is and what the cabbies will be charging you. If you are a good driver, you can even think of renting a vehicle and driving yourself if your driving license is valid in the country you are traveling to. Now, that are traveling so far, you will need something delicious for your taste buds. If you are a careful planner you will have contingency plans for any emergencies you may face. Here we give some suggestions to keep your international travel expenditure to the minimum.

Start with the flights

In case of traveling overseas, the flights eat up a large part of your planned budget. So, if you are able to arrange international flights for less, you will have plenty left to spend on other aspects of your break. Here we list some ideas that will help you in this direction.

• The flights cost less if you book them early, as with more empty seats available, the airlines will be offering them for less.
• Be flexible with your flying dates, as most people prefer to fly on weekends. Flights on weekdays will often come with comparatively lower airfare. The same goes for dates around major national holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• If you are planning an international vacation, try choosing destinations that are off the beaten track. With fewer tourists interested in these, you will be able to have everything for less. For instance, Miami is full of tourists in the summer, but the beaches in nearby coastal cities won’t be as crowded, resulting in lower costs. Additionally, visiting major tourist resorts during the off-season or shoulder season (months before or after peak season) can also help you save money.
• If you fly frequently with one airline, register for their reward points. Once you have collected enough, you can use them to book your flights, either fully or partially, using your points.
• US budget airlines typically do not offer international flights, though some do fly to neighboring nations. If your overseas trip involves multiple legs, consider booking flights with budget airlines of other continents. These airlines usually offer only economy seats, which can be comparable in price to economy seats of major airlines.

And to the accommodation

The types of accommodations on offer depend on the destination you have chosen. If you are traveling to a major tourist resort like Las Vegas, you will find lots of hotels, big and small, with different rates for different types of rooms on offer. Just like flights these cost less if booked early. If you are traveling to developing countries, you may be able to find hostels that don’t charge much and some people may even offer you rooms in their property with meals included in what you are expected to pay. It’s always best to find a place to stay before you reach the destination, or else you can get into trouble having to pay excessively for these.

What would you like to be served?

There are some travelers around the world who will go on a long journey just to taste the items from the cuisine of a particular region, for the authentic dishes. In most major cities across the world, you will find high-end restaurants and street food too, particularly in Southeast Asia and in the Middle Eastern nations. The other option you have is to get the supplies and cook the meals yourself. You will be able to find good eateries in the markets too or you can take away the prepared food items.

Traveling around for your purpose

Once you reach the destination airport, you will need transport to get to your accommodation. Some larger hotels offer airport transfers, while the public transport available in the form of buses and metros will require some effort in taking your baggage with them and these are not available after late into the evening. So, accommodation near the airport will always help as far as transport costs are concerned. If you are an active biker, these bikes cost, much less than vehicles for rent, hence offering a healthy and cheap alternative. If you are traveling to an isolated destination like a small island, you can walk around to admire the manmade and natural views. If you need boat rides, you should try those for groups as those for individuals will always charge you much more. Also, you can use the free travel apps to guide you around the area you are visiting. You should also try to bring all that you may need with you so you don’t have to buy something new or rent any item, like your swimming costume at the beaches.

Insurance to drive away the worries

One of the biggest worries most people have is what happens if they fall sick in an unknown territory. If you are with a group, there will be someone to look after you or else you will have to rely on the local infrastructure. You should always find out if your health insurance coverage extends to the country you will be visiting. Most travel insurance policies come with cover for medical expenses apart from baggage loss and flight cancellations.

Conclusion

Most people will avoid international tours, mostly because of the costs involved. Above we have offered some suggestions that will allow you to spend the least without worrying about anything.