Budget Travel: Money Mistakes Every Traveler Is Tempted to Make
Budget travel is about getting the lowest possible price for your vacation. Most travelers dream of big savings, but few are able to see it. Whether they know it or not, most travelers will make poor money decisions during their vacations. They’ll overpay for things that they don’t need to overpay for, and get slammed with “surprise costs” that they may have been able to anticipate (and plan around). By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll be able to plan a much more budget friendly vacation.
They Suffer From “It’s Worth It” Syndrome
How many times have you heard somebody faced with a high price say the phrase “well, it’s worth it”? I’ve seen it a countless number of times. It’s one of the most common ways people justify paying a large amount of money.
This is especially common when people are traveling. They are not only willing to pay thousands of dollars on their vacation, they anticipate it. When they’re faced with the high cost of travel, they’re quick to accept it. They ask themselves the wrong question. Instead of asking “how can I reduce this prie?”, they ask” is this vacation worth this amount of money?”. If the answer is yes, then they accept the total and move on, and if the answer is no, then they abandon the plans altogether.
Regardless of whether or not your vacation is “worth it”, you should try looking for ways to reduce the total. It’s a safe bet that you can get a better price. Comparison shop on other websites, look for unpublished rates, and try to find discounts that you can take advantage of. It might be the difference between a couple hundred dollars in savings.
They Don’t Really Look at Alternatives
Comparison shopping is one of the best ways to save money on a vacation. But many travelers limit comparison shopping to flights and hotels. Many will ignore looking at different prices of activities, or restaurants.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say you’re taking a vacation to Hawaii and you really want to go SCUBA Diving. You’ll probably look around for businesses that offer SCUBA diving via a search engine, and then look at a couple of different websites detailing the underwater adventure you could have. However, there are a TON of places that offer SCUBA diving in Hawaii and it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be overpaying.
In addition to your search, try looking for experts on your destination. Post questions on forums, or look for people who blog about the area you want to visit. You’ll usually find some interesting opinions. Also look for tourism websites set up by the local governments. Many cities will set up websites to promote businesses in their area, and these websites are very useful tools if you’re looking for more fun things to do.
They Have Poor Timing
Believe it or not, the price of a vacation will fluctuate greatly depending on when you go. As a general rule of thumb, destinations are more expensive when more people are visiting.
Think about it. Airlines will have a harder time filling their flights, and hotels will have a harder time booking rooms. In both cases, you’ll usually be able to find a lower price. Try planning your vacation during a time people don’t normally visit.
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