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Money-Saving Strategies for Savvy Travelers
Escaping from the homestead to experience a new location can be a refreshing experience filled with joy, excitement, and delicious local food. But it can also be downright expensive, with the average family vacation coming in at over £1,000 per person. Thankfully, traveling doesn't have to be the scary money-eating monster under the bed. Here are four ways to save some serious dough when wanderlust strikes.Shop Around and Stack Coupons
The travel industry is hyper-competitive. With thousands of hotels on the planet and an abundance of airlines, you have plenty of options for getting away from it all. And with all of this competition, there are deals galore to stretch your budget as you stretch into wide-open places.Kiplinger notes deal websites can help you find coupons on food, hotels, and experiences — while websites specific to travel can help you find the best deals on hotels and flights. Combine them both for the best of both worlds!
Use Credit Card Rewards
While pitting hotels and airlines against each other to get the best possible deal can save you money upfront, taking advantage of the crazy competition in the credit card industry is a great way to offset the costs of airfare completely. Many credit card companies offer "points," which can be exchanged for hotel rooms or airplane tickets. These points are generally accumulated by spending money on the card. But, since the credit industry is jam-packed with providers, they often run promos that give you a bunch of points upfront for signing up.What’s more, NerdWallet points out that some cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, and some will match your miles the first year you’re onboard.
A word of warning here: applying for a ton of credit cards can have an impact on your credit score. So, don't try to get a bunch and push it too far.
Leverage the Shared Economy
Sure, there are tons of hotels out there, but that doesn't even scratch the surface of the travel renting industry. Apps like Airbnb and Vrbo give you the option to rent rooms directly from people. With a kitchen handy, you can cook up some of your meals to save money, and simultaneously ensure you enjoy some healthy meals while you’re traveling. Intersperse those eat-ins with a handful of local indulgences so you’re saving money while savouring the local flavours!This "shared economy" opportunity is an incredibly cheap and easy way to find rooms, cheap food, and dip into a wealth of other traveling needs. Your host, for instance, can point you toward area hotspots. You can also try apps like EatWith to save cash on food by dining with locals or apps like Uber to save cash on car rides.
