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Travel broadens the mind but it’s not likely to make your wallet any fatter. In other words, it’s well worth putting some thought into travelling wisely – and travelling on a budget.
You’ll find all kinds of ‘travel on a budget’ tips out there, but here are three you might not have thought of.
Packing a bag? Don’t rush!
Don’t rush when you’re packing your bags. Seasoned travellers will have a tried-and-tested list of supplies they won’t set off without. The little things can make a huge difference, increasing your independence and helping you resist the temptation to spend when you don’t actually have to.
For example? A small compartmentalised container with some different spices in it can really spice up your cheap & cheerful menu, so you dine on chilli beans one day, curried beans the next, peppered beans the third…
OK, they’re still beans, but that extra dash of originality can make all the difference between sticking to your rations and blowing valuable cash on take-aways because you can’t bear the thought of another meal that’s identical to yesterday’s.
In a car? Don’t drive solo!
Most cars have five seats in them, so it’s a bit of a shame if you’re wasting those seats – instead of filling at least one of them with a petrol-paying passenger. Two of you can travel for half the price; three of your for a third and four of you for a quarter. If you have any friends you think might like to come along for the trip, this could be a great way of slashing your expenses and livening up the trip at the same time.
(You probably don’t want five people packed into a car when you’re travelling – driving long distances is something that requires comfort, and if you’re short on space, the three in the back are likely to show signs of short tempers before too long.)
Planning a route? Plan it well!
Different countries’ roads have different prices as well as different rules. Motorways in France, for example, charge a hefty toll that can really make you rethink your travel budget. Avoid those motorways, however, and you might find it takes twice as long – and twice the petrol – to get where you’re going.
So it pays to plan ahead and figure out what’s really likely to be the best route. If the only alternative to the ‘autoroute’ is a rambling road system of labyrinthine complexity and 30 kph speed restrictions, it might make sense to stump up for the toll and take the fast lane. On the other hand, if there’s a perfectly good ‘route nationale’ running near the motorway, there’s a lot to be said for avoiding those tolls. You might find it’s a better way to spot perfect picnic spots too.
Article by Think Money. Visit the site for money saving tips, guides and information.
Skipping the motorways makes the trip much more enjoyable and interesting as well. Get to see a whole lot more along the country roads and through old towns that have been bypassed.
Very good tips! With all our sports travels, this Mom is always on the go! We are often packing in a rush and your tips will come in handy 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
We did the budget travel to Indiana to visit relatives and used coupons for everything on the road. We stopped off at rest stop and truck areas and grabbed books and used the coupons for each state we were in.
We are a car of 6 plus 2 dogs and this is why we don’t travel…lol
We like to book a room with a kitchenette so we can eat in part of the time while traveling.
I second Beeb. When you’re traveling, particularly in a place that is pricey, instead of eating out for every meal, shop at the market for things you can eat cold (sandwiches, veggies, etc.) or heat up in a hotel/hostel microwave.
When I was in Paris I ate at the McDonalds on the Champs-Élysées and bought a microwaveable quiche at a supermarket to prepare back at my hostel. I may not have sampled all the finest in French cuisine, but if I hadn’t been creative on a budget I wouldn’t have been able to afford the trip. Plus, I really enjoyed eating “Le cheeseburger” while looking down at the throngs of people walking towards the Arc de Triomphe!
We put five people in a Civic and drove to Missouri from Texas. When we got home we bought a minivan. LOL.
Just over a year ago I bought a compact car. Before that I had a mini van. Well, I drove to Cleveland from Columbia, SC and my dad was the added passenger. It was cramped! It made me miss the minivan BUT the trip back – without my dad – wasn’t so bad. 3 was comfortable. 4 was a crowd. If the car was sedan-sized, it may not have been so bad.
The biggest problem we have is food money! I can only pack so much, sometimes you need a real meal and I hate fast food so it can get pricey!
Ha ha…we are the car of five! Can you say miserable? Next trip I’m leaving peeps behind!
Yes, the five in a car might be too much. Reminds me of the family trip I took when I was a teen. There were eight of us and none of us were happy.