You dream big when it comes to travelling, but is your budget small and holding you back? Fear not, dear traveller; we have just the thing for you! Here are some practical money-saving travel tips that can save some of your hard-earned bucks while delivering what you deserve for your dream vacay.

Save before you travel

If you have been bitten by the travel bug, then setting aside some money every month can get you one step closer to realising your travel goals. Travelling is expensive, whichever way you cut it, and the more money you have saved towards your trip, the more peace of mind you will have when you start planning for it. Scrambling for funds for your trip puts undue pressure on your bank balance and gets you off on the wrong foot even before your trip begins.

Avoid travelling during the high season

The high season is the high season for a reason. Everything is on the higher side during this time period, including tourist footfall and all the other travel expenses such as flights, accommodations, and food. If you do some research once you’ve narrowed down your destination and figure out which months can be considered your destination’s off-season, you can plan your trip around these months. You will be able to save a good chunk of money when travelling during the off-season as pricing for flights, hotel stays, and food will be on the more affordable side.

Book flights wisely

Air travel is becoming more and more out of reach these days, especially in the post-pandy world that we live in. So if you have chosen a destination that requires flights to and fro, it’s best to plan well ahead and book tickets when the prices are possibly lower. Last-minute trips are not for the budget-friendly traveller, as much as we all dream about dropping everything and flying out to wherever it is that we want to go.

Another trick is to book on off days when flight tickets are less expensive, as people may tend to travel less on these days. Depending on the destination, figure out these days, and you can have a great flight on a budget. Flexibility is the key, as you may not be able to fly in or out on a weekend or during a long holiday, which is typically when flight prices go up. So keep an open calendar and plan accordingly.

Also Read: Cheap Foreign Trips from India

Choose hostels over hotels

Hostels are a great way to save money when travelling. Hotels tend to eat up a good chunk of your travel budget. This is true regardless of whether you choose a 5-star or even a no-frills hotel. This is where hostels can save the day—or, in this case, your trip! Hostels will usually provide dormitory-style rooms with multiple beds. You will share the room with other travellers. This can make for a great experience, as you will get to meet and potentially make friends with other like-minded travellers on top of the money you will save. Hostels abroad are usually well maintained, and if you just want a place to crash for the night without spending a lot of money, they are the perfect option for you.

Pro tip: Alternatively, you can also rent a space from locals and save on your stay. If you get to meet friendly locals, there is nothing like it, as they can share all their knowledge with you to make for a more memorable trip.

Take public transport

Where possible, try to cut down on cabs/private transport and opt for public transport. Whether it’s a metro, bus, train, boat, or tram, you can easily figure out the best modes of public transport. Of course, safety is important, so don’t take a risk if the country you are visiting doesn’t have a stellar and safe public transport system in place. You can also invest in a public transit card to save more money. Walking is also a great way to get around and explore the sights and sounds of a city on your own terms. So pack some comfortable shoes when travelling.

Pro tip: Packing light also comes in handy here. If you pack light, you can travel with ease. This means you don’t have to pay a lot to cart around your luggage in a private taxi, and you should be able to opt more for public transport options or even walking.

Food, drinks, and savings

Once you start travelling and the mood becomes more and more joyful, money can start flowing out when you start visiting restaurants and bars to celebrate and have a good time. While there is nothing wrong with splurging on a drink here or a sushi platter there, it all adds up. So try to cook as much as possible when travelling, using local produce. If you want a drink, instead of going to a bar that has a crazy markup on alcohol and snacks, buy the ingredients separately and make your own cocktails and snacks. This is not only a great way to save money when travelling, but it will also push you towards healthier choices because it’s so easy to let your waistline slip when on a trip.

Invest in travel insurance

You can plan and save all you want, but as with Murphy’s law, “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. And travel opens you up to many things that can possibly go very wrong. You could lose your luggage with all your valuables, or you could fall sick and need hospitalisation, which could cost a pretty penny in a foreign currency. All these troubles can be taken care of if you purchase travel insurance. Most good travel insurance companies go all out and offer a great range of protection for your travels. From cancellations to medical emergencies, which are a huge drain on the wallet, travel insurance is a great way for the budget traveller to protect themselves against these eventualities.