Spending on experiences rather than ‘stuff’ is the key to happiness, according to several studies. It’s rare that we regret spending on travel – those memories are priceless. Still, you want to get the most bang for your buck, right? Here’s how.
Getting around
It pays to follow airlines (and travel agencies) on social media and sign up to their newsletters. That way you can be first to jump on a sale.
Student or under 26? STA Travel has special flight prices just for you.
If you’re flexible on timing, play around on ITA Matrix to find the cheapest dates to fly. You can’t book directly from the site, so once you find the perfect flight, you’ll need to hunt it down on Cheapflights.co.nz.
Not sure where you want to go, just that you need to get away? Check out Hot Travel Deals to see how far your moolah can take you.
Sites like cheapflights.co.nz and momondo search airfares from different carriers all in one place.
Speaking of budget airlines … they’re known for nickel and diming you to death. You can minimise these extra charges by bringing on carry-on luggage only (if you do need to bring a larger bag, it’s usually cheaper to pay for this online ahead of time than at the gate), printing out your boarding pass before you fly, and opting not to choose your own seat. Remember too that budget airlines often fly to obscure or distant airports, which means spending more at the other end to get to the city.
As for transport on the ground, it’s also a good idea to research transport options to and from airports well in advance. There’s a huge difference between buses, shuttles, taxis and trains – not just on price but time and convenience. And look into any transit passes available at your destination – day passes or weekly passes might be worthwhile.
A place to lay your head
Compare deals on aggregator sites like momondo. You can also book secret hotel deals at deep discounts – the tradeoff is that you won’t know which hotel it is until you’ve paid.
There are sites like Tingo that offers the best of both worlds if you want to hedge your bets. You pay upfront for your hotel room, but if the rate drops after that, your reservation is cancelled and rebooked at the lower rate, resulting in a refund to you.
Travelling last minute? Plenty of booking sites specialise in ferreting out last-minute lodging bargains, including same-day deals. If you’re on the go, try the Hotel Tonight app or Hipmunk (a flight search app that’s expanded into hotels, which sorts results by price, amenities, reviews, or the ‘ecstasy’ factor).
Check the fine print. A complimentary breakfast will save you the cost of your morning meal; free transfer or shuttle services cut down on your transport costs. On the other hand, extra charges can quickly add up. Bringing your car to a big city hotel can incur major parking costs. And some places STILL charge for internet access.
Alternatively, skip commercial accommodation and click over to Airbnb, the big kahuna of private vacation rentals. Depending on the listing, this can involve either renting a room and sharing a house with the owner, or booking an entire property for yourself. There are properties at all price points so you can browse for one that suits your style.
While it’s getting harder to find hosts as the site’s popularity grows, Couchsurfing still offers travellers a shot at crashing on a local’s couch or in their spare room. There’s no charge but it’s expected that you give back in some way, by cooking dinner or bringing a small gift.
If you’re looking at extended travel, then house sitting and work-exchange become options. House sitting lets you live like a local – for free! You’ll typically have the property to yourself in exchange for maintaining it. You’ll need to sign up for membership at sites like HouseCarers and Trusted Housesitters in order to apply for assignments.
Or, you can trade labour for accommodation using WWOOF, HelpX and WorkAway. Typically you’ll be doing farm work or perhaps hospitality work, but there are other, varied types of opportunities too.
Seeing the sights
We can’t stress this enough: do your research!
Major destinations offer city passes (eg the London Pass, the New York Pass) that combine discounted entry to a smorgasbord of top attractions. Plus, they grant you fast tracked entry – that means no need to queue. Bonus: some include free public transport. If you’re looking to squeeze a lot into a short time these may make sense for you, but do the calculations to make sure.
Many museums offer free entry on certain days or at certain times, which can be a big money saver. For example, the Louvre is free on the first Sunday of the month throughout most of the year, and is free to anyone under 26 on Friday evenings.
In big cities you’ll also find free walking tours around the best landmarks. Just don’t forget to tip your guide at the end of it!
Don’t forget to look for last-minute deals. Our best tip is to check out the attractions’ own Facebook or Twitter sites. Sign up for their newsletters too.
And once you’re at your destination, keep an eye out in the airport or at your hotel/hostel for vouchers – often, coupon books are handed out like candy.
(Feature image by Amy Riddle; Search cheap flights image by martinak15)
