There’s no getting around it, travel is more expensive.
It used to be that if you weren’t too fussy, you could snap up a bargain and be on your way in quick time, but those days may be over as tourism operators try to claw back lost revenue on the back of high demand.
So, what are some expert tips that could save you money on your next trip? We trawled the internet so you don’t have to for some specialist advice.
Read: Eight tips to keep your packing light next holiday
Point taken
Use your points. Use your points. Use your points.
If you have a credit card, a Flybys card or any other similar loyalty card you have probably accumulated quite a number of points over the past two or three years while travelling was limited.
Now is the time to crack out those good boys and start travelling. You could even consider upgrading your flights.
If your points can’t be redeemed on travel, then at least use them for a luggage upgrade or suitable travel clothing. It all adds up.
If you are a regular international traveller, for expert tips subscribe to The Points Guy, which offers a comprehensive trove of information to help you get the best out of many travel loyalty programs.
As a subset of loyalty programs, your roadside support organisation, such as RACV, always has deals on entry tickets for attractions and parks as well as car hire, tours and cruises.
Read: The most dangerous places for Aussies overseas
Time your flight
Flying out of school holiday times, midweek and in off-peak seasons will often dramatically reduce your flight cost.
Early flights are also often cheaper. If you are travelling solo, the money you save on your flight can be spent at an airport hotel, so you turn up to the check-in line fresh and raring to go.
We live almost an hour from our international airport and almost always do this for overseas holidays. If we had to catch an international flight at 8.30am it would mean waking up at 4am, so for us the cost of a hotel is worth it.
Accommodation
Your loyalty point programs are a good resource for accommodation as well.
Some programs allow you to pay a mixture of cash and points, while others offer a discount across the board.
If you are travelling with children, try and choose a kids’ ‘eat and sleep’ free offer. Fiji is well known for deals if you are looking for a place to start.
If you belong to a hotel loyalty program, keep an eye out for new or refurbished hotels, because often they offer sweetener deals for launches.
Try to get a package with breakfast included, this can easily save you hundreds, even for just a week, if you are travelling with a family.
And while staying in the heart of the city can be great for enjoying the atmosphere, it can be rough on your wallet. Do some research on accommodation outside the usual tourist areas and you may even enjoy a more authentic experience.
Read: What type of damage will void your passport
Food
If possible, find a local market as soon as you can. As well as the eye candy of a fantastic array of food, the prices can be a fraction of more traditional retail outlets. And they’re great for snacks during the day that aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. A selection of cheese, salamis, olives and bread also makes a great alternative meal to heavy hotel food.
If you aren’t too fussy about what time you eat, many tourism hotspots also offer early bird dinner specials.
Last resort
Your hotel or resort will offer an array of services that are there for your convenience, but are often just a way to extract more money from you.
Massages, spa services, exercise classes, food outlets and even laundry services can often be found at a fraction of the price outside the confines of your accommodation.
Once again, the internet is your friend, do your research before you travel for your next best bargain.
What are some money-saving tips you have learnt on your travels? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments section below.
