Trick 1: save money on flights when you go on vacation
One of the most important tricks to save money on vacation is to choose the best month to travel. If we buy tickets in advance, we can save up to 85% on the price of our flight.
The first tip to save money on vacation is to try to be as flexible as we can when choosing dates. Generally, we all look to travel on a Friday, which is when our last day of work usually falls. Also, we usually want to go back on a Sunday. In this way, we make the most of our fabulous vacation days. But, obviously, all this is already known by the airlines. For this reason and due to the high demand of those dates, we are not going to find these tickets at a low price except for maximum despair.
It is recommended to buy tickets two months in advance, if it is a European destination. For destinations in North America and Asia, it is best six months in advance. For Latin America a ten month notice is recommended.
What I advise to find the best prices is to use flight search engines, such as SkyScanner. These tools save us money and time when booking the cheapest flights.
Another tip is to turn on search engine alerts. These allow you to be aware of possible modifications that may arise on the flights you have selected. If this is too heavy for you because it saturates your email, do as I have: I have created an account that I use exclusively for this type of email and in this way it does not affect my work or personal emails.
Trick 2: use the right credit card to save on vacation
The best way to pay when we travel is to combine cash and credit card payments. In this way we avoid taking money from the ATM, although this depends on your vacation destination.
In the countries of the Euro Zone, the best option is to combine cash with credit card payments, since this does not imply any cost to you.
We should only be careful when we withdraw money from banks other than ours, as this can be costly. Although your bank may offer you withdrawals free of charge outside of Spain, some banks may sometimes apply a “surcharge fee" to you. This is a commission charged by the entity that owns the ATM where you are withdrawing money at the moment.
In the case of countries with a currency other than the euro, the most economical for you is to move using cash.
If at any time you pay by card in establishments, most banks charge fees for the currency exchange. If you want to withdraw money from the ATMs, you will have to pay two commissions, that of the bank itself and those that apply for the currency exchange.
Trick 3: weighing luggage saves you money
Don’t forget to weigh your luggage before leaving home. Excess baggage charges range from 50 to 150 euros depending on the airline. This is a silly expense that we can easily avoid, taking better advantage of that money for a delicious mojito while the sea breeze caresses us, what better plan?
Check the baggage policy applied by the airline you are traveling with. For example, some companies like Ryanair have changed their regulations and now charge their passengers for carrying hand luggage.
Trick 4: fill the tank in advance
According to the OCU, fuel becomes more expensive as holiday periods approach, such as Easter, August or Christmas. Therefore it is advisable to anticipate these days. We also recommend checking the cheapest and closest gas stations to you. This will save you money on vacation: up to 15% on fuel!
Trick 5: opt for public transport
To be able to further adjust our expenses in order to save money on vacation, public transport is a better option than, say, a taxi. The transfer from Madrid to its airport, in some cases, can cost you approximately 30 euros. However, if we make this trip by metro the maximum cost would be 6 euros.
Trick 6: use of mobile on vacation
Since 2017, European citizens have not paid any extra cost for the use of mobile phones in countries of the European Union. In the event that you travel outside the European Union, you should consult with your operator the cost of calls and the use of other mobile phone services abroad.
If you want to save money when you go on vacation, you have several alternatives. One of them is to buy a prepaid card from a local operator. You can also use the available WiFi networks at your fingertips. Today, these WiFi networks are available to us almost anywhere for free.
Trick 7: rent a room instead of a hotel
Hotel rental is no longer as common as it was a few years ago. Now renting an apartment has become a more popular and cheaper option. This possibility allows you to save money on vacation. For example, imagine two people who want to visit Paris from August 5 to 9. As we have seen with Booking, they would have to pay 350 euros for the cheapest hotel in the city. Instead, they could rent a private room on the same dates and in the same area for € 160 euros. This would mean a savings of 48%. These figures may vary according to destinations and dates, but in all cases it will always mean significant savings.
You are already more than prepared to plan those holidays that you have been waiting for so long. We know that sometimes planning is difficult when our savings are not enough. So it is a good idea to take advantage of the quick credits that you will find in LoanStar. These will help you cover your money expenses on vacation and without having to wait weeks to receive the amount you need.
