There’s no arguing about it:
traveling is an awesome experience. The ability to see and experience new
sights and cultures affords one a refreshing experience that’s lightyears away
from routine.
traveling is an awesome experience. The ability to see and experience new
sights and cultures affords one a refreshing experience that’s lightyears away
from routine.
But fact is, travel is often only
as awesome as long as your budget can afford it.
as awesome as long as your budget can afford it.
Travel equates costs. The more you
save, the more trips you can make. Ergo, the best way to travel more and
experience more is to save more money during trips.
save, the more trips you can make. Ergo, the best way to travel more and
experience more is to save more money during trips.
How exactly do you do that? Here
are some tried-and-tested pointers.
are some tried-and-tested pointers.
Fly during low season
and cheap days.
The price of plane tickets depends largely on the day and
month- even the time of day – you are flying. Rule of thumb: the closer your
booking date is to the departure date,
the higher the price is.
month- even the time of day – you are flying. Rule of thumb: the closer your
booking date is to the departure date,
the higher the price is.
When booking a flight, avoid flights that depart on weekends
to ensure better bargains. In my experience, Sundays and Saturdays are the most
expensive days to fly out, while Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days
for both inbound and outbound flights.
to ensure better bargains. In my experience, Sundays and Saturdays are the most
expensive days to fly out, while Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days
for both inbound and outbound flights.
If you’re flying international, note the holidays and school
summer schedules where you’re going as prices tend to increase significantly
during these times – not to mention attractions are more crowded.
summer schedules where you’re going as prices tend to increase significantly
during these times – not to mention attractions are more crowded.
A handy tool you can use to book and compare flights is
Skyscanner. Flights booked from Skyscanner usually are priced the same with
airline websites. Its platform also allows you to compare prices for an entire
month, so you can easily view which days are cheapest.
Skyscanner. Flights booked from Skyscanner usually are priced the same with
airline websites. Its platform also allows you to compare prices for an entire
month, so you can easily view which days are cheapest.
Lastly, don’t forget to sign up for airline newsletters, so
you’ll get first dibs on tickets when a seat sale comes up!
you’ll get first dibs on tickets when a seat sale comes up!
Opt for cheaper lodging,
hostels, or private homes.
 |
| Hammocks at The Circle Hostel costs only P250 |
As travelers grew over the years, so did accommodation options. With
the launch of AirBnB, many people are now finding that renting private
apartments, condo units, or rooms can be as rewarding as staying in hotels –
and cheaper, too! Certainly, you wouldn’t find a fully air conditioned,
well-furnished hotel in Boracay for P500 a night.
the launch of AirBnB, many people are now finding that renting private
apartments, condo units, or rooms can be as rewarding as staying in hotels –
and cheaper, too! Certainly, you wouldn’t find a fully air conditioned,
well-furnished hotel in Boracay for P500 a night.
Just the same, independent hotels, pension houses, and smaller lodges
offer lower rates than hotel chains, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Some, like the Tuvera Pension House (where we stayed during a trip to Baguio
last year), give discounts from already discounted rates if you ask for it.
Case and point: We got a triple-sharing room originally priced at P1,500 with a
TV, bathroom, and an extra bed for only P1,000. And there were four of us
sharing the room.
offer lower rates than hotel chains, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Some, like the Tuvera Pension House (where we stayed during a trip to Baguio
last year), give discounts from already discounted rates if you ask for it.
Case and point: We got a triple-sharing room originally priced at P1,500 with a
TV, bathroom, and an extra bed for only P1,000. And there were four of us
sharing the room.
If you aren’t too picky, hostels, and dormitories are excellent
money-saving options. While they may offer fewer nice-to-haves (and most likely
than not, you need to make do with a common bathroom) they are incredibly
cheap. The communal, relaxed atmosphere is an experience in itself too.
money-saving options. While they may offer fewer nice-to-haves (and most likely
than not, you need to make do with a common bathroom) they are incredibly
cheap. The communal, relaxed atmosphere is an experience in itself too.
The Circle Hostel Baler
Moon Fools at the heart of Panglao in Bohol, for example, offers
dormitory rooms at P500 a night, while private air conditioned rooms are at
P1,200 a night. Both come with free breakfast and unlimited drinking water. The
Circle Hostel, widely known for its laidback, surfer-inspired design, is much
cheaper, with hammocks and bed bunks priced at only P250 and P350 respectively.
dormitory rooms at P500 a night, while private air conditioned rooms are at
P1,200 a night. Both come with free breakfast and unlimited drinking water. The
Circle Hostel, widely known for its laidback, surfer-inspired design, is much
cheaper, with hammocks and bed bunks priced at only P250 and P350 respectively.
Bring your own
food or cook meals in house.
In-room hotel snacks are convenient, but they can
also be ridiculously expensive. A 500-ml bottle of distilled water, for
example, can cost as much as P100 in 4 or 5-star hotels – and we’re not even
talking about Evian here.
also be ridiculously expensive. A 500-ml bottle of distilled water, for
example, can cost as much as P100 in 4 or 5-star hotels – and we’re not even
talking about Evian here.
When booking hotels, check on their food and beverage
policy. Are you allowed to bring in food? Do they have a microwave or a small
kitchen where you can reheat or cook food? Making your own meals isn’t just
healthy, it’s also cheaper – which brings
us to point #2.
policy. Are you allowed to bring in food? Do they have a microwave or a small
kitchen where you can reheat or cook food? Making your own meals isn’t just
healthy, it’s also cheaper – which brings
us to point #2.
Be on the lookout for discount
websites (cashback sites, group buying sites, or coupon sites).
There is no shortage nowadays of websites that allow you to save on
accommodations and flights. Sites that offer discounted travel deals like
thedealproject.com can get you up to 50% off hotel rates and tours, as well as
cashback sites like ShopBack.Ph.
accommodations and flights. Sites that offer discounted travel deals like
thedealproject.com can get you up to 50% off hotel rates and tours, as well as
cashback sites like ShopBack.Ph.
Basically what the latter does is that it partners with companies like
Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia, so that you get rebates – a “Cashback” – every
time you purchase hotel nights or flights from the ShopBack.Ph website.
Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia, so that you get rebates – a “Cashback” – every
time you purchase hotel nights or flights from the ShopBack.Ph website.
After purchasing, ShopBack will send the Cashback to your bank, Paypal,
or Gcash account (within 48 hours), and you can use them to shop for more
nights or flights. Neat, eh?
or Gcash account (within 48 hours), and you can use them to shop for more
nights or flights. Neat, eh?
 |
| Travel stuff from Shopback.PH’s partners. Shopping here gives you a cashback for every purchase. |
Cashbacks are up to P400 for
Agoda purchases, 8% for Expedia, and 3% for
Booking.com. During Flash Sale promos, the cashbacks also increase.
For instance, during a ShopBack Payday Flash Sale, you can receive as much as
6% for Booking.com purchases and up to P450 for Agoda. Learn more about how
ShopBack works by visiting the site.
Agoda purchases, 8% for Expedia, and 3% for
Booking.com. During Flash Sale promos, the cashbacks also increase.
For instance, during a ShopBack Payday Flash Sale, you can receive as much as
6% for Booking.com purchases and up to P450 for Agoda. Learn more about how
ShopBack works by visiting the site.
How about you? What tried-and-tested ways do you use to save up on
trips?
trips?
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