This post may contain affiliate or referral links that help keep this site running. For more information about this, please see our Disclosure Policy. As an associate of Amazon.com/Amazon.uk/Amazon.ca/and other websites, I may earn a small commission whenever you click through a link from this site. This commission helps to support this site and keep it running. Six Dollar Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com/Amazon.uk/Amazon.ca.
Reasonable savings are useful everywhere — even while on vacation. And now, I will share with you how to save on vacation.
- #1 Set a limit
Take with you a well-defined amount of money. This will hold you back from spending too much. But what should you do if it is unreasonable to carry a pack of cash with you, and credit cards allow you to dig deep into your credit? Take a debit card with the amount you need. If suddenly the money runs out, you can always ask your relatives to transfer part of the funds to you — it now takes about 10 seconds.
You can always just keep in mind the limit you determined. Even this speculative boundary will help to keep within the framework of reasonable expenses.
- #2 Turn off the phone
First, when landing, I disable the data transfer on my phone. This saves a lot of money when roaming. Moreover, do you really need gadgets while on vacation? Free Wi-Fi is available in almost all hotels, cafes, and restaurants. If you can’t stand not checking your social media, you can use it.
If you can’t do without a connection, buy a local SIM card. This will keep you in touch for relatively little money.
- #3 Do not use the services of taxi drivers
Find out in advance how much a taxi costs from the airport or station to the city, and how to use it correctly to avoid shameless taxi drivers. It is even better to ask about public transport. Perhaps getting on the local bus will be much cheaper, and you will sacrifice only minimal time and comfort.
Personally, I always look at the information in open sources and ask for advice from the owner of the apartment I booked.
- #4 Rent apartments with a kitchen
In hotels, everything is comfortable except for one thing: there is no kitchen. The maximum that they have is a kettle and a mini fridge. However, you still need to satisfy your hunger several times a day. If you do it all the time in cafes and restaurants, the bill for the vacation will be huge. For this reason, I often rent apartments to save money.
“I do not plan a whole vacation just to stand at the stove,” some may exclaim. Find a reasonable compromise. In the morning you may want simple oatmeal. And in the evening, you can sit on the veranda, opening a bottle of local wine and making dinner yourself using local food. During the day you can go to business lunches. They are always cheaper. You can buy in the store and have a picnic on the grass. This will be remembered more fondly than dinner at the restaurant.
In the hot season, it is easy to splurge on water, especially if you constantly buy it outside. Take large bottles in the supermarket, and before leaving the house, fill small ones and carry them with you.
- #5 Say “no” to souvenirs and duty-free
Bringing something from vacation is our tradition. Magnets, bells, plates, packages of sweets, and alcohol from duty-free purchases. Calculate how much these expenses will harm your budget (Six Dollar Family). I have decided to do it this way: I will not buy any trinkets, and delicacies and alcohol only in local stores, and not at the airport. This way, it turns out to be two or three times cheaper and more authentic.
I have to admit: if I see something unusual or inexpensive, or something that is not found in my country, it is usually difficult to hold back. In this case, you can move away from the hard rules and buy something you like.
If you are going to go on vacation, but have some academic assignments due for your college or university, you can get homework help online and go on vacation without any worries.
Nicky Quinton is a professional writer and blogger. With more than 7 years of experience, she has collaborated on different educational projects. Nicky is writing a book that is going to see the light of day by the end of 2019.