Travelling can quickly spiral in cost. We all know the feeling of getting back from a holiday, checking our digital banking apps, and getting the shock of our lives, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are a range of fundamental hacks that you can embrace to transform travel into a genuinely affordable experience. Starting with how you book your flights, these are some crucial points you should remember for your next vacation.

1. Be smart when booking flights

When it comes to saving cash while travelling, one of the best things you can do is book your flights smartly. If you can, try to fly during the off-season, avoiding school holidays, and get your flights a few months ahead of time. You’re usually not going to find a better deal by just waiting around, so once you’ve picked your destination, grab that flight!

A good tip is to use Google Flights along with other price comparison sites. Play around with the dates a bit, and you might be surprised at how much the price can drop just by shifting things a day or two!

2. Don’t overpack

Another great way to save money when travelling is to pack extra light. The first way this will save you money is by avoiding baggage fees - in this context, the lighter, the better. Almost all budget airlines nowadays charge extra, even for cabin bags, and if you’re extra careful, you might be able to avoid these.

More than that, though, if you’re not lugging around a massive bag when you get to your destination, you’re much less likely to need to hire a car or use a taxi. If you can get away with just public transport, you stand to save a fair amount.

3. Travel to unknown destinations

While it’s easy to get sucked into visiting famous destinations, this often sets you up for a far more expensive travel experience than is necessary. Try asking some friends if they’ve gone anywhere slightly off the beaten track, and look at some good travel blogs.

Sure, there’s a chance that you’ll get it wrong and travel somewhere you don’t quite vibe with, but that’s always a risk - especially so with famous destinations where your expectations are already relatively high. Trying to go to a new destination doesn’t take much effort, and your chances of stumbling on a hidden gem are surprisingly high.

4. Be tactical with your culinary exploration

Even if you’re incredibly careful with your travel and accommodation choices, it’s easy to end up spending an eye-watering sum on food and drink. While it’s essential to treat yourself a bit, try to avoid restaurants and cafes in the main tourist destinations, asking locals where they tend to eat.

If you’re in a place with a kitchen, then why not cook a few meals yourself as well? At the very least, prepare some packed lunches, so you’re not forced into a rip-off meal when starving halfway through a day of exploration.

5. Connect with nature

If you’re looking for a relaxing and adventurous travel experience but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, then it’s worth remembering how amazing it can be to spend time in nature. If you wish to plan a hike through the French Alps or spend a week camping on dunes, spending time outdoors is often an affordable and transformative experience to engage in.

While outdoor activities are increasingly being packaged up and sold for extortionate prices, with a bit of creativity and an adventurous spirit, you can still do a lot of things for free. You might need to buy some good walking boots and a new jacket, but it’ll be more than worth it in the long run.

6. Use online resources

It’s crucial to realise that you aren’t the only one trying to have a good time travelling on a tight budget. Millions of others are in similar situations across the globe, and with social media and other online forums, it’s never been so easy to connect with those kindred spirits.

Use those online resources, seeking inspiration from the travel experiences and tips people share. Whether that’s someone sharing an exceptionally cheap flight to South America or a new website for finding house sits, you may stumble across a travel hack that genuinely unlocks your horizons.

Of course, the exact hacks that apply to your situation will depend on the kind of travel experience you’re going for. However, these general pointers should be applicable to most situations and could mean you can afford to go away a few more times throughout the year!

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