Tips for budget travelers
Lets face it, not everyone can afford to take expensive holidays, especially when the holiday is going to last several days or even weeks. In such situations, travelers have to not only ensure they are spending less, they have to ensure that they are spending their money wisely and aren’t being penny wise and pound foolish.
So here are just a few things I have learned while traveling on a limited budget.
Travel during off season: One of the biggest mistake travelers make, is that they travel to well known tourist destinations during peak tourist season i.e. Shimla/Manali in May and June, when almost the entire North India is there, due to school vacations. Traveling during off season not only ensures that accommodation etc. is cheaper, it also ensures that you don’t have to go through swarm of tourists to view a peak or contend with mediocre room/restaurant/taxi service. Of course at times it is best to go to a place at peak season, like in case Pushkar Camel Fair.
Eat wisely: Food is something that I rarely if ever, compromise on. Despite that, I often end up spending less than Rs. 100 (around US$ 2) a day on food, while traveling. The key is to eat at clean and decent local restaurants and eat wholesome food, which costs less and keeps your tummy full. For instance, a grilled sandwich would usually cost you more than paranthas and yet wouldn’t be as fulfilling and satisfying. So by eating simple local food, one can not only spend less, but also not feel like they are cutting back on something so essential. Of course you are on a holiday, so once in a while splurging on a dinner or a cake is well worth it and at times recommended.
Bargain hard: Bargaining is not something that I excel in, however a little bit of bargaining while getting a room or while hiring a taxi can usually pay a dividend and you can end up saving a decent amount of money. For instance in Dalhousie, I manage to get a 20% discount on the room rate, which although not much, was more than enough to cover the food bill for the next day. If you are not sure what price to quote, look at other hotels/taxis and see what is the general rate you are being quoted, chance are, you can usually end up saving 5-25% on the quoted price.
Maintain an expense sheet: When ever you are traveling, don’t forget to write down all your daily expenses. This not only lets you know if you are spending too much, it also serves as a important tool while writing a travelogue or trying to remember a hotel’s room rent or taxi fare, while recommending them to your friend or when you visit the same place sometime down the line.
At the end of the day, remember that you are on a holiday and at times need to splurge on a few luxuries to enjoy a place.
Happy traveling and in case you have some tips on budget travel, feel free to share them here.
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