How to Travel Like a Baller But Not Spend Like One

• The COVID-19 pandemic halted the travel plans of many individuals and families.
• However, many travel bans are now being lifted, and some countries are allowing international travel with some restrictions and requirements.
• Numerous resources are available to help you save your coins as you get ready to start traveling the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted the travel plans of many individuals and families. However, many travel bans are now being lifted, and some countries are allowing international travel with some restrictions and requirements. As the world is slowly opening back up, people are clutching their passports and researching the most cost-effective flight options. However, spending tons of money to travel isn’t necessary. Yes, you want to create lasting memories, but you shouldn’t break your bank account doing it. Numerous resources are available to help you save your coins as you get ready to start traveling the world.

Here are a few ways that you can lower the expenses of your trip without lessening the experience:

Hotel

Travelers tend to spend the most money on their lodging arrangements. Typically the more expensive the hotel is, the better service it provides. Depending on how you plan to use your hotel, for example, you may only use it to rest and eat continental breakfast. If that’s the case, it may be worth booking a living arrangement that is less costly. 

Instead of booking a 4 or 5-star hotel, you can decide to book a 3-star hotel or a highly rated hostel. A hostel is a shared room with others, and you only rent a bed for however many nights you wish to stay. This kind of accommodation saves a lot of money as the cost of the room will be split with many people. Some popular hostel booking websites are HostelWorld and Booking.com

Airbnb rentals are considered an alternative to a hotel or hostel, and can be found domestically and internationally. Instead of booking an entire apartment or house, it’s generally less expensive if you book a private room through Airbnb. Airbnb offers a more home-like experience because of amenities such as a washer/dryer, full kitchen, and more of the essentials you will find in the average home. If you are looking to book a home away from home, an Airbnb rental may be the right choice for you. 

Book through a third-party website

You can also save money by booking through a third-party website such as Trivago, HotelsCombined, and Expedia. Many third-party booking websites are cheaper to book because they compare their price with other sites in hopes that they are offering you a better deal. 

Image  credit: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock.com

Before booking through a third party, make sure to put your browser in Incognito mode. By doing so, you ensure you’re receiving the cheapest deals as a normal browsing tab allows these companies to have access to your data and may charge you higher prices. Also, be sure to compare the prices and the kind of accommodations that they provide. Whether you are booking a hotel or flight, you want to make sure it fits your preferences and comfortability.  

Flights

Flights are typically one of the more expensive parts of traveling. As travel bans are being lifted as we are hopefully nearing the end of the pandemic, the cost of airfare is more expensive than before the pandemic started. To save money on flights, use websites such as SkyScanner, Kayak, Scott's Cheap Flights, and Hopper to compare flight prices. When using these third-party websites to book your flight, you can also get notified of airline deals and monitor price changes. 

These methods of saving money could significantly lower your traveling expenses. The money you save throughout the planning process can be used as shopping money, or you can plan for your next vacation.