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10 Ways to Save Money on Your Accommodation When You Travel
Where you decide to stay when you travel can be one of the most expensive parts of your vacation. Thankfully, there are many ways to keep the budget down if you know what to do. Here are more than 10 ways you can save money when you travel alone, with a partner or with your family.
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Look for Package Deals
First you must know exactly how much you plan to spend on your vacation, including food, gas, auto rental and everything else. So, you must create a travel budget so that you know how much you can afford to spend daily. To save money you can go online to find package deals that are well within your budget. When you book your flight, hotel room and auto rental through the same company there is a significant amount deducted, compared to buying everything separately.
Be clear about what you want and need
When you call to inquire about package deals, make sure you understand what will and what will not be included. If you need special accommodations, no matter what they are, let the travel and/or booking agent know and make sure these needs are met before you book anything. If you want peace and quiet, scheduled activities, meals included, or whatever, let the agent know. If you are traveling alone, check if there is a 'single supplement fee'.
If you are traveling as a family with active children, at the travel agent or front desk clerk about a suite with a refrigerator and a microwave. These can help you keep the family fed, enable you to buy beverages in bulk and help you keep you save money.
...and remember, the less money you spend on a fancy room with all of the trappings -that you may not spend a lot of time in - the more you have to spend on other things. A lot of your time will be spent outside touring the city and having fun.
Consider staying with family, friends or friends of friends
If you have family, or if you know someone or if there is someone you know who know someone in the area, see if you can stay with them during your vacation. You can pay the friend or family a fee for allowing you to stay with them and still save money.
Check out all Loyalty programs
If you travel regularly, you should join a loyalty program if one is available for the hotel you want to stay in. A lot of the chain hotels offer them and can help you save money when you travel. These programs offer a range of perks that you can take advantage of and may be able to get you a room upgrade for little or no cost to you. In some cities, you can get tickets to a popular show or to a local attraction.
Pick the right travel dates
At peak times, the rates of almost everything related to traveling will be more expensive. Christmas, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving and other major are the times when you will pay the most for tickets and lodging. During the Summer holidays, the price of gas is also higher than at other times of the year. To get the best room rates, it is best to travel during the off-season. Not only are prices much lower, everything is also quieter because there are fewer people around.
Understand the location of the hotel
If you are traveling to a destination you are not familiar with, you may not realize the hotel you are about to book is located in a prime location and this is why the price is higher than they are at other locations. Most cities have many areas - other than Main Street - that are trendy and over-priced. City center hotels can cost a small fortune per night compared to other hotels that are located at the outskirts of town. Airport hotels can also cost a lot more per night. Before you book, consider the cost of the accommodations, the availability of public transportation, the extra time it will take to wait for and ride the expansive bus route, taxi fare or car rentals and gas and see which option makes the most sense to you and your budget.
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A look at a hostel for males at Vellore Institute of Technology located in Katpadi in India
Consider staying in a hostel
Many years ago, hostels were places where certain types of people chose as their preferred place to stay when they traveled, especially if they were traveling alone. Since then, hostels have come a very long way. Now, you can find many that are clean, safe and full of modern amenities. Some of the best hostels can be a bit out of the way, but their prices more than make up for their location.
Popular backpacker hostels in New Zealand are used by people from of all ages and all ethnicities. Just be prepared to share kitchen and sometimes the bathroom or you can pay more for a private room, if they are available.
Rent a Home or a Room in a Home
There are several websites that connect homeowners to vacationers and a lot of the properties are really great and sometimes they cost a fraction of what you would pay for a hotel of equal comfort. Look for a location that is close to the activities, dining and if you want to party, night life. If the rental is not in a good location, you may need a rental car, if you are not driving your own vehicle, this can add to your daily cost. If needed, check the availability of public transportation, rides provided by the hotel and local taxi fares.
House Swapping
House swapping is now more popular than ever. Families who want to visit certain locations but still revel in the comforts of home - without the expense of a hotel suite - exchange their home with someone who live in the city where they want to enjoy their vacation. Before you do the exchange, take a lot of photos and videos of your home. When you get to your destination, take more photos to show exactly how everything look when you arrived. You can go through a travel agency, or you can make all of the arrangements on your own. Get information about the home and vet the people who own the home. Also, be careful of their property while you are there and after the swap is over, leave the place it as you found it.
Spend your nights at a campground
Camping is fun and it can be a great adventure for the whole family. There are all types of campsites to choose from and you can spend nights in a place where you can sleep in a tent, there are those that has only a place to park your vehicle, or a campground with all of the amenities including indoor showers, a game room, restaurant and a place to cook your food.
Some campgrounds have cabins, some are located near theme parks and there are even some with swimming pools available. If you own or rent a caravan, there are caravan parks where you can spend your vacation. They are warm, dry, have a stove and fridge, and can be a fun way to enjoy a holiday by the seaside or other scenic location.
Photo from: camprrm.com
Douglas Tailwater Campground in Kodak, Tennessee
Deals and discounts
Look for bargain deals, coupons and more. We all know if we see a deal too good to be true and it is from a website you never heard of, skip it or at the least, check out comments from previous users. Check the fine print.
Before booking, ask questions and be sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what things will cost.
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