15 invaluable tips not to go broke on a trip

The long-awaited summer has come - a time of travel and new experiences. And if you think that a lot of money is needed for exciting and unforgettable trips, then you are mistaken! Feel free to plan in the coming months to go in search of adventure, because the following life hacks will not only help you meet your budget, but also save a lot of money.

Rent an apartment or even share it for free

Boring hotel rooms are unlikely to convey the atmosphere of the place where you arrived. Try to rent an apartment (for example, through airbnb.com), especially if you are going to the same place for a sufficiently long period. You will not only save money, but also get the opportunity to chat with local residents.

Another great option is couchsurfing (couchsurfing.com). By registering on the site, you get the opportunity to settle in an apartment for free, and you can also receive guests yourself in the future.

Flights from neighboring cities can save a lot of money

Getting to a major airport is usually much cheaper. Take this into account when choosing tickets: for example, if you decide to go to Nice, it will most likely be easier and more profitable to fly to Milan, and then transfer to the train.

Do not forget about low-cost airlines and airline promotions

Cheap tickets can appear at any time - for this you need to follow the offers of airlines, for example, by subscribing to their newsletters. Low-cost airlines are another way to save on tickets, but keep in mind that you will have to pay separately for baggage and meals on board. In this case, you can travel light and take with you a small snack directly on board.

Early morning or late night flights are usually cheaper

Most people do not really like to fly at this time of day, so airlines sometimes lower prices for such flights. In addition, night and morning flights will help to save vacation days - especially if it is not too long.

Use a city bus instead of a sightseeing bus

You can see the main attractions of many cities in Europe from the window of a regular city bus. For example, in Berlin, route No. 100, adored by tourists, runs from Alexanderplatz along Unter den Linden boulevard, past Berlin Cathedral, the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Tiergarten Park, Potsdamer Platz and the zoo in the center of the former West Berlin, and the fare will cost no more than at 3 euros. In Venice, a water bus runs between the airport and the city center, which costs 15 euros, which is 6 times cheaper than a private boat transfer.

Buy a museum card

Museum cards are special “membership cards” that allow you to visit museums for free for one, two or more days. They exist in all major cities of the world. With their help, you can significantly save money if you plan to actively visit museums: the card provides free entry to dozens of museums, and also allows you to go through without queues in which you can stand for several hours.

Think about payment in advance

If you often pay for purchases in euros, it is better to have a MasterCard rather than Visa, with which your bank always debits in dollars (do not forget about conversion). And in some countries it is completely unprofitable to pay by card: there is a "black course" there, so exchange currency on the spot. And, of course, do not forget about cash.

Have a good lunch

Cafes and restaurants usually receive the majority of visitors during dinner. Therefore, in the morning and lunch, many establishments offer discounts on certain dishes in order to attract more people. And do not forget about the rule: "Eat breakfast yourself, share lunch with a friend, and give dinner to the enemy."

Order a Secret Number

Another interesting feature for those who want to save money and are not afraid of experiments. Secret hotel rooms are those rooms that are left empty and are sold at a reduced price. You will not be sure for sure which hotel you rented a room in, but the size of the discount can be from 30% to 50%. The resources of lastminute.com and hotwire.com will help.

Use the browser extension to find active promotional codes

In our age, it is much more convenient to shop online, and even more so when preparing for a trip. The Honey extension will help you - install it on your browser, activate it, and when you wander around the network in search of useful gizmos, it will offer you discount coupons that will help you save money when shopping online.

Try the local cuisine without visiting the expensive restaurant

The hotwire.com service will help you with this: here, at a reasonable cost, local residents offer to feed tourists. New acquaintances, delicious food - what could be more interesting when traveling?

Download travel apps and maps

Find applications and maps that will work without the Internet. Some of them can even replace the guide.

Feel free to ask about discounts and additional services.

When checking into the hotel, additional bonuses are possible that you might not know about, and during flights, some flights offer free transfers to the city. And do not forget to bargain (especially in the East): sometimes it’s possible to cut the price when buying almost twice.

Get ready to travel at home

Spontaneous trips are great, but if you plan your route and expenses in advance, you will get a lot more chances to save. Think about the transfer from the airport, learn about free exhibitions, museums and events in the city where you go, read reviews about cafes with local flavor - download all the information to your phone, add to bookmarks or simply print it.

Relax with company

Anyone who travels alone, overpays for a room - from 10 to 50%. Well, if you travel to Asia for a long time, then in the company of 3-4 friends you can easily rent a luxury villa for little money.