10 top travel hacks for budget travelling

It’s time to hack your life with travel hacks from Cover-More Travel Insurance. We’ve been around the globe and back again to bring you the smartest travel tips on travel planning.

Travel hacks for budget travelling: booking tickets

• Plan in advance when booking airline tickets and visit discount websites to see if there are better deals. Take a look at our top travel hacks for flying to get a complete list of travel hacks for purchasing airfare. Get discounted fares when booking flights by clearing your cookies and putting your internet into private mode. Oftentimes airlines use computer programs to up the price if they know you have been shopping on their website before. Clear your browsing history before booking to get a better deal.
• Book travel between one and three months out from your travel date to save money, and purchase your ticket on a Tuesday. You probably know that booking too close to the date of travel can increase prices, but so can booking too far away from it. Airlines often price tickets more expensive one year out, and decrease as seats remain unsold about three months out.
• Consider connecting flights – they may be a hassle but they can often save you a chunk of change. If time isn’t a huge factor in your trip, consider saving money with connecting flights. Some countries even let you take a mini-holiday at your connecting destination.
• Look into round-trip tickets. Sometimes one way tickets are so expensive that a round-trip ticket is cheaper. It’s strange, but sometimes it’s more economical to just discard the trip. And who knows, maybe you will find someone with the same name as you to buy the second way – crazier things have happened.
• Consider booking travel insurance when you book your tickets. Smartraveller and the Australian government endorse the importance of travel insurance. Compare travel insurance plans to see what coverage level is right for you. This is a small expense in the short run, but can be a big money-saver should something go wrong abroad.

Travel hacks for budget travelling: packing

• Pack smart and travel light, as airlines are starting to charge more for baggage. Remember never to use oversized bags, and to leave room for souvenirs beforehand. Take a look at our top travel hacks for packing for more tips on how to slim down your carry-on.
• If you plan to do a lot of shopping on your trip, consider packing old clothes and tossing them or donating them when you buy more.

Travel hacks for budget travelling: eating

• Plan your meals before you leave home. Figure out where you want to eat, and when it might be a good idea to cook. Not many people consider cooking while on holiday, but this is a great way to experience some of the local flavours at a fraction of the cost.
• Even if you don’t plan to cook, shop for groceries when you arrive. You don’t need to buy enough for a feast, but get a few of the basics like water and snacks to save money at tourist sites and the hotel.
• Stock up at lunch. This is usually the meal where you can get the most for your money. Make lunch the largest meal of the day and you will save.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Sharon & Nikki McCutcheon; cropped from original