Travel Hacks! - Experience Luxury Travel In Budget.

Experience luxury in a budget? Well that sounds like a plan!. Indulging in a bit of luxury now and then doesn’t hurt much. And had it not been for the needs and wants of the globetrotters who always travel on stringent budgets, the idea and concept of affordable luxury would not have existed today.

So if you’re saying you’re a budget traveler who’d love to save more on time & money, and indulge in some luxuries as well, make a note of these 20 tips and hacks that’ll let you experience luxury travel on budget without any hassles or change of plans.

1. Research Well

Research Left, Right, Center, Up and Down.  A systematic, and a thorough research is the key to a successful travel plan. Be it booking the tickets or browsing through the accommodation options for a comfortable stay, searching through multiple sources offline and online (mostly) makes it easier, convenient, and feasible for the traveler to compare and get better deals. Hence, make sure your research is in place before you move ahead with planning the trip.

2. Planning Is The Key

Planning can be done for many types of trips. There are some trips which your parents plan for you, then there are Friends trips, and further, there are impromptu trips which requires no planning. However, most of the times, majority of the trips require a full-proof plan to avoid hassles and hiccups while one in on the holiday.

While most of you might possess excellent planning skills, it is always better to entrust the responsibility of planning a holiday to the experts. Ask your friends for advice but only to them who ‘have been there and done that’. Also some of the best and leading online portals now offer exciting all-inclusive packages along with the option to customize one’s trip as per the needs and their respective budget.

3. Choose Offbeat Destinations

To make the most of luxury travel on budget, try to explore the lesser known places. Such destinations not only offer all the peace and quiet that one requires on a vacation, but also turn out to be cheaper when compared to the famous destinations that burn a hole in your pockets. Be smart search for offbeats.

4. This Offbeat Place Should be Well-Connected To Major Cities

While you can cut down on major expenses like accommodation, local transfers, sightseeing, and miscellaneous expenses at an offbeat destination, make sure the hidden gems are well connected to any of the major cities that make commuting easier in order to save time. Better the connectivity, more will be your savings in terms of time and effort. For eg Coorg is a hidden gem next to Mangalore.

5. Travel In The Off Season

From hotels to food, and from sightseeing to getting around, traveling in the off-season is one of the most crucial factors of luxury travel on budget. Not only does it save on time and expenses, but also cuts down on the crowd that usually makes feel suffocating during peak seasons.

6. Pick A Country Where our Local Currency Has More Value

It is always an advantage to travel to a destination wherein the value of our currency is higher provided, you manage your expenses well too. Picking a country that offers higher exchange rate for your local currency only proves to be beneficial when you spend carefully rather than splurging impulsively. You can read about the list of countries in our other blog.

7. Compare Prices

Comparing prices on different sources is a thumb rule that should be practiced by all who’re looking forward to luxury travel on budget. It not only is a money-saving hack but also helps in discovering great offers online.

8. Look For Deals

Travelers can always find the best of deals, discounts, offers, and promotions online be it any season, any occasion, any festival, or any cultural event. While these deals make your travel cheaper, they also tend to cut down on more expenses on the already stringent budget. Moreover, owing to the advanced technology that has made planning a trip so much easier, one can also make use of the digital money to travel and save on hard cash.

9. Book In Advance

One of the best ways to enjoy luxury travel on budget is to save money on flights, and accommodation, and this is one area where travelers can save the most. For example, there is a vast difference when you book flights and hotels 45 to 60 days prior to date of journey. Also, booking on weekdays has proven to be much more cheaper​ than booking on weekends. Sooner the better is the case when it comes to online booking.

10. Do Not Exchange Money At The Airport

This could be the first point on the list. if you have a journey planned anytime soon, then never make the mistake of exchanging currency at the airport. One of the main reasons of why you should not exchange foreign currency at the airport is because it is the worst place to do so, and that too at higher rates. Airports kiosks and stalls always take advantage of the travelers’ situation wherein the airport serves as their last resort and the travelers don’t have much of a choice. Hence, don’t try this at all.

11. Prefer Direct Booking For Accommodation

Most of the travelers prefer booking for accommodation directly from the hotel as this eliminates the addition of commission that various portals charge for listing the property on their website. While you cut down on the commission on traveler’s as well as on the property’s part, you also end up saving more on taxes while booking directly from a hotel, resort, or any accommodation option of your choice. However we should also check on several websites coz some of the times websites gives a better deal than booking from a hotel. Try both and get the best.

12. Choose The Best Room Of A Budget Hotel

One more way of enjoying luxury travel on budget is to find the best room in a cheap hotel. While the price is still going to be under your budget as per your calculations, then why not choose the most superior room of a budget hotel, and enjoy a luxury stay without burning a hole in your pockets or the travel plan. Also bluntly ask for free upgrades, you will get it most of the times.

13. Exchange Homes

This is a new concept but a lot of travelers follow the practice of exchanging homes on their international travel to save on a huge chunk of money. While you get to stay in an international destination for free just by swapping homes, all you have to do is find a traveler who is willing to travel on the same dates as you are. Try your luck, who knows you are lucky.

14. Don’t Buy, Just Rent It?

Be it Fishing rods, bikes, scooters, cars, or even bicycles, why invest more money in buying those assets when you can very well rent them, use them till the time you’re on a vacation and return it to the owner or the agent when your purpose is done. As often seen in the case of Airbnbs, people end up getting a much better deal while on rent rather than buying it irrespective of the duration of their travel.

15. Try Only The Specialty

To be able to make the most of multiple cuisines, relishing the food at various restaurants, and to maximize treating your taste buds, make sure you try only the specialty of one particular restaurant. While most of the dishes are same in all the restaurants of a destination, trying only the specialty gives room to try more cuisines and at various eateries.

16. Make A List And Check It Twice

Making a checklist doesn’t hurt much and as a result, it only helps in planning a better trip without missing out on anything be it minor or major. Hence, be assured to make a list right from the beginning and double-check the list to strike off everything before you step out of that door. Don’t miss out on something that can cost you a fortune later on the trip.

17. Take Advice From The Famous Travel Bloggers

First-hand experiences of the traveler are any day better than heading to a place and not having an idea about what’s gonna be in store for you!. Expert advice has always been helpful and it is always a good move to consult and take a opinion from the famous travel bloggers who’ve been there and done that.

18. Book An All-inclusive Package

I don’t travel this way but I know people very satisfied by following this Tip. Get an all-inclusive tour package that too customized as per your opinion. Few of the leading online portals personalize your whole trip and include everything that ranges from transfers to hotels, and from meals to sightseeing. All you have to do is put in your request, and you’ll soon be on your way to an amazing vacation!

19. Stay healthy and Gear Up!

Do not miss out on keeping a check on your health and resting well before you take off. Also make sure you have all the documents in place like your passport, visa, travel insurance, international driving license, and so on. So make sure you do first things first.

20. Follow Your Heart

‘Jab Kisi chez ko sachhe dil se chaho’ I am in love with this dialogue. Follow your heart and it will guide you. Well who needs an explanation for that? Just do what you love, and love what you do.

Now after reading these tips & hacks I hope you will be all set to plan a trip in near future. Do not forget to let us know. We will be happy to see you happy.  Cheers to a wonderful trip!