Value travel and budget travel are both going to save you money.
With value travel you do not sacrifice upscale activities such as fine dining, evening entertainment and attractions.
I’m here to tell you; you can pay less for those highlights of the vacation.
Budget travel may involve skipping these and settling for more modest options.
Planning
First off, value strategies help you master the art of travel planning. In terms of value versus budget travel, there is a clear difference in how each group plans their vacations. Value travelers refuse to miss certain deals simply based solely on price. For value travelers to find the best deals, they can often book flights in advance, look to fly on Tuesdays, or use cheaper, public transportation alternatives. Budget travelers on the other hand, plan trips on a strict budget that they refuse to compromise. For this reason, budget travelers are known for venturing shorter distances to save money.
Lodging
Stay at nice hotels outside of a downtown spot located on a bus or train transportation line.
Staying at an overpriced downtown accommodation could be costly.
The extra 15 to 30 minutes it takes in transportation time to get to where you want to go is far worth it for how much money you will save each night.
One of the best tips for value travel is to book your night stays outside of the main tourist spots.
Eating
Go for the Happy Hour pricing (3-5 PM) at fine restaurants.
Eating at that same restaurant during “regular” hours will get you the same food but more expensive.
In budget travel, you are more likely to shun the fine restaurants with local ingredients and specialties.
If you have a large breakfast, you could save money on lunch by skipping it knowing you will be eating a very early dinner!
Hit The Free Admission Days
Planning your days around free admission museum days is a part of value travel. Although it may draw in a larger crowd, you get to experience the same great museum that normally costs substantial dollars.
Pack Light
Start your next fun value travel venture by packing light. Traveling with heavy luggage can be really expensive.
When you over-pack, you pay the price on checked luggage fees. Make a list of the things that you really need and only pack those belongings.
You can get away with just the essentials for a weekend trip to Colorado. Only pack the necessities for preventing altitude sickness in Colorado.
Try packing just travel-sized cosmetics for week-long trips across the country. You probably don’t need seven pairs of socks for just a two-day trip either!
You can always buy a few things while you’re away, so don’t feel like you need to put your budget toward luggage costs. This is one of the best traveling tips that can really save value travelers money. Be sure to check out our guide on the best travel packing hacks and tips to help you save space and money on your next getaway.
Sightseeing
There is a vast different in how budget travel and value travel impact sightseeing. Value travelers refuse to sacrifice luxury amenities and attractions because of their price. Instead, they find the cheapest alternatives to visiting an attraction, purchasing tickets, seeing a show, or taking a tour. For value travelers, frequently check third-party ticket sites that are authorized and validated by the attraction itself. At the same time call the attractions you wish to visit and ask if they offer discounts on same day tickets. Budget travelers may choose to skip these options and instead take a free walking tour, cooking at home, or a fast food alternative. There are numerous cities with tons of free attractions perfect for budget travelers. If you are traveling to Pennsylvania, there are many ways to experience historical sites in Philadelphia absolutely free.
Transportation
I suggest saving as much money on transportation as you could, especially because it does not give you happiness or any real memories. It is just a travel expense to me.
With that, often, there is no need to rent a car. You can UBER, Lyft, or take public transportation from one point to another.
Use this advice to experience the derby without spending a fortune.
Save significant dollars on insurance, gas, hotel parking and of course, the daily rate.
Take a bus to the next city if it is a multi-city trip within the same state, or train if it is within the country, in let’s say, Europe.
Speaking of transportation, one way to save money is to not take a taxi from any airport to your accommodations. Alternatively, take a train, bus, UBER or Lyft. Then, you can visit the top travel destinations affordably.
Trains and buses can save you so much money each way that you can have a free dinner that night! All you sacrifice is potentially 30 minutes more in travel time.
Off-season Travel Is Value Travel
Off-season travel usually offers tremendous savings to normally expensive and crowded locations.
It’s more expensive in the summer and holiday periods. Why?
It’s when most people take off and the kids are out of school.
Value travel sometimes requires flexibility.
Save money by buying tickets to an event on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday as opposed to on the weekend.
Fewer adults and kids will go on work and school nights.
Choose where to go travel and keep your costs low by embarking in the off-season.
Attractions
When traveling on a value travel itinerary, you can expect to sill see a great deal of attractions. Unlike budget travel, value vacationing refuses to compromise on the best sightseeing options and attractions. Instead, travelers will look for strategic ways to secure the best rates on tickets and admission passes. Often, this involves using ticket purchasing websites, credit card programs, or even hotel points and rewards. Surely, consider the difference in the attractions you will see on budget vs. value travel planning.
Travel Hacking is Value Travel
Travel hacking is also value travel. It’s a term for beating the significant costs involved in travel.
One of the best ways to do that is collecting the welcome bonus when opening airline and hotel credit cards. Do not apply for the card until you are prepared to hit the minimum spend dollar amount within 90 days of receiving the card.
Value travel is always about making choices!
– Can I go in the offseason?
– Am I going to a location where I will be out all day so I can save money on accommodations?
– Do I really need a car or can I make do with public transportation?
Consider these decisions prior to locking in your plans. You can check off all of the North Carolina trips on your bucket list without breaking the bank!
Finding value in most, if not all of these, equates to value travel:
-Airfare
-Accommodations
-Transportation costs
-Theatre, concert or sports events
-Keeping cruise costs down
-Avoiding paying for parking at events by taking public transportation
-Restaurant happy hours
-Attending timeshare presentations whenever possible to get nice compensation. You have to decide if you can sacrifice two hours of your day once on the trip.
I will cover all of these!
Follow my lead. You will pay a fraction of the cost others are spending for the same exact experience! These traveling hacking tips work well for all kinds of adventurers!
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
https://www.grasshoppergreg.com/travel-guides-destinations/
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1 comment
I really liked this. I see a lot on budget travel but I really did not want to sacrifice quality on my trips if possible. I will focus on Happy Hour menus like you state and think about public transportation more often. That seems to be a huge saver of money. You seem to not give up much on your travels so it seems worth trying your way!