How to Plan a Vacation on a Budget

You need not always have a luxurious vacation. There are different reasons why you may want to travel. Some people want to experience different cultures, while some want to relax and de-stress, etc.

Depending on the purpose of your vacation, you can plan the perfect budget trip. Bearing this in mind, here are some tips on how to plan a vacation on a budget:

• Outline a Comfortable Budget

You don’t want to return to debt from a trip. It can destroy the purpose of going on a vacation in the first place. And so, no matter how boring it may sound, it is important to outline a budget for your trip. There are several “travel in my budget” free calculators online that will help you understand how much money needs to be put aside for planning a vacation to a particular destination. However, you can even make your own “travel in my budget” calculator by answering the following questions:

• What is the cost of travelling to the chosen destination?
• What is the cost of travelling within the city you plan to visit?
• What is the cost of your accommodation?
• What is the cost of meals?
• What is the cost of the activities that you wish to do?

Answering these basic questions can help you draw a suitable budget for your trip.

• Plan in Advance

Although spontaneous trips have their charm, they also come with a potentially higher budget. And so, wise travellers always plan their trips in advance, which helps them save a lot of money on their travel and accommodation. This is particularly beneficial for planning family trips on a budget. Planning a trip in advance can help find better discounts, deals, and offers to enjoy more activities at a cheaper rate.

Another benefit of planning in advance is that you can start saving for your trip by putting aside some funds every month. You can plan the best summer vacations on a budget by simply planning your trip ahead of time.

It is also prudent to invest in a comprehensive travel insurance plan that can cover the expenses of trip curtailments and cancellations if something goes wrong. Your travel insurance can compensate you for the travel and hotel expenses if you have been compelled to cancel your trip owing to any of the reasons mentioned in the policy document.

• Research Your Accommodation

For pocket-friendly vacations, you must learn how to save money on your accommodation. The money you save on your accommodation can be used to engage in different activities on your trip. Here are some ways to save money with your accommodation:

• If you are planning family trips on a budget, you can look for apartments with full kitchen access that can help you save money by not eating out every night.
• For solo trips or a vacation with friends, you can look for hostels instead of hotels to save money.
• Check the location of your accommodation and make sure that it has quick access to public/city transport, restaurants, and shops.
• Try to book your accommodation for mid-week as it may getmore expensive over the weekend.
• Try to book rooms that have free cancellation.
• Check the facilities and dining options offered under the accommodation of your choice.
• Use the reward points on your credit cards to make hotel reservations.

Essentially, to outline a budget for your accommodation, you will have to consider factors such as your overall travel budget, destination, comfort level, number of travel companions, and interests. Once you are clear on these aspects, planning for your accommodation and saving money becomes easier.

Thoroughly Research Your Destination

Assumptions can be costly. The culture of the place you are travelling to can be very different, even if you are travelling domestically. For international trips, your research will have to be more extensive, and you will need to invest in international travel insurance to take care of unpleasant travel scenarios abroad.

For vacation planning on a budget, here are things you must research about before you travel:

• Finding cheap accommodation alternatives.
• Reading blogs and experiences of different travellers who have journeyed to the destination of your choice.
• The public transportation system.
• Costs of eating at restaurants and the street food culture.
• Activities that need a ticket and those that are free of cost.
• Affordable markets can help you shop for souvenirs without burning a hole in your pocket. One of the best ways to do this is by asking the locals for boutiques and thrift stores in the area.

Knowing the culture of the place you travel to will help you plan ahead, so you are not unpleasantly surprised by unexpected costs.

Plan for the Unforeseeable

It is difficult to think of things that can go wrong when you are excitedly planning your itinerary. However, if you don’t plan for contingencies, you may have to pay a heavy cost for your negligence. For instance, if you travel internationally and misplace your passport or luggage, you won’t know what to do.

To take care of such unfortunate instances, you can invest in comprehensive international travel insurance. This way, if you lose your passport or misplace your luggage, you can simply raise a travel insurance claim, and the rest will be taken care of by your international travel insurance.

However, before you invest in a travel insurance plan, compare different policies and carefully read the inclusions and the exclusions of your coverage. In this regard, it is safe to go with a trusted name like Tata AIG.

Tata AIG is one of the leading general insurance companies in India that offers comprehensive travel insurance plans —both for domestic and international travel.