A holiday’s purpose is to serve as a recreational experience but sometimes the thought of how much it will cost can really take the fun out of it. Before planning your next holiday, think about these five tips for reining-in the budget so you can enjoy your time away!
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Figure out what’s actually important
For some people it’s all about the quality of the hotel (and whether the bed and pool are going to be sufficiently relaxing), and for others, organising a house swap is a fantastic option. House swaps could save you a huge amount on accommodation costs meaning you’ll have more to spend on new experiences and making memories. Another benefit of house swapping is knowing that while you’re away your own home will be looked after (and ‘lived in’ meaning it will be less attractive to burglars).
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The destination dictates how much you’ll spend
There are often some great deals on flights ready to be snapped up, but do your research about what costs to expect once you’re at the destination. If you’re going overseas you’ll also need to think about local taxes, exchange rates, and visa fees. On the positive side, some countries offer tax refunds to tourists so make sure you don’t miss out on this if you’ve been shopping up a storm (as per your budget, of course)!
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Timing is everything
Find out when it is the most popular time to go to your desired location, then try to refrain from going at that time! The tourism and hospitality industry is very clever at increasing their rates during the high season which is great for them, but bad for your budget. You can also find out the cheapest time of year to fly to that destination to help weigh up your options. If you can help it, try to avoid going during public/school holidays or while big events and concerts are being held there too.
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Booking in advance can be more expensive (sometimes)
Having your whole itinerary booked in advance is appealing for people who don’t like surprises, but it can also be more expensive. Depending on where you’re going, it may be a lot cheaper to buy the train ticket at the station, or book the tour through the hotel concierge. Of course, the opposite can also be true so do your research!
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Embrace doing activities for free
This doesn’t mean doing a dine-and-dash after dinner! Rather, you can take in a lot from a place by consciously not spending money: strolling through the local markets, swimming at the beach, hiking up to a summit to take in the views or visiting historical monuments.
All things considered there’s no silver bullet for cheap holidays, but the very best thing you can do is plan. Bon voyage!
The information contained in this article is of a general nature and should not be taken as advice. It reflects the opinions of the writer only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of New Zealand Home Loans (NZHL).
