Traveling is one of the most rewarding things you can spend your money on, but it can be especially pricey if you want a fun and comfortable experience. But honestly, if you’re going to see the world, you might as well indulge and treat yourself. After all, you only live once! While luxury can cost a lot of money, there are some tricks to getting luxury travel on a budget.
Using technology to make travel more affordable
Skyscanner
To give you an idea of relatively cheap flight destinations, plug in your home airport and “everywhere” as your destination into Skyscanner’s search engine. You’ll get all sorts of destinations presented to you on your laptop from Buydig.com in order of least to most expensive.
Going solo
Check out the Solo Traveler Deals Page, the source for those who travel alone, to find a list of companies that offer tours and cruises with no or very low single supplements for solo travelers.
Groupon
You can choose your destination and search for deals on discount sites like Groupon.com on your tablet or computer from Buydig.com right from the comfort of your own home.
Sweet deal
Honey is a free browser feature that auto-applies promo codes at checkout. It even works on discount sites like Groupon allowing you to stack your savings! Once you go to checkout use Honey to automatically find and apply any hidden promo codes you didn’t even know about.
Hotel Tonight app
Hotels put extra inventory on this service for day-of sales.
Glamping options
Luxurious camping is not an oxymoron. Go to Glamping.com to find glamorous camping opportunities around the world.
Location, location, location and timing are everything
Travel in the off season
Not only will you avoid the crowds, but the locals are also more relaxed and friendly. Just watch out for catches like rainy season at the beach.
Go less touristy
Get more for less by staying off the beaten track, away from the center of the city. Staying within 1 mile of the center could cost you $100/night more than outside that 1-mile circumference. Plus, staying outside the city center can get you into interesting neighborhoods so that you get a real feel for the city.
A night in the museum
Visit places like museums and galleries late in the day because they often sell discounted tickets near closing.
Book last-minute deals
Book early or at the last minute. At the last minute you can find empty spaces on tours so discounts are often found there.
Experience that exclusive restaurant after hours
High end restaurants that are hard to get into, let alone afford, will be happy to serve you dessert and a cappuccino after regular dinner hours. You’ll get the table, the luxury experience, the cuisine and the budget prices by skipping the meal. Pair that up with a night at the theater and you have a true luxury experience.
Step up to the bar
You don’t have to stay at a 5-star luxury hotel to enjoy some of the benefits. You can go to the bar for a drink, enjoy afternoon tea, or book yourself into their spa.
With the help of these tips, some creative planning and organization, you can enjoy a luxurious trip without putting yourself in debt.
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