5 Easy Ways To Save Money When Travelling Abroad
This post may contain Affiliate Links
Travelling can be expensive but there are also plenty of ways to save money if you need to stick to a tighter budget. Follow these tips to help save money while on your travels abroad.
1. Eat Like A Local
When it comes to places to eat while travelling abroad, one of the best things you can do is find restaurants that are a little bit off the beaten track.
Typically these will not only be cheaper but often serve more authentic food that isn’t catered towards thousands of tourists.
Another great option is to look out for street food vendors where prices tend to be cheap and the portions healthy meaning you can try lots of different options.
If you’re planning a longer stay, considering extended stay hotels can be beneficial as they often come with kitchen facilities that allow you to cook meals with local ingredients you’ve picked up from the market. This not only gives you a taste of the local cuisine but also helps in managing your travel budget more effectively.
2. Always Take Out Travel Insurance
It may sound counter-intuitive, but you should always take out travel insurance no matter how much it costs.
If you end up needing it, it could save you thousands in medical bills and other related expenses.
It’s better to have travel insurance and not need it than need it and not have it!
Basic travel insurance can be quite budget-friendly but those with health problems may find it a little harder to get coverage.
However, you can find competitive travel insurance with health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and cancer if you know where to look. Comparing between different insurers is a good place to start.
The main thing is to mention any pre-existing conditions when you take out cover or you might find your claim is rejected.
3. Never Exchange Currency At The Airport
The airport is by far the most expensive place to change your foreign currency, so it’s worth planning to get the best rates and stretch your cash as far as it can go.
If you don’t have time to go to a bureau de change physically, many places let you order online for delivery providing you’re exchanging over a certain amount, usually the minimum is £100.
It’s worth noting though, that overall a travel debit or credit card typically offers the best rates.
Money Saving Expert has an excellent guide which should help you to decide what the best option for your circumstances might be: Top 5 exchange rate need-to-knows.
Related Post: How To Find Cheap Flights To Anywhere
4. Find Free Museums & Galleries
Almost every large town and city across Europe (and much of the rest of the world) has at least one or two museums and galleries that can be visited for free.
Even smaller destinations, like glenwood springs, offer hidden gems that can be explored at no cost. Many of these free attractions provide interactive exhibits or family-friendly displays that make learning fun for kids.
Spending a little time at each location can reveal unique local stories and traditions that you might not find in guidebooks. These experiences often spark curiosity in kids and can turn a simple visit into a memorable family adventure.
Doing plenty of research beforehand can help you find some of these hidden gems and you might be surprised just how much you learn about the history of the local area.
Even the biggest and most expensive cities have free museums for example, there are 11 free museums in Paris.
5. Take Advantage of Cheap Train Travel
Train travel in the UK is notoriously expensive.
It’s often cheaper to fly to a European city for a weekend than it is to travel by train to a city two hours away.
However, in many other countries, train travel is very cheap and a great way to explore many different locations when travelling on a budget.
Interailing is a popular choice for those wanting to travel across Europe.
While pass prices do vary by country, they are still relatively cheap. An eight-day pass to travel across Italy costs around £200 and includes other benefits such as discounts on city tours.
I hope these tips help you to save some cash while travelling abroad!
