Five ways to save money while travelling

Planning a trip on a budget? We’ve got some awesome trip ideas, but here are a few other helpful hints:

1  If you’re flying, travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

To save additional costs, you can also plan to travel in the off-season, otherwise known as shoulder season.

2  Consider cheaper accommodations.

Hotels can be pricey! Look at hostels or college and/or university dormitories to save money.

3  Stretch your dollar.

Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico are all places where the currency is of a lesser value compared to the Canadian dollar.

4  Book through a travel agent.

Contrary to popular misconception, you don't pay extra money to book through an agent. Promotions, inside tips, exploring options and comparison shopping are just a few of the ways travel agents can help!

5  Do some advanced planning.

Plan the first couple of days of your trip so you know right away where you're staying and what you're doing. Once you're more familiar with the destination, then you can afford to be more spontaneous. You don't want to show up in a strange destination with no place to stay, because then you're going to pay top dollar just to find a room.

About the expert:

Kelly Bullen is a faculty member in Fanshawe’s School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts. She is a graduate of Fanshawe’s Tourism and Travel Counsellor program and has been a travel agent for 30 years.