Summer holidays are here! And travelling smartly can make you richer not only on the experience but also financially. Here are some ways to travel economically.

Choose wisely

Travelling during peak seasons is sure to cost you more, as flight tickets and hotel tariffs will be double at these times.

So to save some money, try offbeat locations. Places like Thailand and Malaysia that are desperately trying to push their tourism would definitely save you more than choosing a heavily in-demand place like Dubai. Similarly, a hill station will be expensive in summer.

Next, plan your vacation at least two-three months in advance to get better air fares and cheaper hotel bookings.

Always compare the rates offered by travel booking websites and those offered directly by the airlines. The airline you choose also makes a difference.

For instance, a round trip from Chennai to Singapore would cost around ₹14,000 if booked through Air Asia, while Malaysian Airlines would charge around ₹20,000 (for advance bookings). Flights with stopovers also save you money. Another way to get hold of cheaper tickets is to travel on weekdays.

Apart from flight costs, a large chunk of your travel expenses goes towards hotel stays, so choose wisely. Going for package options like travel plus accommodation is advisable.

A hotel situated in a prime location is likely to be more expensive than one in the suburbs.

Hotels offering added amenities are usually expensive than the regular ones. So, hunt for hotels without frills like free Wi-Fi, if you can do without them. Home stays and guesthouses are a great way to save as well as to get a rich experience.

Earn reward points

Use credit cards for all travel-related expenses. You get a free 30-40 days credit window, depending on your billing cycle. Secondly, you can accumulate reward points and cash-back offers.

If you are using travel-themed credit cards, apart from the regular reward points, you get free air miles, which can be used for your future ticket purchases, though these come with time limits. Co-branded cards are a boon for frequent travellers with advantages such as special rewards, services, hotel discounts and discounts on shopping.

But when travelling abroad, prepaid travel cards work well. They can be loaded with the currency of your choice. It makes your travel risk-free as you are not carrying cash in hand and also shields you from exorbitant exchange rates. Travel cards can be used for shopping, cash withdrawals at international ATMs, online payments etc, and have low joining fee.

The writer is CEO, BankBazaar.com

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