The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.
    Advertorial

    Travel Bugs: How to plan a value for money vacation?

    Synopsis

    Traveling is undoubtedly one of the most fulfilling ways to relax and unwind. Something about exploring a new place and meeting new people makes the entire experience extremely fulfilling.

    Travel Bugs: How to plan a value for money vacation?
    Traveling is undoubtedly one of the most fulfilling ways to relax and unwind. Something about exploring a new place and meeting new people makes the entire experience extremely fulfilling. However, traveling can also be one expensive affair. Whether it is the high-cost air tickets or the overpriced hotels, traveling, especially abroad has become one of the most challenging things to do on a tight budget. More often than not, we end up canceling the exorbitant travel plans, instead of thinking of ways to make it more economical. However, there are some simple tips that can help you in planning international vacations while keeping the 'value for money' factor in mind. Here is your guide on how to plan and enjoy a pocket friendly vacation abroad!

    1. Make off-season your best friend
    Traveling offseason has to be one of the simplest moves that will slash the cost of your international trip. Whether it is Hawaii in spring or London during Christmas, every location has a peak season when everything instantly gets expensive. Simple research will help you understand the peak timing of your destination and ensure that you save big bucks. Another simple trick is to look for destinations with a higher value of your currency and is in general cheaper. For example, traveling to countries like Bhutan, Costa Rica, Paraguay, etc will allow you to live lavishly while spending lesser as compared to a trip to the US, Canada, etc.

    2. Plan in Advance
    The key to making wise financial decisions on any front has always been planning in advance and travel is no different. While choosing any destination, do a complete research on the visa costs, ticket prices, boarding arrangements etc, well in advance. Checking for special offers and discounts on ticket booking websites will also allow you to save more. While there is no right or wrong time, planning at least 3-4 months in advance gives you enough time and opportunity to get the best deals on every front.

    3. Check for alternates to hotels
    Hotels are no longer the only alternative for a comfortable stay. Thanks to the popularity of economic hospitality services like AirBNB, affordable and comfortable stay options are no longer immensely expensive. If you are traveling alone, choosing to live in a hostel or homestay will be an easy way to save money and also allow you to get a better understanding of the local culture.

    4. Look for discounts
    While planning a pocket-friendly holiday it is important to remember that the words 'Free' and 'Discount' are like bread and water. While making your travel itinerary look for famous monuments which can be explored free of cost. There are various attractive deals on a tour package that includes major attraction and also covers the travel costs of reaching this destination. Opting for these tours will also help you to uncover the place in a much more economical way.

    5. Buy travel insurance
    The last point is perhaps the most important one in planning and enjoying a budget-friendly vacation, buying travel insurance. Travel insurance has always been something that we avoid or ignore, citing the extra few hundred that we have to shell out. However, buying travel insurance, much like any other insurance is the most important financial decision of a trip. From securing you for any medical emergency to providing a cushion in case of theft of passport or luggage, good travel insurance does it all and much more. Opt for Reliance Travel Insurance for instance, in addition to providing cover for any of these travel mishaps that can occur, the product also allows you to compare and choose plans based on your location and requirements.

    The Reliance Travel Insurance plans are available at best prices and cover the expenses of medical emergencies and also covers the expenses incurred because of delay or cancelation of flights. Reliance Travel Insurance allows us to compare different travel insurances offered by the company and make the most economic and relevant choice based on our needs. While the average travel insurance costing is priced between Rs 500 to Rs 2000¹ for a seven-day cover, the Reliance Travel Insurance plans begins as low as Rs 306². With the liberty to choose your own plan and insurance cover for a wide range of uncertainties, Reliance General Insurance policies have extremely high value for money and will make your travel plans more secure and safe without spending too much money.

    1- The price range is based on the average costs that are mentioned on competitors website.
    2- T&C applied


    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
    ( Originally published on Mar 20, 2018 )
    (This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on etspotlight@timesinternet.in)
    (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News Budget 2024 News, Budget 2024 Live Coverage, Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

    ...more

    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
    (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News Budget 2024 News, Budget 2024 Live Coverage, Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in