Sadly, for the majority of us there are times when a luxury holiday just isn’t an option. Unfortunately, the lack of funds does little to satiate the desire to get away from it all and recharge those batteries. It’s fortunate that there are a number of sensible decisions that you can make which minimise your need for lots of cash and mean that you can set off on that holiday that you so desperately need. How I hear you ask? It’s simple, get online, look for the cheapest car hire you can find and then plan your dream road trip. Here are a few tips to help you budget.
Be choosey with your dates
If it’s a cheap-as-chips holiday that you are after then the last thing that you should do is go in peak season. Select a time when you won’t be surrounded by other tourists in every place you stop off and when prices won’t have been hiked up to make the most of the deep-pockets of the tourists pouring into each and every resort town. If you must go during school holidays try and go at the very beginning or the very end.
Eat and drink as the locals do
Food and drink is always a big outgoing. You can keep these costs to a minimum by being slightly more selective with where you dine. Try to avoid the tourist traps which serve roast dinners, English breakfasts and bangers and mash and instead, eat at the restaurants which you can see are full of locals. Not only will you get to taste different things but you are guaranteed tastier, fresher produce as locals are only going to eat in places that are the best value for money. If eating out isn’t an option on your budget – get yourself to the local supermarket and stock up there.
Really explore
We know that it is easy to stick to tried and tested routes but if you venture a little further afield prices will start to plummet. In all of the major towns, cities and resorts prices are set with the “tourist pound” in mind. Business owners are savvy enough to have figured out that they can set the prices high and people will still pay up, so you really can’t blame them. Smaller towns and villages away from the well trampled tourist trail are far more likely to be better value for money so make sure that you make the most of your car and investigate those little towns that you would normally just drive on by.
Camp
Although it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you are happy to pitch your tent and fire up the camping stove, you will surprised to see how much money you can save. A tent pitch is far cheaper than a hotel room and as you’re in a car you haven’t got to worry about lumping all the gear around. Camp sites are friendly places as well (probably because they lack walls) so you are sure to share some laughs with some of your fellow campers.