Top 10 Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

1) PLAN AHEAD. 

Planning is always the key. Know the best time to travel. Make sure you take advantage of off-season. Airline tickets, hotel bookings, and tourist destination' entrance fees are most likely cheaper during off-season. Travelling and staying during weekdays are likewise cheaper compared to weekend prices. Know first hand who you will be with, your destination, number of days you will stay, daily food budget, tourist spot entrance fees, and optional, the number of people who you will give presents from abroad or 'pasalubong'. Check your finances, create a timeline, and have a budget goal for your tour. 

2) CREATE A "DO-IT-YOUR-OWN" ITINERARY.

Avoid travel agency or any other tourist office room-finding services. This is one of the misconceptions from people travelling abroad. People usually feel that availing tour packages from travel agencies will be cheaper. But they got it all wrong. 

Travel agencies charge fees and generally won't offer the best available rates for rooms and tickets. They usually give high priced room rates with no discounts. Besides, if you go for an agency, you will most probably be with a group of strangers who availed the same tour. You wouldn't have any control of your time. You won't be able to relax and really enjoy your vacation if everything you do has time constraints.  

3) SELECT COST-EFFECTIVE DESTINATIONS.

There may be cheap airline tickets to Australia or Dubai, but pricey lodging, food and other expenses can weigh your budget down. But of course, if you can look for destinations with budget-friendly lodging and food expenses, aside from cheap airline tickets, then go for it! 

4) AVAIL PROMO FARE TICKETS.

Grab piso fare and other promo tickets once they are on sale. Airlines such as Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Tiger Airways, and Philippine Airlines, from time to time, offer cheap airline tickets.

5) TRAVEL LIGHT.

Be a backpacker. Or hand-carry your luggage. It will save time and money. You don't have to check in, neither fall in line nor wait for your luggage after arrival. You can go straight to immigration for clearance and leave the airport thereafter. Only 7kgs are allowed for carry-on luggage. Usually, airlines won't weigh in hand carry bags so no need to worry about it. 

6) CHOOSE YOUR BANK'S FOREX AS YOUR MONEY CHANGER.
I noticed the best money changer is BPI Forex. I tried BDO but they require you to be an account holder. They also ask for certain requirements such as airline tickets, hotel bookings, and passport. They also require you to notify them at least 2-3 weeks before your departure, especially if you are converting to third currencies (aside from USD). 

For BPI, even though you are not an account holder and you are converting to third currencies, they will allow you. They only require one valid ID upon claiming. No other requirements. But they may ask for what purpose is this. If you want to get it right away, you have to call them and make deposit before 11am. You will get the converted amount in the afternoon on the same day. Don't believe what their website says about their buying and selling rates. It is never updated. Go call them first and confirm the rates. Their rates are the best I guarantee. Below is their office:

BPI Forex

G/F BPI Main Branch, Paseo de Roxas Wing, BPI Head Office Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas Makati City, Philippines Tel. No. 816-9369, 8455432, 8455949

7) CHECK THE WEATHER.

Always consider the weather conditions of your place of destination. The last time I went abroad, we were stranded and almost missed our flight due to bad weather. Good thing a few hours before our flight, their operations resume. Our flight was delayed though. Imagine the nightmare if we have to stay for 1 more night. It will totally ruin your budget. We might end up being one of those TNTs or luckily be back here totally broke..lol

8) USE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES FOR INSIDER DEALS.

Social media sites such as twitter and facebook often share sales, discounts and promotional codes with their followers. Also, search for hashtags like #traveldeals. You would be surprised at the savings you may get from these.

9) CONTACT HOTELS DIRECTLY OR TRY ALTERNATIVE LODGING.

For best accommodation rates, look directly for sites like booking.com, agoda.com, tripadvisor, and the like. These sites usually provide discounted rates for their rooms, although mostly, maximum of 2 per room are allowed. If that is the case, contact the hotel directly through email or phone and ask for promotions and best deals available.

Or rather, don’t just search for hotels. Try looking for vacation rentals such as dorms, hostels, or apartments. They offer cheaper rates compared to hotels. 

10) GO FIRST WITH VISA-FREE COUNTRIES, BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE. 

Acquiring visa usually costs a lot and laborious. It would be better if you will settle first with visa-free countries before going to the others. I have listed down in a separate post the countries where Filipinos can visit without a visa for reference.