About one in 10 Americans have never left the comforts of their home, according to a recent travel survey. The poll also learned that 76 percent among the 2000 respondents want to travel more and see some of the most beautiful travel destinations at least once in their life. However, they feel that they do not have enough funds or are ill-equipped with the knowledge about proper traveling. If you are one of those who need some advice about how to start planning your trip, here are several travel hacks for booking your ideal travel getaway.
Find Travel Inspirations Online
One of the first things that you need to do before booking your vacation is to get as much information as you can about your destination. You must have an idea about the best options to reach the place, what to expect as soon as you arrive, the kinds of accommodation and transportation available, as well as the activities that you can do while you are there. Fortunately, there are lots of information online. You can easily browse through the numerous travel blogs written by people who already experienced travelling to your dream destination and follow their tips. This will help you customize your own trip according to your desire.
Know The Best Time To Book For Your Trip
If you have not traveled before, you need to know that the ticket prices for flights vary everyday. That means the price that you will pay on a Tuesday may not be as high as the amount that you will pay on a Thursday. The price may also drop late in the day. That is why expert travelers usually book their flights in the afternoon to avoid paying more in the morning.
Select An Affordable Accommodation
If you have a limited travel budget but would want to experience everything that your dream destination has to offer, then you must look for a reasonably-priced accommodation. Most of the time, hotels located on the prime spots have ridiculously high rates. If you want to allocate more budget for shopping or other activities, you might want to try booking a place outside the touristy spots or choose to stay at a hostel, vacation rentals, or homestays. Fortunately, there are a lot of websites like Airbnb and booking.com that have a wide database of accommodation options that will suit your needs.
Explore The Local Markets
It could be tempting to buy all the cute souvenirs that you can find in the biggest shopping streets in your destination. But remember, these items may have a steep tag price because it is being offered in the flashy tourist spots. If you want to have the same items without putting a dent in your pocket, you might want to check out the places where the locals do their shopping. You can also taste the most delectable local dishes in small local eateries that may cost a lot if you will order it in tourist-friendly restaurants. These places may be outside the usual touristy destinations, but the act of going there and seeing how the locals normally interact with each other can also be an adventure in itself.
Look For Free Things To Do
Open your search bar and research about the free activities offered in your dream destination to know the schedule and location of the free-walking tours, complimentary food tasting, and other fun things that you can do. If you are lucky, you might also find a good show or experience a local festival without paying a single cent. Just take note of the time and place where these free activities are being held so you will not miss it.
Aside from doing all these things, you can definitely have an unforgettable vacation in your dream place by downloading digital guides in your smartphones. You can use these if you think you are getting lost or if you run out of ideas to spend your time while waiting for the day to end. Most importantly, you need to be confident about your travel plans and make the most out of your trip so will have a lot of great stories to tell to your loved ones back home. It may also inspire you to book more flights in the future.
