Money is something that often stands in the way of people having a great vacation. What if we told you that your financial situation doesn’t have to stop you from having a good time, though? It turns out that there are more than enough ways to save money on your travels, so you don’t have to think about being on a budget the whole time.

Be open to accommodation choices

The accommodation will easily be one of the biggest money drains on your vacation. So, to stop this from sucking up too much of your cash, it’s worth being open about where you stay. Look into all possibilities when you travel, from hotels and hostels to B and Bs and beyond. Obviously, you’ll need to consider what you’re comfortable with. Sometimes, the extra money may be worth the added comfort and security. However, simply by shopping around, you’re more likely to find a good deal.

Find a good exchange rate

If you’re traveling abroad, something you’ll need to consider is the exchange rate. You’ll have to convert your money to the local currency, which may help or hinder you. The wise thing to do is book a vacation somewhere that usually works out in your favor. The further your money can go on your vacation, the more you’ll be able to do. That typically means considering destinations that aren’t the most popular with tourists because everything’s likely to be more affordable.

Avoid the extras

When you’re on vacation, you want to enjoy yourself as much as possible. You also want to sample the local culture, which is why eating out is a good idea. However, this obviously costs money, so you need to find ways to keep the bill affordable. Ditching things like starters/desserts and sticking to one drink can definitely help with this. Individually, those things aren’t a huge expense. However, if you go out every other night and buy them, they’ll quickly amount to a lot of money.

Follow the locals

No one knows what places are affordable better than the people who live in the area. It’s always worth asking the locals where they’d recommend going for an authentic experience that won’t break the bank. Their suggestions will likely be smaller establishments that don’t have much of a public presence. However, this is perfect because it means they won’t charge high prices to take advantage of tourists.

Plan everything beforehand

You don’t really want to think about budgeting on your vacation, which is why it’s worth ironing everything out beforehand. If you plan through all the expenses and work out what’s a reasonable amount to spend per day, you won’t need to worry about it so much once you get on that plane. Sure, you won’t be able to forget about the budget completely. However, you’ll be less likely to waste money here and there because you’ve already thought everything through.

Saving money on vacation can feel like a major hassle, but it doesn’t have to when you’ve got these tips to help you.