Tips For Traveling and Hotels
April is a slow month for traveling, and international travel will not start again until 2020. Domestic tourism will become the priority. The world is too concerned with domestic security to worry about travel elsewhere. The recent crisis has left hotels in a worse situation than other businesses, especially since they have many employees. They need to stay agile to keep cash flowing. And there are several things you can do to ensure you don’t fall victim to the current situation.
Cost of living in a destination
While cost of living is often a major factor when looking to move overseas, it can be useful for planning an affordable vacation, too. Using the Expatistan’s cost of living calculator, travelers can determine the costs of traveling to various destinations. Traveling far from home means higher travel costs. A road trip to Canada or the Caribbean will be cheaper than a long flight to Europe. Likewise, renting a house in a destination will be cheaper than an apartment.
Cost of accommodation
While you can’t avoid the expense of accommodation when traveling, there are several ways to cut costs. Getting a group tour is a good option for a low-cost accommodation option. These tours are usually inexpensive and offer more flexibility than a single tour. You can also opt for short-term rentals rather than hotels. There are websites like Airbnb that let you search for short-term rentals all over the world. There are many benefits to choosing this option, and you won’t have to worry about booking a hotel room.
One way to cut down on costs is to get an RV, stay at a campground, or rent a longer-term rental home. The cost of accommodation when traveling is one of the most significant components of the overall travel budget. While some travelers prefer to splurge on fancy accommodations, others prefer to cut their expenses where possible. When traveling domestically, Americans typically spend about $87 per night and $33 per day. About 80% of their food budget goes to restaurants, leaving only six dollars for self-prepared food. In contrast, international trips cost an average of $35 per day, and nearly 90% of their food budget goes to restaurant meals.
Booking in advance
If you’re traveling, booking hotels in advance is a great way to avoid any last minute hassles. Visiting a destination without a hotel reservation can be stressful, and last minute booking can leave you with a room that is not available. Booking in advance ensures availability and can help you plan your trip better. Listed below are some tips for booking hotels in advance:
For the best prices, book as far in advance as possible. Spain and Italy are the best places to book in advance, while France and Germany are best for booking at least two to five weeks ahead. Usually, prices within these parameters are significantly below the average price for each month. The data is based on travel months from January to December over the last two years. Regardless of which time of year you travel, booking hotels in advance is a great way to find the lowest rates.
Guesthouses
When traveling and booking hotels, you may want to consider Guesthouses instead. Compared to hotels, they have lower overhead and are often run by local families. However, they don’t always come at a lower price than hostels. Depending on where you are traveling, guest houses may cost more or less than a local 2 or 3 star hotel. For this reason, it is important to research the costs of guest houses before making a booking.
While most guest houses have private rooms, you may still have to share a bathroom with other guests. This is common in mountain guest houses, where the bathrooms are either outside or sandwiched between two rooms. Be aware of any common etiquette, including using the bathroom in the shared areas. Some guest houses provide breakfast and dinner at certain times, while others don’t. A guest house’s staff will be able to help you plan your trip.