Arizona Tribune - 6 Ways to Afford an International Trip on a Budget

When it comes to travel, it's important to know when to save and when to spend. If you need help covering a big expense, a $10,000 personal loan is one way to get the money you need up front and pay it back in more manageable monthly payments.

Keep reading for six ways to afford an international getaway that won't break the bank.

Plan your spending ahead of time

Even budget-friendly trips usually come with some larger expenses, such as flights, hotel deposits and travel gear. Planning for those costs early on can keep them from catching you off guard.

Creating a clear budget can help you figure out how much items cost, how much you feel comfortable spending and give you enough time to save up for your trip. Hopefully, making a financial plan ahead of time will also keep you from overspending as you travel. Consider building your budget around these main categories:

• Flights and transportation
• Lodging
• Food and dining
• Activities
• Travel insurance

Once you have a target spending amount, you can start saving smaller sums of money each month as part of your travel fund, which can make the total cost less overwhelming. An extra financial cushion is also never a bad idea in case you run into any surprises while you're abroad.

Travel during the offseason

Timing your travel can make a huge difference in how much your international trip costs. Flights and hotels are often less expensive when you avoid peak travel months during the summer or around major holidays. You'll probably also avoid the large crowds, which can make popular destinations more enjoyable, easier to navigate and less of a headache when it comes to dining out or sightseeing.

If you have some flexibility, try booking your trip during the shoulder season, which is the stretch just before or after peak times, so you can make the most of your destination.

Research flight options

Airfare is often one of the most expensive parts of an international trip, so putting in a little extra effort here may pay off. Prices shift constantly, so it can help to start looking early and to compare options before you commit to a flight.

A few tips that may help you find low airfare prices:

• Book several months in advance.
• Keep your travel dates flexible.
• Fly during the week instead of on weekends.
• Look for flights to less popular airports near your destination.
• Use points or miles if you have them.

Any of these tips could help you save on flights so that you have more money to spend when you land.

Look for affordable lodging

While staying at a big resort or a boutique hotel can be a nice way to travel, there may be more cost-effective local options depending on where you're headed. Look into apartment rentals, guesthouses, hostels or even home swaps. Staying somewhere with a kitchen where you can prepare a few meals can also bring down your food costs over the course of the trip.

Eat like a local

Dining out for every meal can make a serious dent in your budget, especially in popular or tourist-heavy areas. One simple tip is to eat where the locals eat. Street stalls, open-air markets and small family-run restaurants often serve delicious meals at a fraction of the price. You may even find a hidden gem.

You could also grab items from a grocery store or market and prepare a daily breakfast or picnic lunch, saving your dining budget for a few special dinners.

Find free or low-cost activities

Some of the best travel experiences don't cost anything. Many cities have free walking tours, museums with free or reduced admission on certain days and public parks you can explore on your own.

Before you leave for your trip, make a list of low-cost activities that interest you, such as seeing a city by bike, creating your own food tour or sketching a well-known monument. That way, you can enjoy plenty of memorable moments without feeling pressure to pay for every excursion.

Get excited for your budget-friendly adventure

An international trip doesn't have to be pricey. With some planning, budgeting and flexibility, you can experience a new part of the world without emptying your wallet. A trip that still leaves ample room in your budget for your monthly necessities, like credit card bills and pool loan payments, is often more rewarding than a splurge you need to scramble to recover from.

Keep an open mind and turn that far-off dream into a trip you'll actually take - and enjoy every minute of it.

Contact Information:

Name: Nagarameshwar J.
Email: [email protected]
Job Title: Director

SOURCE: OneMain Financial

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

K.Hill--AT