Traveling on a budget, or at least trying to travel on a budget? We’ve all been there at least once in our lives. TripAdvisor, one of the world’s best and foremost travel information and booking websites, is just the place to head to. Not only is it a one-stop shop for looking for and booking hotels, restaurants, transportation, and activities, but TripAdvisor’s budget travel tips are invaluable. In fact, they not only dish out tips, tricks, and hacks for snagging and booking hotels on a budget, but also for flights, activities, and tours as well. All in all, they offer the biggest perk of traveling for less — being able to afford even more adventures on travelers’ wish lists! Here’s a detailed guide to the best TripAdvisor hacks on choosing affordable stays, flights, and more, and saving on your next getaway.
Also read: How to Use TripAdvisor to Plan Your Entire Trip.
Consider Extended Stays
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We begin with what is one of TripAdvisor‘s top tips for budget travel, especially if you’re planning a getaway that lasts more than 2-3 nights of stay. In that case, considering an extended stay hotel is a great idea. Unlike traditional resorts and hotels, most extended stay hotels are priced much lower and also give out lower rates for week-long and even month-long stays. Hence, you won’t have to shell out sky-high rate hikes over prime days such as weekends and even holidays or celebrations. Additionally, extended stay hotels come with money-saving amenities such as free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, access to vending machines and convenience stores, and the presence of kitchens or kitchenettes, which is a great idea if you want to save on food.
Another useful budget tip for any kind of stay is hotels offering discounts from the third night onward for stays that are longer than two nights.
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Check Out TripAdvisor’s Travel Forums
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One of the best features of the TripAdvisor website is the “Forums” section, which TripAdvisor widely encourages its users to follow and look at when planning vacations. You can browse the forums by destinations, especially if you’re still deciding about where to go. Furthermore, you can also browse by theme, such as honeymoon travels, traveling with pets, and, the most important of them all, bargain travel.
These forums cover a range of topics and questions asked by travelers from all over the world. They cover not only budgeting and planning, but also information surrounding air travel, stays, activities, and tours, and even car rentals and transportation. So, if your question is already answered, all you need to do is click on the topic and read all of them. If you don’t find your question, you can ask it by starting a new discussion. These forums are invaluable, as they include even detailed questions about free things to do, how to avoid weekend rates, cheap local transport, and local tipping culture.
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Check For Specific Amenities
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One of the primary pieces of advice about travel that anybody will give you is to travel light. This is mostly to stay within the limits of the airline’s weight limits and size requirements. However, that means that you’ll be traveling with limited clothes, especially if you’re on an extended trip. That’s why, looking for certain amenities at hotels on TripAdvisor is a great way to stay within budgets for the entire trip. We aren’t talking about special amenities, but rather some widely-offered ones now, like laundry facilities. That means that you don’t have to worry about carrying a lot of luggage, allowing you to choose flights that are relatively cheaper.
Another amenity to look for is free Wi-Fi, which many properties, even smaller ones, offer now. Paid wi-fi can be quite expensive, especially across some chain properties. Before you travel, think carefully about what you really need from your travel, what you can do to reduce your costs, and book flights, hotels, and activities accordingly.
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Plan For Food
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When you’re on vacation, eating out for every meal could make a serious dent in your travel budget. However, with a little preparation, you can save money, not have to sacrifice your budget, and still enjoy some local meals outside. For one, it’s a great idea to look for hotels or stays that have access to kitchens or kitchenettes. These typically are extended stay hotels and suites which have full kitchens with microwaves, fridges, stoves, cutlery, coffeemakers, and tons of counter space and cabinets. So, with a little bit of planning and local grocery store shopping, you could eat healthy meals and even some comfort foods right at home.
Additionally, TripAdvisor is a great source for amazing local restaurants as well. Do some research beforehand and explore the eateries in the neighborhood you’re going to stay in. You could filter by price and choose cheap eats to draw up a list of the best affordable eateries in the neighborhood. Heck, you might even end up discovering some hidden gems in the neighborhood.
With the money that you’ll save on dining in during your stay, you can spend it eating meals outside but without breaking the bank.
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Keep An Eye Out for Deals and Discounts
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One of the best features about TripAdvisor is that it features discounts and deals directly on its website and mobile app. It offers discounts and deals on flights and stays, and even things to do from time to time on its Articles’ page, under the Discover tab. You can directly use the discount to book the stay, flight, or activity that you want to book, or you could use an offered deal to compare prices across stays, flights, and activities to find the ones that suit you best. Additionally, TripAdvisor also has a new loyalty program called TripAdvisor Rewards. One can sign up for free and become a member, thus earning 5% back in “Trip Cash” on eligible hotel and experience bookings in the United States.
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Check Out TripAdvisor’s Reviews
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Last but not least, one of the best ways to travel on a budget is simple: read reviews on TripAdvisor. The website is known for detail and depth in its reviews, especially since it specifies specialized travel features in its reviews. TripAdvisor’s filtering options in its reviews are particularly excellent, so you can filter reviews of hotels, restaurants, and activities by budget travel or cheap stays/eats. Plus, you can also filter by specific amenities such as free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, kitchenettes/kitchens, vending machines, included breakfasts, etc. and make an informed budget travel choice. Moreover, TripAdvisor’s reviews are highly detailed and verified, making it ideal for budget travelers who are seeking comprehensive feedback before they make an informed booking.
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Is there a fee to use TripAdvisor?
No. Signing up for a TripAdvisor account and using it to look for hotels, flights, and activities is completely free.
Does TripAdvisor have an FAQ page for budget travel?
While Tripadvisor doesn’t have an FAQ page answering questions about budget travel, they do offer advice and tools for budget-conscious travelers through a bunch of features. These include community forums for asking questions and reading about budget tips, price comparison tools for stays and flights, and budget-friendly hotel filters.
Does TripAdvisor offer discounts and sales?
Yes, TripAdvisor offers discounts on stays and flights from time to time. Keep checking their Articles page on the Discover tab.
Some images on this article are copyrighted by TripAdvisor.
