Once we’ve booked our holidays, we think we’ve got a pretty good idea of the total price. We know the accommodation cost and the price of the plane tickets. But, of course, there are a lot of other little expenses that really add up when we’re on holiday. After our first day in a new place, we begin to realise that all the cost of that first day needs to be stretched across the rest of our visit. We start to make cost-cutting plans.

One of the great things about going on holiday is that we have a chance to explore a place thoroughly. But once we start cutting costs, we tend to stop travelling around so much. We stick to the places we went to on the first day or two. The key to avoiding this is to cut the costs of other things, so you can put a bit more money into travel. And even then, there are loads of ways to save money on travel!

Cutting those other costs: staying at a holiday apartment

Holiday rentals have been extremely popular over the last few years. It’s not hard to see why. While we love the “unreality” that a hotel room can provide us, there’s nothing quite like having your own space on holiday. No-one has to come into your room to replace towels. You won’t be disturbed by guests in the next room.

Another perk is the fact that you often get your own kitchen. Do not underestimate the power of this! By having your own kitchen and cooking your own meals, you will save extraordinary amounts of money.

Week-long travel passes

Why buy a train ticket every time you need to use the subway? Just because you’ve slashed your food costs, doesn’t mean you should go crazy with travel purchases. Your funds can deplete just as quickly if you’re not careful!

As soon as you can, speak to train station staff about ways to save money on train travel. They will probably recommend that you get an unlimited travel pass for a week. These are often very affordable! British holiday goers in particular usually skip travel passes. They’re so used to being charged extortionate fees for them back home. Don’t make this mistake!

Travelling by car

If you need to get to a specific location very quickly and can’t deal with navigation, a car is usually best. It’s also a great way to observe the city. The subway doesn’t really offer you any views!

Of course, we know that traditional cab prices are hardly friendly to the wallet. You should research ways to save money on car travel when you’re abroad. You could find a good deal on car rental. You could also see if you can find something like an Uber promo code online.

Tour bus

This one is a bit cheeky, but I’ve used it in the past to great effect. Tour buses are aimed specifically at tourists. As such, they’re often very cheap and easy to use. Tour bus passes are often the cheapest travel method in a city.

Check the route that a particular tour bus takes. If it’s stopping off at places you want to visit, why not use it? Even if you don’t particularly want the “tourist tour” experience, it’s still a great way to save money. I did it during an entire week stay in Hollywood once – I saved tons!