15 tips to keep the cost of city travel down

Travelling is expensive, yet few people can afford to pay for the entire trip out of their own pocket. For this reason, it is important to save up for your trip, but you should also make sure to keep costs down in an efficient way. In this article, we provide you with 15 ways to reduce your costs when travelling in the city.

1. go to a city you can afford to go to

It is cheaper to take a city break to Tallinn compared to Vienna. Therefore, if you have a small budget, choose a city that you don't have to travel far to visit and where the cost of living is low or at least humane.

2. Don't visit the tourist traps

The more tourists per capita, the more expensive the prices for both accommodation and restaurants. Therefore, when travelling in a city, if you want to save money, avoid spending money in places where there are many tourists. Of course, it's a good idea to visit popular places, but it's an even better idea not to eat or stay there. Walk five to ten minutes away and you'll notice that all prices are significantly lower.

3. Travel in the low season

If you take your city break in the off-season, there's no guarantee that all the shops will be open, or that the weather will be perfect. However, you'll avoid the crowds and save a lot of money that you can either put aside for new trips or spend at your destination.

4. Set a budget

Planning your finances is essential when it comes to saving money on your city trip. If you haven't planned how to spend your money, you may have to take out a quick loan, which usually has a high interest rate of between 10 and 40 per cent. However, taking a quick loan is a better idea than not being able to pay your hotel bill, but first check if your friends can lend you money instead.

At Snabblånen.nu you can compare fast loans, which are perfectly justifiable if you have no other option. But make sure you repay the loan quickly, as extending the repayment period afterwards is expensive for fast loans.

Note that you should also avoid travelling with borrowed money as this can cost you dearly later on if you cannot afford to pay off the debt once you return home. SvD has written a good article highlighting the fact that around one in five Swedes borrow money for their holidays.

5. book your trip well in advance

Booking a last-minute trip can be a good idea, but if you want to save money and feel confident that you'll actually get away, it's a good idea to book your trip at least a month in advance. Travel companies like predictability and will often reward you with a lower price if you book well in advance.

6. order flight tickets online

It is easy to compare prices for airline tickets online. You fill in a form indicating when you want to travel to your destination and when you want to return home. The comparison service then presents you with offers from several airlines, with information including the cost of the tickets and whether you have a stopover. Comparing airline tickets online is always free of charge and does not commit you to anything.

7. Do not fly at the weekend

It's almost always more expensive to fly on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, so book your flight between Monday and Thursday instead if you can get time off work. Your wallet will thank you if you choose to fly on a weekday.

8. Pack light but enough

You should not pack too few clothes, as you may have to buy more clothes in the city you are travelling to. But don't pack too many clothes either, as the airline may charge you a penalty. A typical maximum weight for a suitcase is 23kg.

9. Share a room with someone you know

Sharing a room with a friend is a good idea if you want to save money. What you save can be spent on an extra luxurious dinner, or on a different destination later in the year.

10. Buy a prepaid card

If you are travelling to a city in a non-EU or non-EEA country, buy a local prepaid card to avoid expensive roaming charges. Watching Netflix in 4K quality in a restaurant with no wifi can cost you thousands of pounds, so be sure to get a prepaid card that's affordable. 

A good tip is for one member of the travelling party to get a prepaid card with free surfing, and share it so that the rest of the party can connect. Of course, it's a nice gesture to give the person who buys the prepaid card a dinner and a few drinks for their trouble, or a coin.

11. cook the food yourself

Going to a restaurant is expensive. Especially in big cities where there are many tourists. Therefore, buying raw materials and preparing them in your hotel or hostel room is a good idea and will save you a lot of money.

12. Check your bank card's charges

A currency exchange fee of 1.75% and a withdrawal fee of around 2% is common for both credit and debit cards. Check the conditions of your card and use it correctly. If the withdrawal fee is 2% and the currency exchange fee is 1.75%, your purchases may be 3.75% % more expensive if you withdraw money from an ATM abroad. Instead, choose a card with lower fees to save money.

13. Bargain often and a lot

If you visit local markets, haggle on the starting price. Note that some traders refuse to sell products cheaply to tourists who are not tanned, as this is a sign that they are newcomers to the destination. If this is the case, sunbathe for a few days and buy the most expensive products last, just before going home.

14. Walk instead of taking a taxi

The wear and tear on your shoes is cheaper than the taxi fare. For this reason, walking instead of taking a taxi will save you money and give you exercise. 

15. Get a good insurance policy

With a generously designed travel insurance policy, you are entitled to compensation for, among other things, baggage delays, lost luggage, accidents, damage to rental cars and flight delays. Paying a few hundred dollars is worth it, as it provides you with comprehensive insurance against unexpected expenses that can cost a lot of money if you are uninsured.