The world is yours to explore – but often time and money are holding us back from reaching our true potential. Here are ten tips that can help you easily save money while you’re travelling. Feel free to leave comments with other tips and enjoy the photos 

1. Plan in advance
Preparation is necessary for planning trips. Not only will it help keep you organised, but it will also ensure that you find cheaper tickets. Book your flights, buses, trains etc a few months in advance before your trip to help you grab the best savings. Think through your accomodation plans as well – the longer you wait, the higher prices will be.
Although flight comparison websites can be great (e.g. www.kayak.com) be careful for hidden charges and cancellation fees. Often if you need to cancel a flight but have booked through aggregator sites, they make it very difficult for you to cancel. My advice: use websites like these to find the cheapest options BUT once you’ve found a good option, book it through the actual airline.

2. Choose country according to budget
If you’re looking for a cheap holiday, choose a place that has cheaper day-to-day expenses and has a weaker currency than your own. If you’re living in Singapore this is easy, as the neighbouring countries are generally cheaper (e.g. Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur).
Cheaper areas in the world are often less-travelled and therefore more off the beaten path. You’ll be less likely to fall into disapointing tourist traps and will be able to engage better with the local culture if you avoid big, popular and expensive cities.

3. Choose places where you know people
Visiting a place where you know someone is far superior than being a complete stranger to a place. Friends and acquaintances not only expose you to the best spots, but they know where and how to avoid rip-offs and unnecessary expenditures.

4. Check out couponing sites
Couponing sites are growing in popularity throughout the world and are great to look at a few months (and a few weeks) before you head out on your adventure. They can give you ideas of where to go (through their extensive lists of products and services) and simply provide fast and convenient ways of saving.
From cultural events to flights, hotels and dining, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the plethora of discounts they have on offer. I’d check out Flipit’s coupons and deals – a great couponing site for just this purpose. They are available in Singapore but also in 20 other countries, so it’s likely that they’ll have something for you and your travels.

5. Couch surfing
Accomodation is, after flights, what people end up spending the most on when they travel. I would recommend Couch Surfing, a free, online website where people offer beds or couches for travelling strangers who happen to be passing by their city. The hosts are generally very enthusiastic people who are keen on meeting passerbys and welcoming them to their city.

(Metro, Washington DC)
6. Travel by public transport or walk
Public transport is always cheaper than more private forms of getting around (like taxis). It’s also how the majority of the population of a given area gets around town, so you’ll be doing it like a local and directly participating in the geography of the place.
Walking is one of the most natural gifts we have as humans and a fantastic way to spend your time if you are travelling. It’s also free – so you’ll be saving money and getting a much better feel for the area you are in.

7. Find free entertainment
Everything tastes better when it’s free! Look on social media sites, ask your concierge, or chat up a randommer at the local pub to find out what you can do for free, or at least ask for activities that they would recommend.

8. Travel during the week
Flights and other forms of transport are more expensive during peak travel times (around weekends and rush hour) so avoid these times like the plague! If you can take the time off, travel during the week 

9. Slow down to smell the roses
Try not to cram too many excursions or trips within your holiday. Spend more time in less places and take a moment to breath. Instead of trying to see 5 cities in two weeks, bring that down to only 2 cities so that you’ll be able to see more within those places. This will not only help you spend less but will enahnce your overall travelling experience, because you’ll have time to stop and smell the roses.

10. Be flexible
Travel plans can change (even mid-travel) and you never know who you may meet or what sort of circumstances may arrise. Be willing to accept this fact and embrace it with open arms – a lof of what travel should be is embracing the unexpected. So keep your chin up and your arms and eyes open.