5 Simple Ways To Travel Cheap This Holiday Season!

 

Hello December! 😀 It’s officially my favorite time of year! This is when, for some wonderful unknown reasons, life takes on a laid-back feeling and people are more cheerful and carefree. 🙂

For most people, this is also when travel plans begin to take shape…

 

I bet you probably have your leave-form filled, in advance and your mind is already on vacation…? I feel you completely. 😀

 

 

Have you been saving for this busy month of travel… Yes? Cheers to you! No? Don’t worry if you are trying to fit in all your travel plans into your budget. I’ve got your back! 😉

 

Getting There: Be Flexible About Your Means of Travel

One of the main reasons travel seems expensive, is the travel-related costs… Have you considered all the possible means of reaching your destination?

 

 

Can you carpool with friends, or take a cheaper train? Perhaps you plan on flying there; consider taking connecting flights which are cheaper than direct flights.

Try surfing through Skyscanner or Google Flights, to get the cheapest flights’ deals, delivered to your inbox.

 

 

Alternatively, have your travel agent on standby to slip you into any flight cancellations- you may end up with a good bargain.

What is affordable for one destination, will be different for another… The key to making this work is flexibility, research and planning ahead…

 

Where To Stay: Throw Away The Proverbial Box….

More often than not, this will take up the bulk of your travel budget….

Let’s think outside the box for a minute… Better yet, throw away that box! 😀 There are numerous, cheaper alternatives that may fit within your budget…

Have you tried Airbnb, for instance? With its presence in 191 countries & growing in network in Kenya, you will not fail to find something affordable.

Another save is to try out self-catering villas or cottages that will accommodate you and your travel party.

 

 

Look up home-stays or even people who put up their houses for rent over the holidays… And if you can stay with friends or family when you travel, even better! 😀

Camping is also quite popular in Kenya, spanning from bare minimum to ‘glamping’. Additionally, our National Parks offer self-catering bandas at affordable costs…

 

And if you are super adventurous, try Couch Surfing. This is where you sign up to stay on someone’s couch in your destination city or country…at no cost.  It’s quite a daring adventure, but hey! 😀

Take your time to compare prices across the board & don’t forget to ask for discounts… 🙂

 

 

Going Local Will Never Go Out Of Style!

Did You Know?? Each county in Kenya has a Local Tourism office… Yup! And boy do they have a wealth of travel information and resources! 😀

On a recent visit to Laikipia, I was surprised to learn just how much information their Tourism Office has.

They’ve even published a ‘Places to stay’ brochure with a map, information on lodges, adventure safaris… you name it! 😀

 

Going local means you will discover gems that most people don’t know about & possibly land some exciting deals….

 

Tip: Research the Local travel agencies at your destination. We discovered that agencies on the ground, tend to get way better deals, especially with the increasing focus on local Kenyan travelers.

 

Things To Do On Your Vacay: Plan Ahead!

We all look out for different things when we go on holiday… For some of us, a vacation means sitting by the pool sipping on cool drinks… While for others it means adventure and thrill-seeking activities.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: WANJIKU THUO & ERIC VATETA

 

Wherever you fall, it helps to plan in advance for your trip.

I’ve observed that some hotels are all-inclusive, meaning that they offer activities like tours for their clients at no cost. With others, this is an additional cost to you.

Some things to consider as you choose your holiday destination:- availability of facilities like a swimming pool; activities like- game drives, beach walks, boat rides; & accessibility to tourist attraction sites.

Tip: Find out what is included in your package and whether you can negotiate activities into your overall charge, as it can be a huge save.

 

Kids? Travel With Friends & Get Group Discounts!

One of my friends who has toddlers recently told us: ‘when you travel with kids, it’s their holiday, and not yours to enjoy.’

I bet this rings true for most parents, if not all…

That statement got me thinking…. So what happens when you can only afford to go away once a year for instance?

This is where your friends who have kids come in handy… 🙂

Synchronize your plans, and travel as a group… This way, your kids will have other kids to hang out with, which might reduce your spend if you keep them busy in one place.

 

Tips:

• Remember to check whether your hotel has kid-friendly activities…
• Carry board/card games to help keep the kids occupied & the adults sane, when it comes to it 😀

 

The beauty of traveling with friends is that you can enjoy greater discounts when you book as a group. Plus, you can have days where one family takes care of the kids, while the other adults take some time off to enjoy the vacation. 🙂

 

 

Bonus Tip: Just Save Your Coins & Travel In January!

The truth is, everyone will be scrambling to travel this December… and you’ll most likely spend top *dollar for your holiday.

How about changing things up and traveling in January, when the prices have taken a nosedive? 😀

It might take some fore-planning, but any time after 5^th January is a travelers’ haven.

 

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Cheers to you for reading- I appreciate you! I hope you find these tips helpful as you plan out your December travel plans! 🙂

Feel free to add your own travel tricks and tips or questions in the Comments’ section below! Or simply say hello! 😀 I love reading from you!

In the meantime, have yourself a spectacular new month, may it be a colorful season of cheer and love!

 

P.S. Don’t keep it to your lovely yourself> Share, Share Share 😉

 

<Sending You Love & Light .Stay Inspired Always>