7 Things Not Worth Cheaping out on When It Comes to Travel
Your Time
It’s tempting to save money over time, especially when traveling, but more often than not the trade-off is not worth the headache. Taking public transportation everywhere might work in a big city with an excellent transit system, but could take two or three times as long in smaller cities or rural areas.
Splurging on a taxi or private hire car can be worth its weight in gold in a particularly hard to navigate destination.
Flights with multiple connections cost less as well, but may leave you exhausted and impatient before you even hit the ground. Unless you plan on writing an entire short story while jumping from plane to plane, the added flight time isn’t worth the $50 to $100 in savings.
Single stop layovers are acceptable, but go for direct flights when possible to make the most of your travel plans.
Culture
For some, visiting a new place for the first time or even the thousandth time means hitting up every hip bar, Michelin-starred restaurant, and avant-garde theater. For others, it means avoiding those things at all costs in the interest of making their money stretch as long as possible.
Most of us fall somewhere in the middle on this spectrum, but the decision to spend on extras like entertainment and culture often comes down to budget.
We’re not suggesting spending money you don’t have to do all the must-see’s of a city, but there are certain experiences worth having. You may be committed to making your own sandwiches or stocking up on items to cook at your hostel during the week, but trying the gelato in Florence, wienerschnitzel in Vienna, or pad thai in Bangkok are absolutely essential.
Similar cultural experiences unique to a specific city or area of the world, especially those that only happen once a year, are worth saving a little bit longer for.
Knowing how to find the cheapest flights can save you tons of money on your trip. Learn how to score great deals so you can spend more money on experiences!
Travel Insurance
It’s an easy expense to overlook and deem unnecessary, that is, until you need it. Travel insurance seems like just another way for companies to make money in the hospitality and tourism industry, but it’s a lot more helpful than you might think.
For around $150 you can have emergency medical coverage up to $100,000. Many travel insurance policies also cover emergency evacuation coverage in case of a local or national incident while you’re visiting.
They also can cover trip cancellation for unforeseen circumstances and baggage damage. The truth is, you never know what might happen while you’re traveling so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, as they say.
