10 Bad Touristic Practices You Need To Drop
If you want to stop being an annoying tourist, you need to stop taking Instagram pictures of your meals. A pool that was conducted by the Teletext Holidays showed that it was the most annoying this that tourists do. This is important if you want to blend in the culture of the place you are visiting. But, if you want to save money, there are other habits that you need to drop right away.
Souvenirs
Don’t head right in the nearest souvenir shop. Those closer to important sights are more expensive. Pick up a pebble and write the year on it, instead. Buy local newspapers and bring them home as a souvenir.
Transportation
Don’t rent a car in Europe. Use public transportation and opt for discount cards that offer price reduction for museum entrances and free rides in public transportation. Most European cities have them.
Baggage
Don’t buy your plane ticket and then pack the bags. A lot of companies charge for baggage. Read through their baggage policy before purchasing the ticket. Packing into one bag can mean tons of difference.
Peak Season
Don’t travel during peak season. Everything is more expensive then. Transportation, accommodation, even tickets to certain events. Target shoulder seasons and find out when they are for your planned destination.
Payment Plans
Don’t just compare prices in several agencies and pick the cheapest one. There are many deals and discounts for those who pay all in advance. Choose awesome payment options like Travel Pay to pay everything in advance and then pay them back in monthly rates.
Currency
Don’t exchange your money without research. Figure out if it is cheaper for you to exchange money at home or at your destination. What seems like a small difference on paper may end up saving you hundreds.
Accommodation
Don’t rent accommodation near tourist attractions. If you book your accommodation at a nearby town in Europe, it is likely that it will be two times cheaper than the one in the touristic center and that it will take you 20 minutes by bus to reach the big city. It’s worth researching.
Food and Drinks
Don’t eat only in your hotel. Breakfast is all you need from your hotel. Even that can be found cheaper in local bakeries. You will be walking and sightseeing throughout the day. This means that the money is wasted on dinners and lunches. Pack the lunch and check out local eateries.
Deals and Discounts
Don’t agree to the first price. There are specific sites that have flash offers about deals and discounts on travels. There are really useful but you need to be prepared to react instantly.
Social Networks
Don’t overlook specific social networks. You can save on transport by carpooling with somebody. There are tons of sites that offer this service. AirBnb can be useful if you want a cheaper accommodation. You can ask somebody from Couchsurfing to show you around, rather than paying for a guide. It will be more authentic and you’ll make friends.
Saving money means putting in some effort. The best thing you can do to save your wallet and your budget is to plan ahead and do your research. It may sound boring, but you’ll soon realize that it is actually fun and interesting.
