Holidays sound well and fun until it’s time to face the finances. Then the shock of how quickly costs stack up can hamper our initial excitement.

Travel without breaking the bank when you try these 7 cost-cutting ideas for your next trip.

1. Bring your own lunch

Let’s admit it: food sold in tourist attractions tends to be overpriced and bland. But when you’re a starving tourist in a remote location away from the city area, you don’t have much choice but to queue up and order.

Why not bring your own lunch? At your destination, make time to shop at the supermarket or buy takeaway food the day before visiting an attraction. Pack a lunch box from home to store food in your bag without making a mess. This method takes more effort and planning, but it can reduce your dining expenses especially in expensive cities.

2. Avoid tourist traps and explore free attractions

Other than the most popular tourist spots, are there other cities or areas in your destination that are worth visiting? Beat the FOMO (fear of missing out) and don’t feel obligated to “take attendance” at overpriced places where many tourists go. It can pay to stay off the beaten path and see a different perspective of the country you’re visiting.

Another tip is to visit free attractions (such as museums with no entry fees) or spend time doing free activities, such as taking a stroll in public gardens or playing by the beach, in favour of paid attractions that you’re 50-50 about.

3. Have an idea of how much things should cost

Look up the typical price ranges for common services in your destination country. How much should you expect to pay for a meal in a restaurant, famous souvenirs or the taxi fare to places you want to visit? This can give you confidence when haggling prices and help you avoid paying the dreaded “tourist tax”.

4. Join a loyalty programme for discounts

While you can book entry tickets or hotel stays directly, doing so via travel platforms such as Klook, Viator, Expedia and Booking.com allows you to accumulate loyalty points and enjoy discounts on future bookings.

Always compare prices. If the third-party offers the same or even cheaper rates, booking through them at least rewards you for your spending.

5. Pack light

Travelling light not only reduces your chances of having to pay excess baggage fees. It makes it easier for you to navigate public transport instead of relying on taxis.
Where the climate allows, pack light-weight clothing material and choose outfit items that are easy to mix and match. Put in your itinerary a laundromat stop so that you can make do with lesser clothes on longer trips.

6. Buy cheap flights

Flights tend to be one of the largest expenses for holidays. Booking cheap flights can help you save lots of money from the get-go.

7. Get travel insurance (+ limited time offer!)

With travelling comes unexpected expenses. Having a good travel insurance policy could help to cover some of these costs, for example if a delayed flight forces you to re-book parts of your itinerary.

The good news is that you can save even more money at the NATAS Travel 2023 event happening on 11 to 13 August 2023, where you can enjoy up to 35% off Etiqa’s Travel Infinite plan and get premium travel accessories as freebies when you sign up.

NATAS Travel 2023 details

Date: 11 to 13 August 2023

Venue: Singapore Expo Hall 4 & 5

Etiqa Booth number: 4H47 (hall 4) and next to Maybank (hall 5)

Admission is FREE. See you there!

Important Notes

Please refer to the Terms & Conditions set out in the Policy Wording for more details.

This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K), a member of Maybank Group.

This content is for reference only and is not a contract of insurance.

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

Information is accurate as at 8 August 2023.