Travel On The Cheap: 5 Tips For A Wallet-Friendly Vacation

With the vacation season coming up, it’s time to start planning a great and affordable holiday and Bangkok may just be the destination for that! With countless spectacular attractions, it has always been known as one of the world’s best travel destinations.

Planning a wallet-friendly vacation is not impossible. With these 5 tips, achieve a stress-free holiday by getting the most bang for your Baht:

1. The early bird gets the worm

When you travel and when you book a flight makes a huge difference in the money you save. Choose to travel during non-peak periods, such as before or after school holidays, as the fares can be significantly cheaper than peak periods. Once you have decided when you want to travel, buy your flight ticket as early as possible. Being late in the game can cost you a lot of money. If you’re willing to put in a little time and effort, you could save big on your next flight!

2. Lower your biggest cost – airfare

Keep an eye out for promotions to get really cheap flights. Airlines like AirAsia who already offer cheap fare frequently run promotions for even cheaper flights. Just remember point one – plan early!

Another way to save on air fare is to make use of the latest promotion offered by Standard Chartered WorldMiles Card, where you can get the second ticket for 50% — with FireFly, Malindo Air and Qatar Airways (limited time only).

You can also collect WorldMiles to exchange for flight tickets. Every RM2 spent overseas will get you 3 WorldMiles, while every RM3 spent locally will earn 1 WorldMiles. These WorldMiles can then be converted to air miles of your frequent flyer programme at 2 WorldMiles for 1 air mile. You could easily use these bonus BIG points to pay for your tickets to and fro without actually paying a single sen!

3. Consider other accommodation options that may be cheaper than a hotel

Most hotels charge for things you don’t need – like housekeeping, room service and concierge services while you may not have a chance to use. If you are planning to go for adventures and explore, you won’t have time for all of these facilities. So, why pay for them?

With homestay and AirBNB, you have more options to compare and find a cheaper accommodation option for your holiday.

An average four-star hotel located in Sukhumvit can cost about RM453 a night. If you are travelling in a group, you can double or triple this amount depending on the number of rooms you need.

A 2-bedroom apartment in Sukhumvit cost RM464 a night, and it can accommodate up to 6 people. This is definitely more value for your money for group travel.

4. Smart sightseeing with online coupons and discounts

Now that flight and accommodation are taken care of, it’s time to fill your days in Bangkok with myriad of exciting sightseeing activities and adventures without breaking your budget.

Start with doing your research online to find the best deals. For example, a Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour in Bangkok ranges from RM123 to RM273 for one pax. If you keep an eye out and plan ahead you’ll be able to gather up a whole lot of deals to save on your trip.

5. Save on transportation by choosing a strategically located accommodation

Commuting can be one of the biggest expenses when travelling. Since you’re being smart with your accommodation, getting one in a strategic location will definitely save you even more money.

Locations such as Sukhumvit is a great place to stay as it is close to major shopping malls, business centres and eateries. You can conveniently travel within the city with ease via the BTS Asok Station and MRT Sukhumvit Station, which are all within walking distance.

Going to Chatuchak Market is way cheaper with the convenience of BTS or MRT. From BTS Asok station, it is only 12 stations away from Mo Chit station (the nearest BTS station to Chatuchak Market), at THB42.

If you took a cab, the fare from Asok to Chatuchak would cost about THB122 (RM14.40), according to Taxi Auto Fare.

These smart travel tips can help you save more money to splurge on sightseeing, shopping and even another getaway! With money tight and cost of living high, it may be tough to travel abroad and have an enjoyable holiday but it is not impossible if you focus on getting the most out of your money.

 

* Rates from XE Currency Converter on September 13, 2016.