Are you really looking for free stuff for your vacation or looking for ways to save money for your next big trip?
We’ve put together a final list of vacation freebies and money saving strategies to help you save cash on your next trip. So just see explore other countries and save some pennies!
Ways to Save Money before you Leave
Use Comparison Site and Book as Early as you Can
One of the biggest costs of your trip is undoubtedly the cost of your flight. You can better book in advance and always use the airline comparison site to compare the prices of different airlines that make that route. Remember to be interested in airline sales!
Also, be sure to clear your browser’s cookies before booking any flights. If you visit that site many times the airline websites will often raise the price of the flights.
Don’t forget to check out our previous blog post on how to get flights for free. There are a lot of businesses that offer shortcuts on how to get extra air miles without even going on a plane, so make sure you have something you can do before you book.
Undecided / fuss over the location of your next trip?
Sky scanner has a feature to fly anywhere, showing cheap flights from your nearest airport.
Always book accommodation prices quickly before booking to see if your flight fits your budget. There is no point in booking a super cheap flight if your hotel is very expensive and you have nowhere to stay!
Get the Best Price by Using Hotel Comparison Sites
Not everyone in this planet knows about this.
But hotels often put their rooms on different platforms and charge different amounts for the same room!
Rather than going straight, it is important to shop and see where the best deal is.
You should also check the airline prices for the city you are visiting and get an idea of the accommodation you can get for your money.
A big advantage of staying at AIRBNB is the ability to cook for you. If you are visiting a badly expensive country, it would definitely be beneficial to be able to cook for yourself, rather than eating out three times a day.
Always Use Hand luggage Rather than Checking your Luggage Inside
If you are going on a short trip, do not waste your money on paying for checked luggage.
Airlines allow each passenger to have a hand luggage suitcase, you go all the way through airport security and sit with you on the plane.
You may be thinking:
How do I fit all my belongings in a small suitcase?
You will be amazed at how big the allowance is for each passenger. For example, Easy Jet allows one passenger luggage to be 56 x 45 x 25cm with no weight limit.
You do not have to pay extra for hand luggage as it comes with the price of the aircraft, so there are no sneaky add-ons. Most airlines charge £ 30 for checked baggage, that’s every way! When you add it to the price of your actual aircraft, your price no longer seems like a bargain like this.
There are some restrictions on hand luggage, especially if all liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less, however this can be combated by taking samples rather than full-size products or by crushing the products in plastic jars and bottles.
Collect Free Samples of Beauty Accessories Throughout the year
Taking samples not only saves you space, but also helps you match the controls of hand luggage. We post all the best health and beauty samples throughout the year, so make sure you check in to build JustFreeStuff throughout the year, all ready for your vacation.
Set up a Prepaid Currency Card
The best way to spend your money abroad is to use a prepaid currency card. There are plenty of different types of coins that can be used everywhere.
Order one for free, upload your UK sterling and spend overseas just like you would with a debit card. No charge!
Do Not Buy Water at the Airport
Hand luggage controls apply to all liquids, including water. This means that you are not allowed to carry your entire bottle (who put a bottle down for safety?).
Instead of paying the airport price for extorting money for water, you know where else you are going to get it, take the need for life, go through an empty bottle and ask one of the restaurants to fill you with tap water for free.
Some Specific Freebie Apps to Download Before you leave
These days almost everyone has a smartphone, so make sure you use it to its fullest benefit when you are away. There are many useful apps for travel that you can download for free.
Do you really want to have a look on some of the best international travel apps?
Now look:
Maps.me
Maps.me works just like any other smartphone maps, it only uses GPS rather than data. You need to download the part of the map you need first, but when you are done you are ready to go.
With your phone in airplane mode you can be in the middle of the ocean and still be able to tell where you are: tried and tested.
XE Currency
This simple currency converter utility works without using any data, so you can quickly check when you are out and about how much it costs in your local currency. Perfect for stumbling taxis or seeing how much a glass of Vino costs you!
This application is very useful if you are traveling to different countries on the same trip. Finding exchange rates can be confusing, and even more so when the currency changes!
Hostel World
This free application is a traveler’s staple. It compares rates and reviews for all the local hotels in your area, which is completely impartial so you know you are actually reading honest reviews from those who have stayed there. Compare the cleanliness, location and price of the hotels and make sure you get the best value for your money.
Grab / UBER
You may have already downloaded UBER on your phone and you should definitely keep it with you if you are going abroad as you can use UBER account internationally.
UBER is used in many countries and even with a language barrier, it ensures that you always know how much a taxi will cost you. Grab is the equivalent of Southeast Asia, and definitely worth downloading if you go that route. In addition, they both work significantly cheaper than local taxi companies.
Be careful though!
Grab and UBER are banned in some areas (for example, Poly) to encourage the use of local taxi companies. If this is the case you should check in advance.
Few Free Activities that you Can Do While Being Abroad
So you get the best price for your flights and hotel and download all the free apps you need for your trip.
It’s easy to imagine that you have to spend a lot to see different cultures when you are abroad. This is far from the truth because there are always plenty of free activities done when you are away.
If your next trip is to the UK, make sure you check out our Cheap and Free Days page for all the best free activities in the UK.
Free Walks
Fact:
There is no better way for a city to walk its streets. Almost every major city in Europe will have at least one free hiking company, and in most places, very few, so do your research!
The walks may seem a bit sluggish (I thought at first), but they are nothing. The guides take pride in showing their city to interested tourists and generally contain unique information known only to the locals. They tend to know all the best places to eat cheap drink!
Most of the tour guides do their job based on donations only, so if you save a little money it will go down well. Most walks last about 3 hours, so you will definitely get great money for your money.
Free Cultural Activities and Museums
There are plenty of free museums and galleries in major cities, not all of which can be named, but I have selected some of the best rated in many cities around the world.
Check out the best rated free entry museums in the city you visit:
MUSEE D’ART modern de la Ville de Paris (Museum of Modern Art)
There are not many free museums in Paris, so this is a gold mine. It has free admission for permanent collection and after the latest renovation, the museum is better than ever. You can find works of art from renowned painters like Picasso and Matisse and discover new modern artists and their works.
Singapore City Gallery
I was so excited when I stumbled across this wonderful museum! Singapore is very expensive, so it is very rare to find a trip completely free, which is also good. In this gallery exhibition, you can see how Singaporean weather has evolved over the past few decades and get involved in designing your own skyline.
PACO Imperial – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The PACO Imperial is one of the most important historic buildings in Brazil. It once housed the Portuguese royal family and, after many years of disintegration, was restored to its origins in the early 1980s in the 1980s. Today it offers cultural exhibitions of painting, art, sculpture, music and more. It is closed on Mondays, but there is free admission every day of the week from 12 noon to 7 pm.
Amsterdam Cheese Museum
The museum may be a little long for this, but if you are a cheese lover it is definitely a must see! Make as many different cheese samples as you can and find out how it is made.
Flying with cheese is safe, so you can take your favorites home with you.
TE Papa – Wellington, New Zealand
De Papa is one of the most important things to do in New Zealand. De Papa is an interactive and innovative museum that allows you to explore the culture, environment and history of New Zealand. This is free admission every day from 10am to 6pm.
Admission to Paid Museums is Free
Now, this is exciting!
Loads of the world’s most highly regarded museums are free to enter museums on special days of the week or throughout the year:
Admission to the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA) is free Friday from 4pm to 8pm
Free admission to the Louvre Museum in Paris on the first Sunday of each month between October and March
Admission to the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy Free admission on the last Sunday of the month
Take a look at the best museums in the area (s) you can visit, when you have free admission.
Explore the Exteriors of Parks, Gardens and Cemeteries for Free
If you are planning a trip in the spring or summer, you can enjoy plenty of free activities while outdoors and enjoying the sunny weather!
Wandering around a cemetery may seem a bit awkward, but there are definitely things to visit in major cities. The Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is packed with neatly designed tombs and graves and is a resting place for many notables, including Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf.
Wander around the local parks and gardens (these are always free admission) and people will see the contents of your heart. Save even more money by bringing your own sandwiches; why sit in a cafe when you can sit on a bench and enjoy the beautiful outdoors?!
Free Holiday Vouchers to Use
Using different free holiday voucher codes is another great way to save money in your holes.
Here is the deal –
Many of the apps mentioned earlier have registration discount codes so you can withdraw money from your first use. For example, if you invite a friend to AIRBNB, they will get a £25 travel loan when they sign up, and you will get a £ 15 travel loan when they finish the trip. Join your travel partner to use this!
Don’t waste money printing all of your holiday pictures when you return. There are numerous online photo printing companies that offer excellent registration, which means you can print your pictures and get them at your doorstep.
Snap fish, Bonus Print, Photo box and Boots all consistently have great offers and discounts, so do your research before ordering what is the best value for your money. After all, how are you going to make all your friends and family jealous of your life journey?!
Do you have any holiday free tips? Don’t forget to share them and let us know.