5 Ways to Get Good Deals Abroad

Intro by Rupert Wolfe Murray.

One of the purposes of this blog is to encourage people to travel and to write.

I’d like to encourage people to write for this blog. I’m always looking for personal stories about travelling, or writing, and in this instance I’d like to introduce you to a new guest writer by the name of Jordan Greene, a Brit who wants to share some travel advice. Travel (or writing) tips are great as they break down the mystique of travel and make it more approachable for all those folks out there who want to break out of their routines and hit the open road.

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5 Ways to Get Good Deals Abroad, by Jordan Greene

Looking to save some money when you’re next on the road? It’s always satisfying to squeeze every penny out of your trip, but doing so isn’t always easy.

Here are five ways to get good deals while travelling:

Haggle

While you might cringe at the prospect of having to barter down a salesman in a foreign market, it can result in getting stuff for half price.

There are many useful articles which explain how to haggle down prices – including knowing when it is, and isn’t, appropriate.

Don’t worry if you’re unsure of your bartering skills. I wasn’t born with the gift of the gab, but after practicing at a few stalls in Asia I soon learnt how to get the price down.

In many parts of the world, for example India and the Middle East, haggling is a normal part of life. Shopkeepers and stall holders expect clients to haggle, and they often set their prices artificially high so they can drop them – and still make a profit

Look for discounts

A good way to look out for sales and discounts is simply to ask local people. Locals are often glad to help travellers with advice like this and their advice will often be more reliable than just searching for discounts by walking around. It can also save a ton of time.

Seeking out discounts saved me a lot of money on my travels. There are plenty of handy tools out with amazing savings options.

Travel in Low Season

If you want to make the most of some seriously reduced prices, it might be worthwhile to travel at a time of year when less people will be on holiday – the low season.

The prices of flights and accommodation will always be cheaper during these periods, but it does come at a cost – colder weather and less “touristy” events being hosted.

That said, I found that during my winter travels I was able to get a heap more done. No crowds meant no queues for me.

Avoid Tourist Traps

It stands to reason that tourism hotspots are going to be more expensive than other areas of a nation.

Business people know there’s going to be an influx of people and so they ramp up the prices. Most tourists don’t have the experience to check out cheaper options.

Why not avoid the tourist traps and eat at a place that’s been overlooked? Take my word for it, you’ll find lots of amazing places off the beaten track.

Be Frugal

Saving money on every little thing helped me massively when it came to affording those slightly costlier items on my travels.

If you feel like a restaurant costs a bit too much, don’t eat there. Just walk out. If an item is too expensive, don’t buy it. Walking out of a shop or restaurant feels embarrassing the first time, but you get used to it pretty quick and it’s quite satisfying.

You’ll be able to find a cheaper and equally good alternative nearby.

These are my five top tips for getting a good deal when abroad. Stick to them and you might even find yourself with some cash when you get home.

Jordan Green’s short Bio: I’m a backpacker and a self-taught cook. I’ve been to a few countries, mostly in Asia and Europe. I write articles as a part-time job. I have two lazy dogs: a pug called Bingo and a husky called Reese.

Photo credit: an image created by Google to celebrate Carmen Mirandas 108th birthday