TRAVEL CAN SEEM like an expensive, luxurious hobby if you don’t know how to save on expenses. Airfare alone discourages many from heading to far-off destinations. But will you keep going to work in the morning and coming home in the evening without ever exploring new places? Don’t lose hope. We can help you go to more places without always shelling out large sums of money.

Here are eight tips to consider when planning your next trip:

1. Book Early

There’s no hard-and-fast rule for getting the best flight deal, but you can still land a very low price. The general rule is to book early to avail of discounts, though not too early: booking more than three months ahead isn’t advisable, since ticket prices are still very high then. At the least, book 21 days (three weeks) before your trip. Most of the time, the cheapest rates show up around six weeks before your planned travel, so aim to book within the three-to-twelve-week window. Better still, keep an eye on seat sales announced by your airline of choice.

2. Couch Surf

Accommodation is another expense that demands a big budget, but there are now ways to greatly reduce it or remove it entirely. For many years, people who love travel and culture have relied on couch surfing, which gives them a free place to stay, sometimes someone who provides the food, and the chance to meet new people and discover new cultures. There are stories of couch surfers who found new best friends, and even some who found their partners in life. Couch surfing is easy: find a couch-surfing site, sign up, and create your profile. From there, you can send or accept couch-surfing requests. It’s that easy!

3. Use Credit Card Miles and Points

When you use credit cards, you earn points whenever you shop, and those points can be traded for discounts on airfare and hotel rates. For example, some credit companies let you trade 10,000 points for 15,000 miles. A regular credit card may be better than an airline-specific one, though certain card-airline partnerships are worth taking advantage of, so look for the cards that give you the best value. Just recently, Cebu Pacific’s GetGo Reward Card for travelers partnered with Unionbank, giving cardholders one point for every P30-P88 spent on their debit and credit cards, which can be used to buy airline tickets.

4. Go Backpacking

Backpacking is a trip longer than the conventional vacation, and it’s budget-friendly because it relies on public transportation. As a backpacker, you bring your own toiletries and a tent so you have a place to stay on a beach or mountain. If you’re into mingling with locals and learning about their culture, try backpacking.

5. Choose Homestay

Another way to save significantly is to stay in a local resident’s house. This is popularly known as the homestay program, which has helped thousands of students and tourists from all over the world. In a homestay, the owner opens their house for a small rental fee, and the stay may include meals such as breakfast and a chance to join the family’s activities. Sagada, shown in the photo, is one amazing place to try a homestay.

6. Travel With Friends

Traveling alone can be very expensive, especially on a conventional vacation. To cut costs such as accommodation, travel with friends. You save money and enjoy the trip with the people who matter to you.

7. Avail “Suki” or Member Cards

If you’re going to make traveling a hobby, it’s practical to get “suki” (loyal customer) or membership cards from transportation companies such as bus lines. Bus companies usually offer membership cards that give holders discounts on tickets. This is particularly true of bus companies partnered with ferry companies, which makes travel by land far cheaper.

8. Avail Cheap Tour Packages

Tour packages are another way to save on travel. A package is usually good for three days and two nights for a specified fee per person. The great thing is you can avail of one with friends, or go solo and meet other people who have taken the same package.

With these tips, you can visit plenty of destinations in the country without worrying too much about money.

Photos from emailflights.com, hotpoptravel.com, redheadroamer.com, clickthecity.com, mikedtravelph.com, freeandeasytraveler.com, autotrade.com.ph, solesearchingsoul.com.