Cut costs, not comfort

While opting for cheaper mode of travel and accommodation does help to lower the budget, offbeat destinations can bring down overall expenses.

Often, we end up spending more than the budgeted amount for a vacation. While planning for one, try to optimise on resources, as with any other item of expenditure. For the coming holiday season, here’s a quick roundup on how to minimise cost without compromising on the fun aspects.

TRANSPORT
If you are one of those who does last-minute bookings, shed that habit. Booking in advance has its own benefits – you will have ample time on deciding which mode you want to travel in and if you are lucky, avail some discounts too. This can be a big item of expenditure.

 

But if you are already late, explore cheaper options such as bus, train or even your own car. Travelling via car is very helpful, since one is independent while moving around, especially with family.

CHOICE OF STAY
Accommodation is another big cost in your travel expenditure, other than mode of travel. Here too one has plenty of options. For example, popular vacation hot spots like Goa and Kerala has all types of stay options – from budget lodges and resorts to three and five-stars. Choose the one fitting your objective, without compromising on your comfort zone.

You can also opt for home stays and time share resorts that have become popular off late. These are cost effective and yet comfortable. If any of your family member or friend has signed up with timeshare holiday company; you can book the accommodation through them.

A time share stay comes with facilities equivalent to a four-star or five-star stay but at minimal cost. Another add-on advantage will be the choice of various destinations available in India, since time share stays have wide presence across several popular tourist destinations.

You can opt for home stays in case time share does not work out. These places are like individual homes, well equipped with all the facilities, and also cost much less. The minimum charge in a good facility will be Rs 1,500 per night for the entire house, so a three-day stay can be planned for around Rs 4,000–5,000. Whereas, a similar stay at any resort would cost you upwards of Rs 10,000.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL VS. FOREIGN
In India, we can divide holiday destinations on the basis of seasons. It is common that you can be planning to travel to a popular destination. This means, you will need to shell out extra money due to peak season there. A wise approach will be to plan with a contrarian approach. Plan a visit to destinations where less people take a vacation during the particular time. The motive, after all, is taking rest and enjoying personal time with family. Example of this are countries such as Thailand and Singapore. You can travel to these countries in the same cost as a domestic travel during the peak season too. These countries also have packages for family that can further save cost.

FURTHER SAVINGS
Offbeat holiday places are the ones least explored but considered more adventurous and a perfect choice if one is looking forward to some thrills, along with a quiet scenic place for rejuvenation. Since these places are less explored, the tourist density will be relatively less, effectively making these a lower cost destination. However, since these are less explored, it is possible these have fewer ‘tourist spots’ and less amenities/facilities. So, plan well before exploring such places.

Money saved is equal to money invested. Cutting expenses does not mean you travel on a shoe-string budget. It only means to optimise each paisa spent, to gain maximum advantage.

The writer is CEO, Right Horizons