Just because you’re traveling on a budget, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to have a great time. That’s why we previously covered all the best ways you can save money on your next vacation.
However, when it comes to travel, there are definitely a few things you should splurge on if you want to make the most of your trip. Trading up a bit of comfort to be able to see your dream destination in living colour will always be worth it, but not if it leaves you regretting it for years to come.
Here are few items that you should definitely prioritize on your budget if you want to have a trip that’s memorable for all the right reasons.
1. Insurance
Life happens. The last thing you want is to lose thousands of dollars on a trip you had to cancel last minute or cut short because of some emergency outside of your control. Travel insurance is especially important if you plan to engage in any sporting or high-risk activities while on vacation.
Insurance costs are often minor compared to the price of tickets and accommodation, so you won’t be put out much. And the peace of mind knowing you’ll be reimbusrsed if things go awry on your trip? Priceless.
2. Luggage
Your bag takes a real beating when you travel. From being tossed around by luggage carriers to dragging on cobblestones on the way to your hotel, they’ve gotta pull double duty in ensuring that your belongings stay protected and they stay functional throughout your trip.
Paying top dollar is especially necessary if you’re choosing a backpack over wheeled luggage because it could mean the difference between an awesome trip and several visits to the chiropractor when you get home. Buy a good quality bag now and save hundreds in the long run.
3. Shoes
Since you can’t bring your entire closet with you, you’ll need to be selective when it comes to the bulkiest item in your luggage – shoes. And if you’re going to a place you’ve never been before, chances are you’lll be doing lots of walking, so you’ll need to take a solid pair of comfortable walking shoes.
Replace the insoles with comfy shoe inserts, add heel cushions if you need them and even give them a generous coat of waterproof spray so they don’t get soaked if it rains. Spare no expense making you feet happy when sightseeing and roaming a new city. You’ll be really happy you did.
4. Food
Experiencing the cuisine of your vacation destination is one of the most memorable things you can do when traveling. Not every day of your trip needs to be filled with Michelin star restaurants and five course meals, but you should definitely try to make room in your budget to splurge on some luxury, authentic cuisine at least once on your trip. Just because you can’t live the high life every day of the week, doesn’t mean you can’t experience it at all.
5. Tech Gear
Tell us millennials and Gen-Xers to go without our devices while traveling and you might as well cancel our trip. But it’s not just about making sure we get the perfect shots for Instagram. Our devices are our lifelines – they have our itineraries, attraction passes, maps and pretty much everything we need for travel. That means keeping them juiced up and connected is just as important as the trip itself.
Invest in a reliable power bank, quality travel adapter for the country you’re visiting and figure out the best way to get access to data or portable WiFi before you leave home so you’ll never get stranded without your device or the Internet when you need it the most.
6. Bus Tour
Free walking tours are great, and you should absolutely take advantage of them. However, if you really want the best way to see the entire city at a glance without wearing out your feet on day one, a bus tour is your best bet. Take advantage of one of these on your first day in a new city, and you’ll not only get your bearings faster, but be able to glimpse interest sites you can visit later – places you may never have known about otherwise.
If you can afford a hop on, hop off bus for a day or two, then do a full loop with the bus first to get a full view of everything before you select your list of places worth hopping off.
7. Attractions
Visits to popular tourist attractions in a well-known city can be notoriously expensive, so if you’re watching your pocket, you might be tempted to skip ’em when traveling. For the most part, this makes sense. A lot of these places are overhyped money grabs that speed you through and tour and leave you to linger in the gift shop.
However, if there’s a place you really want to see, or an activity you really want to do – make room for it in your budget and don’t be afraid to do it. It will most likely be a memorable story you get to share for years to come, and if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it long after the trip as ended.
Budget travel in today’s world doesn’t mean skimping to save every single penny. It means giving up some of the luxuries you don’t care about so you can spend a little more on the things you do. The trick is to invest in those things that will have the biggest impact on the success of your trip, so you can guarantee a fun time and a lifetime worth of memories.