Southeast Asia is such a wonderful part of the world to travel in. Comprising of 11 countries and thousands of islands, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Yeah, you might have your Saudi Arabian Airlines flight booked, but how about starting with the practical aspect-your finances? If you're travelling on a budget, it can be hard to stretch out that penny to do everything you want. Luckily, here are seven tips to maximize your cash.
GRAB A FRIEND OR TWOYou know what they say, "No man is an island" and this applies heavily on travelers too. If you think going solo can save you a bucketful of cash, you might be wrong. When it comes to transportation, if you have a pal with you then you know you have someone to split the fare with. Also, having someone with you means more things to experience because with a travel buddy, you can order more and not have to worry about the leftovers.
GO DURING OFF SEASONSIf you don't mind a little rain, then tour Southeast Asia during the off season. Hotel rates are lower and there won't be as many fellow tourists hogging the hit landmarks, like the Fort Santiago in the Philippines, to where Saudi Arabian Airlines has flights daily.
GO WHERE THE LOCALS EATYou'll be amazed by how much money you can save by eating in the local eateries and street vendors instead of some expensive fancy restaurant or internationally franchised fast-food. In Bangkok, some of the best Pad Thai can be found in Sukhumvit 38 and in Kuala Lumpur , the Koay Chiap sold by a sidewalk vendor will definitely fill your belly.
TRY LOCAL TRANSPORTATIONAdmittedly, the easiest way to get around is by a taxi; unfortunately, this can also be very expensive since some countries in Southeast Asia are notorious for their traffic jams. What you can do is try the local transportation, which can be a lot cheaper. For example, you might want to take the train instead of a taxi if you're going from Jakarta to Depok.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS EARLYDon't be spontaneous and plan your plane ahead of time. If you book your Saudi Arabian Airlines early, you might save bucks which you can use later on during your trip. If you have to do it a year in advance, that's okay although it is said that two months will be enough.
USE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMODATIONSWhen in a foreign country, you'll definitely need a place stay, so when traveling on a budget it would be best to skip the hotels and go for hostels or home stays. If you're staying in one place for at least a week, then Airbnb will do the trick.
DITCH THE SOUVENIR SHOP, GO FOR THE SUPERMARKETIf you want to get a souvenir, better skip the souvenir shops and head over to the supermarket for some local treats since the markup in the shops can be twice or thrice the price in the grocery store. Plus, there are tons of local goodies to see there, like durian candy in Singapore .
Travelling on a budget need not be stressful. Hopefully with these seven tips, you'll get to enjoy a holiday that isn't heavy on the pocket.
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