Before you go - planning your trip
First things first, most of our travel gurus suggested booking as early as possible to catch all the best deals on flights, accommodation, tours or attractions. Although there are savings to be found on last minute deals, if you go that route, you may be leaving yourself open to overpaying if a great deal doesn’t come up.
It also pays to travel in the off season, according to a couple of our sources. Not only will you avoid high prices, you’ll also, “avoid the tourist crowds, saving you time on waiting in queues,” says Sheri Adamson from TravelOnline.com.
And one last thing before you head off: “Make sure you have travel insurance appropriate for you. Don't skimp on having the right cover for you and all the family,” says Denise Dean from Travelmanagers Australia. Imalia's travel policy provides comprehensive cover for you and your family when travelling overseas. It is available for singles or families and provides generous sums insured and worldwide 24 hour protection.
Read more: My Personal Travel Cover
Should I use a travel agent?
If all the planning is doing your head in, you might be tempted to consult an expert. Dean adds that by booking through a travel consultant who knows their stuff, you might score luxurious freebies, like a hotel upgrade, or a welcome bottle of champagne at check-in. And best of all? “Your consultant comes to the rescue if something doesn't quite go to plan,” she says.
But Sam Williamson from WeSwap prefers to take a more grassroots approach. He advises travellers to join local forums and social media communities before heading off, to get the inside scoop on your destination. “If you message the locals and tell them that you're coming then you'll often find that they bombard you with tips that only locals would be aware of.”
Getting off the ground
Every Aussie tourist knows the pain of long, expensive flights - it seems to be part and parcel of living in the land downunder. But there are some tricks to keep up your sleeve when searching for a plane ticket.
Where do you find the cheapest flights out of Oz? Globetrotter Emma Lovell tells us Scott’s Cheap Flights is her newest go to for great deals. “My friend always goes to exotic and random places and that's how she gets it… As long as you're flexible with your dates, you can get any deal.”
And here’s a tip for anyone booking flights with a credit card in order to snag rewards points - if a third party website charges a fee for using your credit card, head over to Flight Centre, Spending Hacker advises. “They will waive any credit card fees as part of their own price beat guarantee where they beat your best price by a dollar.”
Read more: 3 easy way to boost your financial smarts
Home away from home
Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll need somewhere to rest your head and drop your suitcase. There are heaps of affordable options, from hotel deals, AirBnB, Home for Exchange, or even staying with friends and relatives. Charli Moore, travel blogger at Wanderlusters.com says house and pet sitting has allowed her to travel from London to Auckland, Barbados to Las Vegas and stay rent free.
If that’s not the experience you’re after from your getaway, then it might be time to get off the beaten track. Charlotte Weiss of The F Diaries says “the best advice I can give is find the smaller towns. Don't just go to the major cities, go to the smaller towns and villages. They'll most likely have the best food, the nicest people, and great accommodation!”
But if your goal is to tick some of the major cities like Paris, Rome or London off your bucket list, consider whether you need to be right in the heart of the city, or if you could commute from a neighbouring suburb, advises travel insurer Fast Cover. “You’ll save yourself some money and discover places and paths less taken.”
Travelling with the whole clan? Finding accommodation might seem like a mammoth task, but Adamson says having more people can actually be an advantage. “Although at first glance villas, apartments and holiday homes can seem like an expensive option, once you divide the cost between all guests it often works out much cheaper in the long run,” she says.
Bon appetit! - eating abroad
To find cheap eats just about anywhere in the world, there’s one golden rule: go local. “Skip the resort restaurant and venture out onto the streets to find a local café or restaurant. Not only are these options far cheaper, they also offer a much more authentic experience of your holiday destination and its local cuisine,” says Adamson.
Hitting up the local grocery store is also a good idea - especially if you’ve snagged some accommodation with a kitchen. Fast Cover suggests being on the lookout for unique bakeries and markets, and artisan cafes.
Cashed up - spending money overseas
Whether you’re sipping cocktails at a five-star resort or trekking through Nepal, you’ll probably need to cough up some extra dough once you get there, and it’s a good idea to have multiple ways to do that.
Travel Money Oz says travellers should stick to local currency where they can - and understand how money is used in your destination of choice. Questions to ask include, “Will you need to tip while you’re there? Will you pay more for a coffee if you take it away instead of drinking it in the café? Does the price you see include or exclude tax?”
Fast Cover, suggests you avoid exchanging cash currency, and instead use your travel debit or credit card. Just make sure you have a plan to pay your credit card bill at the end of each month - if you’re travelling for an extended period, this may start to get a bit tricky!
We suggest carrying some local cash and a debit or credit card option, so that if something goes wrong with one method, you have a backup. Plus, you should tailor your money to your holiday - the hotel restaurant likely accepts plastic, a street vendor may not.
Read more: Why you need a savings buffer
Now you’re ready for your holiday! But before you get too carried away, be sure to head over to our Personal Travel Cover to find a policy to protect you and your valuables.
If you are inspired and would like to join the revolutionary movement that Imalia is creating, you can request to join our Facebook group The Wolfpack, to share ideas and learn from other like-minded women.
This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on Mozo.