By Fathima Rukaiya,

Exploring the world doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. There are clever techniques to save money without sacrificing comfort or quality, whether you’re taking a short weekend trip or a longer international trip. These seven tried-and-true travel tips will help you save a lot of money on airfare and lodging

1. Make use of flight comparison tools, but make sure you know how to use them properly.

Use comparison websites such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak to begin your search for flights. These tools provide you with a clear picture of the best possibilities by combining pricing from multiple airlines and booking websites.

Advice:

• To avoid price increases depending on your browsing history, use incognito mode when searching.
• Verify prices across several browsers or devices.
• Book flights on Tuesday or Wednesday, when rates are lower.
• To find the most affordable dates, use the “full month” or “cheapest month” function.

2. Set Price Alerts

You might benefit from variable rates if your travel dates are changeable.

How:

• For the routes you want, set price alerts on Google Flights, Hopper, or Skyscanner.
• Mid-week departures are frequently less expensive, so be willing to fly a day earlier or later, or even at unusual hours.

3. Make hotel reservations with free cancellations

Like flights, hotel rates tend to change too. You can secure in a rate by making an early reservation with free cancellation, and you can rebook if a better price becomes available later.

Tools for Use:

• Agoda, Booking.com all include free cancellation filters.
• For last-minute offers, use Trivago or HotelTonight.
• Re-check your bookings frequently, especially when closer to your trip.

4. Make Use of Credit Card Points and Loyalty Programs

Even if you don’t travel frequently, sign up for hotel and airline reward programs. Fast point accumulation can result in savings or improvements.

How to Proceed:

• When making reservations, use credit cards designed specifically for travel, such as HSBC Premier Credit Card, Sampath Bank World Mastercard, Commercial Bank Visa Infinite / Mastercard World, and more.
• For the best deal, transfer credit card points to connected hotel chains or flights.

5. Reserve a Package Deal

Using websites like Expedia, or Travelocityto combine your hotel and airfare can occasionally save a lot of money.

Tips:

• Compare the cost of the bundle to purchasing hotels and flights separately.
• For an extra refund, use cashback portals such as Gotrip.lk before making a reservation.

6. Explore Other Accommodation Choices

Although hotels are fantastic, they aren’t always the most affordable choice.

Alternatives:

• For larger parties or longer stays with kitchen access, Airbnb or VRBO are excellent options.
• Hostels: Many offers private rooms.
• HotelTonight: Excellent for inexpensive same-day reservations.

7. Purchase a local or international roaming eSIM.

Avoiding costly roaming fees is one of the most frequently neglected ways to save money when traveling abroad. Rather than searching for Wi-Fi or a local SIM, use an international eSIM to start using mobile Internet as soon as you land.

Why It Saves Money:

• Avoid expensive international roaming charges from regional networks (such as Airtel, Dialog, or Mobitel).
• Saves you time at the airport; no need to wait in line to purchase real SIM cards.
• Allows you to access apps like Translate, Uber, and Google Maps as soon as you land.

How to apply:

Option 1: Purchase an International eSIM Online

Try companies such as Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly. All you need to do is put the eSIM on your phone.

Option 2: Use Dialog or Mobitel Travel Plans

• Dialog Roaming eSIM: Provides affordable data packs for both domestic and international roaming.
•  Mobitel Roaming: For quick international trips, review their “Smart Roaming” plans.

Tip:

Before flying, always compare eSIM data plans.

The key to travel hacking is strategy. You can save hundreds or even thousands on your trip by doing a little more research, staying flexible, using the right tools, and keeping an eye out for deals.

Are you ready to plan your next vacation? See the savings for yourself by putting one of these tips to use!