Tested on the road by the Harriet team, proven to keep more money in your pocket...
If you’re anything like me (aka – a total travel tragic!), no sooner have I arrived home from one trip and I’m already planning the next one.
Sound familiar?
Thought so!
Nothing puts a spring in my step like crossing off those calendar days until I’m wheels up on my next adventure. But saving money on travel can be a challenge.
So to help you keep more money in your pocket too, here are the Harriet team’s top 7 tips to help you save money on your booking and on your travels.
1. Pay close attention to your trip inclusions
If you’re shopping around and comparing other companies’ trips with ours, it’s tempting to compare based on the headline price, but dive deeper into the fine print and compare the inclusions too.
Are most meals, drinks and activities included? What about arrival and departure transfers? Do they offer a lifetime guarantee on your deposit? (Nearly all travel companies out there will not refund a deposit. Just saying…)
Sure, you might find a cheaper trip that looks the same on the surface, but all travel companies have to deal with the exact same conditions, so if the price is different, it’s for a reason.
In the end, it’s about you…
Maybe you just don’t mind having to pay for things as you go during the trip, so that you can get more of a say in your day. That’s fine.
Or perhaps you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to think about it while overseas.
You do you!
Our advice: make any decision with eyes wide open.
2. Consider twin-sharing
If you’re travelling solo and really love the look of a trip, but the private room is a bit out of your budget, have a good old heart-to-heart with yourself and consider sharing a room.
You’ll still get to do all the amazing activities you would if you had your own room but the trip will cost you less — and comes with the bonus of potentially making a brand-new friend for life!
But what if I don’t like my Roomie or they don’t like me?
Well, that’s the risk you take, but because our trips attract like-minded people, this is almost never an issue.
You can read all about ‘How To Be A Dream Roomie’ here in our blog!
3. Avoid FX surcharges on your booking
Did you know you can save money on your booking by paying for your trip in full before your cancellation window ends?
This means that any fluctuations in the exchange rate won’t apply to you at the final payment date, potentially saving you a few hundred dollars to spend on that handcrafted rug at the local bazaar on your adventure.
You’ll find all the details about our Prices and Surcharges here.
4. Get money WISE
Would anything grind your gears more than getting back from your trip and opening a bank statement full of international transaction fees? Probably not!
Maybe you’re already familiar with the international debit card WISE, but I was today-years-old when my teammates over at our sister brand, Patch Adventures, introduced me to it.
It’s a popular choice for their Aussie and Kiwi guests they tell me, and widely accepted across Europe. A number of the team have used it on their own personal travels too. Here’s what everyone seems to like about it:
- The app was very user-friendly and topping it up from their bank accounts was easy
- It offers better exchange rates than bank travel cards/Visa
- You don’t need to choose a currency to load it against (you can have multiple), and it automatically converts USD or CAD to the local currency whenever you use it
And the safety feature everyone really likes:
That you can toggle a button to “lock” your account, so if you lose the physical card, it can’t be used.
As mentioned, I haven’t used WISE myself but I’m already loving that feature too!
5. Stay connected with an E-Sim
Something I have used on my travels and swear by is an eSIM. They’re simple to use and take the hassle out of having to purchase a local sim card — you just set it up on your phone a day or two before you go and then activate it when you arrive.
I use Airalo as they offer plans and coverage in 200+ countries/regions and it means I’m not coming home to a phone bill full of roaming charges. Mat, our CEO really likes this one too and he travels… a lot! (He confessed he couldn’t even remember which country he was in the other day. LOL!)
Airalo’s 30-Day Eurolink plan, (at time of writing) offers unlimited GB of data in 42 countries for US$72/CAD$101 which is a jumping off point for comparing against other providers Nomad, (US$48/CAD$67 for 50GB data/30 days in 35 countries), or Holafly who are currently offering a special launch price for their global unlimited plan for US$64.90/CAD$89.95 billed monthly. Here’s a handy article I found over at Cybernews comparing which of the two biggies (Airalo and Holafly) is the best for travel if you wanted to poke around their different plans in detail.
Before you buy your eSIM, you’ll need to check with your phone provider to make sure your phone is unlocked and can accept an eSIM. They’ll be able to turn this feature on for you with a simple swipe or two in your phone settings.
6. Travel lightly
We’ve noticed a growing trend amongst repeat guests with Harriet’s sister brands’ in that they’ve been arriving on their trips with smaller bags.
Why?
- They understand the benefit of versatile lightweight clothing that can be layered
- The days of ‘just in case’ are gone! You can buy anything, anywhere
- They can save money on airline baggage fees
- It saves them time in transit
Taking less also means you’re not taxing yourself physically so you have more energy for all the fun stuff. (I reckon five pairs of socks is all anyone really needs).
7. Save money at the sink
On the subject of socks… hotel laundry can be expensive and will dissolve those dollars in your budget. Taking lightweight clothing in quick dry fabrics that can be washed in your hotel room sink or bathtub and hung up overnight is one of the easiest ways to save money.
Pack a few laundry detergent sheets in a zip lock bag and a bungee travel clothesline (like this I found from Coghlan’s), and you’ll stay fresh as a daisy — and richer — for little effort.
Earth Breeze, Sheets Laundry Club and Tru Earth offer eco-conscious suds for your duds if you wanted to try some out before your trip and offer fragrance-free options too if you have a sensitive sniffer. Plus, they pack flat, take up next to no room and won’t spill in your bag.
Anyhoo, I hope all this was helpful!
And if you have a tried-and-tested hack of your own for stretching your travel dollars further that you’d like to share, get in touch here – we can’t wait to try it!
Janie