How to save money on vacation?

Spending a few days on holiday away from home without spending a fortune isn't mission impossible, and here's why.

What should you think about before planning a vacation?

Going on holiday alone or with family, as a couple or with friends - many Italians look forward to the summer holidays. If you were unable to book your vacation in advance, as recommended by numerous online guides to saving on vacation, you may find yourself having to spend a lot of money even for just a few days of vacation. However, there are strategies to help keep costs in check, including searching for last-minute deals and rethinking how you plan your summer vacation.

What do we expect from our vacation?

Spending a few days away from home without spending too much may seem more difficult than it actually is. Saving starts not from the wallet, but from the head. Before thinking about the cost of a vacation, we need to understand why we want to go on vacation. The choice of the best vacation option depends on the answer to this question.

You need to ask yourself a few questions: are we going on vacation? Exercise? Or maybe meet new people and visit unknown places? Depending on the purpose of the vacation, there are various options. Once the goal is determined, you can begin to search for a suitable option.

Relaxation or entertainment?

If the purpose of your vacation is to take a break from your daily routine and immerse yourself in nature, then you don’t have to choose popular seaside resorts. Instead, you can stay in an agritourism resort near the sea or in a small rural town.

If the purpose of your vacation is to spend time on the beach and enjoy the sea as much as possible, then the importance of housing fades into the background compared to choosing a vacation spot. In this case, you can refuse a room with a sea view or a hotel in the entertainment center and choose a beach with good infrastructure.

Having determined the main purpose of the vacation, the next step is not to look for a place and accommodation, as usual, but to determine a budget for the vacation.

Second step: determine your vacation budget

Setting a budget is important to understanding what type of vacation you can afford. Without a clear budget, it's easy to go overboard and spend more than planned.

The budget must be “adequate”: it must cover not only the cost of housing, travel, food and planned activities (such as excursions or museum visits), but also unexpected expenses. The budget should be “realistic”: for example, if the holiday is abroad, it is important to find out in advance the cost of living in these countries.

Real-time spending monitoring

Setting a budget is important, but it's even more important to regularly check that you're staying within it. There are various financial management apps and tools that allow you to track your expenses in real time. If using such tools seems difficult, you can simply keep notes in a notepad. The main thing is to accurately record all expenses, including small ones, and divide them into categories. This will help you see at a glance where you are going over budget.

All-inclusive holidays and package tours: yes, but with insurance policy

One of the most profitable options are package tours and all-inclusive offers that allow you to cover several expenses at once. These options usually offer the best value for money and also minimize additional costs. However, it is important to protect yourself from risks such as trip cancellation by taking out an insurance policy.

Economical ways to travel

The most significant part of your vacation budget is travel costs. Summer, especially July and August, is when air travel is at its most expensive. If the ticket has not been booked in advance, it is better to consider alternative means of transport. The most economical option is the bus. Bus travel saves money, although it takes longer.

Those who prefer to travel by car will have to factor in gas costs, but you can save on tolls by taking secondary routes. This is convenient if the distance is not too great or if the journey is divided into several stages.

Alternative accommodation and local food

The cost of housing and food can make up a significant portion of the cost of vacationing in popular tourist destinations. To reduce these costs, you can stay in apartments, guest houses or self-catering agriturismos. This will allow you to cook your own meals while purchasing fresh produce from local markets, which is often cheaper than buying from supermarkets.

Tourism “close to home” and little-known cities

Italy has many places and historic towns located close to popular tourist routes. It's worth paying attention to lesser-known routes that will help you save on accommodation, food and additional costs such as parking.

By choosing such destinations, you can significantly reduce your vacation costs while discovering new interesting places.

By following these tips, you can have a wonderful vacation without going over budget and have a lot of positive experiences.