A driving vacation has several advantages, one of which is its low cost relative to other types of vacations. However, expenses may mount rapidly depending on factors, including where you stay, what sort of car you rent, and the routes you take. So that you may remain in your financial lane on your next trip, we’ve compiled a list of 5 ways to save money and get the best currency exchange rates.
Plan it Out… Twice
The best way to save money on road trips is to plan your route in advance instead of flying by the seat of your pants. This will allow you to estimate all of your expenditures, such as lodging, activities, and petrol prices, in advance.
Altering your travel plans might have a significant impact. The time savings on toll roads are substantial, but you may get there faster by taking a different route. In comparison to speeding down the highway to your destination, traversing some backroads might make the trip more enjoyable due to the possibility of seeing some cool, unexpected sights.
You should become familiar with GasBuddy if you intend to take a road trip in Canada; it is a website/app that allows you to search gas prices by city, state, postal/zip code, and even by brand, allowing you to strategically plan where to fill up based on where the cheapest gas can be found. While it’s more effort, you may compare the costs of two separate iterations of your vacation. You will know which location is most cost-effective if you do your research.
Don’t Stay in Big Cities
Now that you have a car, there’s no need to stay in an expensive hotel in a touristy neighborhood, where you’ll also have to pay to park. The best option is to stay at a hotel that offers free parking on the outskirts of your destination city and then take public transit into the heart of the action. Choosing a hotel farther away from the main attractions will save you money if you plan to travel there and back every day.
Bring Your Own Meal
Every journey will necessitate not one but TWO types of fuel: one for the vehicle and one for you. The latter may easily blow your travel budget and ruin your road trip. Consider it in this light. After a week on the road, you might have easily spent $10 a day on snacks alone, even if you bought a bag of chips and a drink when you were hungry. With the price of three meals a day, your money would be quickly depleted.
One of the best ways to save money on a road trip? Bring your own refreshments. Buy a bunch of different snacks and food in bulk from the shop before the party starts. Getting things in bulk will save you money compared to purchasing them alone.
Protein and fiber-rich foods like nuts, granola bars, hummus, vegetables, and fruit can keep you satisfied until your next meal. Many of the foods we recommend for the best hiking snacks are also great for taking on the road. It’s also smart to pack some food for the journey in advance; items like cold spaghetti and quinoa salads keep well and can be eaten on the fly or during a rest stop.
Make Meals in Camp
For cheap eating on a road trip, bring a cooler full of simple foods that you can cook at your campground. As an alternative to pre-packaged, high-priced meals, you may carry a camp stove along.
Bring Excess Water
Salty snacks like pretzels and road trips might leave you dehydrated. Don’t waste money on beverages on the spur of the moment, and help reduce the usage of disposable plastic bottles by carrying your own. Fill up a refillable water bottle before you leave the house. Typically, water is one of the options at drink dispensers at petrol stations so that you may fill your water bottles for free. If you plan to stay at paid campgrounds on your road trip, you can get clean drinking water there.
Fill up a 5-gallon jug and keep it in the trunk before you go. You’ll save money and be prepared for emergencies by stocking up on water in advance. Moreover, it will be less hassle for you to forego using plastic bags and other single-use items. Doing so will help you save time searching for the best currency exchange rates.
Budget-Friendly Route
While we encourage getting lost and exploring off the beaten path, driving an hour in the wrong direction is a waste of gas and time on a road trip. Plan your journey in advance and investigate any other routes to get the fastest and most direct one. If you can, use two GPS devices because they might give you very different directions to the same place.
Routine Off-Season Travel
The best time to visit a destination to get a good deal on hotel rooms is often not during the high season. Shoulder seasons are the best for a low-cost road vacation because of the pleasant weather and availability of attractions. It’s an excellent time to visit since prices drop dramatically and crowds thin out at most destinations. There is a greater chance of securing a camping or hotel room at the last minute.
Observing local customs and getting to know the area’s lay of the land during this calmer period is recommended. Meeting people and getting a feel for a city or town when it’s not at its busiest is another perk of visiting during the off-season. Put yourself out there and see what you can discover. In Canada, you can get the best Surrey currency exchange from SNS.
