Many lament the fact that travel is so expensive nowadays and all those wonderful places that you pin, blog about, and have pictures of, appear to be slipping away into the distance – seemingly forever out of reach. Until now that is.
The following tips and tricks will help you plan a holiday with some opulence and luxury, while still being quite cost effective.
- Book out of season
Yes, out of season can be a let-down if your entire holiday has a rain cloud hanging over it – literally. However, accommodations generally charge far less out of season than during the more popular high season resulting in a far cheaper holiday.
You’ll find that the areas you visit are much quieter out of season. Many savvy travellers prefer to make use of the on-site facilities as opposed to visiting outdoor attractions in the cooler months. What could be better than staying at an accommodation where you can curl up next to your partner in front of a fireplace in the evenings, while the rains pour down around you?
- Book early
It can be hard to pick between booking somewhere in advance, and waiting it out for those last minute specials, but I hands down prefer planning ahead. Because I prefer to know that I’m not going to miss out on a great time due to indecision or a lack of finances later on. Sign up for various newsletters so you can keep up to date with specials currently on offer, like the regular discounted stays offered via TravelGround.
- Consider budget accommodation with perks
If you’re happy to compromise on your accommodation and pick an ungraded establishment that offers some luxury amenities, you can afford to splurge a bit on special extra’s, such as in-house massages, horse-riding on the beach, or a day at the golf course.
- All-inclusive packages
Budgeting for individual items like meals and drinks can be cost effective if you opt for less extravagant options, such as main-course only dinners. However, all-inclusive stays tend to offer more value for money and include perks that you may not consider in your initial budget; such as a 3-course dinner with wine, offered at the same pricing as a main course meal elsewhere.
- Opulent alternatives
There’s no need to compromise on your luxurious stay, but be smart about where you book. There are numerous B&B’s that offer 4 – 5 star facilities and amenities, and cost half the price that a hotel with the same star grading would. If you’ve got your heart set on a swanky place, you can try to curb costs by shortening your stay, and booking into a more budget accommodation afterwards. This way, you will get to enjoy the luxury experience for a night or two, but you won’t go into debt by prolonging the experience.
Let us know how you enjoy luxury while travelling on a budget?
Main image of Mont Plaisir Guest Farm
