6 Tips for enjoying the vacations without spending too much

23 de July, 2024

Many Portuguese take their vacations in August. If that’s the case with you, you’re probably already counting down the days to that much-desired – and much-needed – break from work and the daily grind.

And while vacations are synonymous with rest and relaxation, they can also mean increased expenses.

If you’re looking to keep your finances under control during this period, discover some tips we have for you.

1 – Plan your vacation in advance

Planning should be the watchword if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises when it comes to the cost of your vacation. If you’re booking a vacation for next month, it’s likely that all prices will be highly inflated, since we’re already in high season.

Ideally, you should look at the various options for destinations, transportation, accommodation and activities well in advance. Booking early will allow you to find more affordable prices on accommodation, travel (by plane or train) and even activities you might want to do (like boat trips, for example).

Do some research and use price comparison websites. If you have the flexibility, choose to travel on less popular days with lower fares.

2 – Set a realistic budget

This is a fundamental aspect that many people tend to overlook: after all, how much can you spend on your vacation?

Make a list of all the expected expenses, such as travel, accommodation, food, leisure activities, any local trips, souvenirs and other additional purchases. Depending on your destination, you may have other associated expenses, such as insurance, tourist taxes, visas, etc.

Do this calculation and see if the amount is within your real possibilities. Then stick to the budget you have set. A practical way of doing this can be to set a maximum daily amount that you can spend and monitor whether you are sticking to it.

3 – Take advantage of discounts and loyalty programs

Many airlines, booking sites, accommodations and other tourism companies have loyalty programs. These programs allow repeat customers to obtain discounts and advantageous conditions on future bookings.

In the case of leisure activities, visits to museums and other attractions, you can see if they are available for booking through platforms such as Odisseias, Lifecooler, Tiqets or Mygon. These sites offer promotional campaigns for various experiences and activities in Portugal, but also in other countries.

What’s more, Edenred users have additional advantages when buying vouchers or tickets through these partner brands. Find out which ones by accessing the Advantage Discount Program in your MyEdenred App.

4 – Avoid impulse purchases

Since vacations provide a break from routine, it’s also natural to feel less inhibited about making purchases you wouldn’t normally make. However, impulse purchases – however cheap and innocuous they may seem – can jeopardize the budget you have set for your vacation.

Always keep this budget in mind and avoid waste and superfluous spending. Try to spend money only on things that are meaningful to you and the people you’re on vacation with.

5 – Eat consciously

If they are not included in the accommodation you have booked, food costs can represent a very considerable slice of your budget. Here are some practical tips to help you:

• Prepare some meals or snacks at home, thus avoiding having to eat all your meals outside the home while ensuring that they are healthier;
• Look for cheaper restaurants or restaurants that have promotional campaigns on booking platforms;
• Avoid restaurants and food stores in very touristy areas, which typically have higher prices.

Read also: How to save on food? 9 practical tips

6 – Start saving before your vacation

Just as you should plan your vacation in advance, you should also start putting some money aside to finance it.

Take a portion of your monthly vacation budget and put it into another account or a specific savings account. Having the money available for the vacations separate from your current account will also help you to better monitor your spending and be more aware of how much you can afford to spend.

Do you follow these good practices when you go on vacation? Although this may be a period of greater carefreeness and less discipline, it is essential to ensure responsible and conscious planning in order to maintain your family’s financial well-being.