For some, saving up is a great way to get excited about a trip, but for others, working out the expense of travelling abroad can cause restlessness. Luckily for you, there are numerous ways that you can start saving up and we’ve even pulled together tips to help you budget for your trip to Portugal. Whilst applying for a payday loan online can help you should you find yourself in a financial emergency, consider our five budgeting tips for your trip to Portugal below that can save you money from the moment you decide to plan your trip abroad!
1. Embrace Off-Peak Season Travel
We understand that you might want to travel in the height of the season or may have no choice due to having a family or work commitments, but if you can, we strongly suggest embracing off-peak season travel. The best prices on flights, accommodation and near enough everything else are all available during off-peak seasons – essentially, you’ll want to avoid June through September, along with the Easter and Christmas holidays.
In essence, the best time to travel to Portugal is from late January to mid-March. Though you might not be greeted by a surge of heat when you arrive, there is plenty more to the country than simply lounging along the coast of The Algarve. Embracing the off-season gives you the opportunity to explore the hidden gems of the country you may not visit otherwise without the hustle and bustle of other tourists.
2. Book Last Minute Hotels
If you have booked your flight but have noticed that the cost of booking a hotel for a week away in Portugal is still significantly high, we highly suggest booking last minute. We understand that you might not want to leave booking your hotel up until the very last minute, but you should book weeks – not months – in advance if you want to save money. Booking your hotel or preferred form of accommodation as much as up to three weeks in advance can save you a huge amount of money!
For even greater savings, why not stay in a hostel? Both Vistas de Lisboa Hostel and Yes! Lisbon Hostel, complete with a bar and free tours, enable you to stay for as little as £12 per night!
3. Hire A Car
We get it. You don’t want to walk everywhere, and you certainly don’t want to be flagging down a taxi late at night, which is why hiring a car for the duration of your stay in Portugal could be the next best option for you. Ultimately, when you hire a car, you don’t have to worry about the costs quickly mounting up, as you will pay for your rented vehicle in advance.
Moreover, when you hire a car in Portugal, you have the freedom to explore places that would be much harder to reach by taxi or bus, and thus you are completely in control of your trip!
4. Spend Less On Dining Out
Ultimately, one of the most effective ways to save on dining is to opt for a fixed-price menu at lunchtime. Several restaurants, including local restaurants, offer a menu of the day – pratos do dia – that consists of multiple dishes they want to feature throughout the day, costing no more than €5.
When it comes to dinnertime, you may find that you are not yet hungry and may simply decide to snack, or buy some bread rolls, butter and a selection of meat from a local supermarket to stop your hunger-fuelled cravings.
5. The Best Things In Life Are Free
It’s true that the best things in life are free, and there are plenty of free attractions that you and your family can visit in Portugal. Regardless of where you are in Portugal, whether it is Coimbra or Aveiro, it is highly likely that local museums will host a free morning or afternoon, if not being completely free all year-round. Exploring Feira da Ladra, the oldest market in Lisbon, and visiting the Santa Luzia Viewpoint are just two activities not to be missed during your stay in Portugal and are, you guessed it, completely free!
From hiring a car in order to avoid the hefty cost of public transport and the difficulty of flagging down a taxi late at night, to embracing off-peak season travel in order to save money on your flight and accommodation, there are numerous ways you can budget for your trip to Portugal both before you go and throughout the duration of your stay. What are your top budgeting tips?
