When it comes to travelling the world, there is one potential downside that stymies even the most determined of travel plans: the cost. Travelling is undoubtedly a very expensive hobby, which means if your wanderlust is biting and you can't wait to travel the world, the idea of a cheap holiday is incredibly inviting.
Why is cheap so damaging? Well, it tends to mean that every aspect of the holiday has been chosen not for how beneficial it is to the customer, but to how cheaply it can be obtained for the provider.
This means that you could find yourself at a hotel with malfunctioning electronics, bed linens so uncomfortable you can barely sleep, and just a generally poor level of service.
Cheap flights could mean that you are a victim of overbooking, or that the flight will be landing a huge distance away from the city it claims to be landing at.
Finally, cheap deals — such as sightseeing tours — will often be cut short, poor value, and even fail to deliver on what you have been promised.
Low cost, on the other hand, means that the hotel or deal is being provided with the budget traveller in mind. Yes, the provider wants to keep the costs down, but that's not the only factor in the decision making. While holidays with low costs providers and hotels won't be a byword for luxury, they shouldn't be unpleasant or outright dangerous.
So, the key question: how can you differentiate between "cheap" and "low cost"?
Learning how to spot the difference between "cheap" and "low cost" is incredibly important.
Limited number of photos on the site— or worse yet, the only photos on the site appear to be stock images. You can use a reverse image search to see if this is the case for a hotel you're considering.
Vagueness when discussing travel arrangements or requirements; information is never clearly presented.
The deal keeps dropping in price, with often only a few days in between the price drops.
Cheap flights will usually be just that— cheap. They are otherwise indistinguishable any other flight.
If you spot a particularly cheap deal, you need to do your research. Don't take the destination city as read. Let's say, for example, that you're planning on flying to Rome. This is the destination that the flight is going to, so you might be happy to make the booking. However, a little research will reveal that Rome has two airports; one of which is convenient, the other of which is nearly an hour from the city itself. You will likely find that a cheap flight provider will be flying to the distant airport, while low cost will be flying to the main airport.
So always check out the airport that the flight is travelling to, rather than just the city, if you want to be cautious of cheap flights.
While travelling is often about exploring foreign lands and delighting in other cultures, you can have a wonderful time in your home country if you're on a budget. Pick an area that you have never visited before and that you know relatively little about, then visit using public transport and your own knowledge of securing good deals in your home country. It might not be the far-flung foreign travel you dream of, but it should be enough to keep your wanderlust under control until you can afford your next big trip.
If you're a frequent traveller, then chances are you have amassed a few reward points or frequent flyer miles. If you can add some funds to your reward points, then you might be surprised by just how fantastic a holiday you'll be able to afford. As inspiration, consider how Alex Miller from Upgraded Points was able to cover the cost of an incredible trip with relatively little financial investment— the rest was covered by his reward points. This is a great choice if you have some money to spend, but not enough money to spend on an entire holiday— use your reward points to make up the difference and secure yourself a great deal.
Yes, it's the option that no traveller truly wants to consider; if you want to travel, then the idea of waiting for a trip can feel extremely stifling. However, it's better for your financial situation and your own well-being to opt to stay home rather than take a risk with a cheap deal. As you wait, you can keep scouring the internet looking for low cost, rather than cheap, deals that might fit into your available budget.
So while you may be desperate to travel, it's important to be careful. Hopefully, one of the alternatives above may help to settle your wanderlust… for awhile, at least!