Most of us are looking for ways to travel without spending a lot of money. But a low budget isn't just about cheap tickets and accommodation.
In fact, many of us overlook other travel expenses, such as the unnecessary money we spend at the airport.
Expensive parking
«Depending on the length of our trip, airport parking can be astronomically expensive,» says Andrea Grock, an economist based in Bakersfield, California. «We can find alternatives by choosing parking lots that are not in close proximity to the airport.
«Those who turn up at the airport at the last minute end up parking in the nearest car park, which is usually the most expensive», says economist Gina McKaggie of McKague Financial in Michigan. «Depending on how long our trip takes, we end up paying more for parking than our airfare.».
Baggage delivery at the airline counter
Andrea Warock advises to take only the essentials and pre-pay the charges for bags to be checked in at the airline counter. We check their weight to avoid extra charges for overweight.
Forgetting the reusable bottle
«The No. 1 suggestion to avoid unnecessary expenses is to carry a reusable water bottle with you to avoid buying it at the airport, which has a hefty price tag,» says LearnLux economist Mamie Wheaton of Phoenix, Arizona.
The unnecessary purchase of plastic water bottles is bad for the environment and our budget, especially in the «monopolistic» economy of an airport.
Let's go shopping
Just as the price of bottled water is unlikely to be economical, the same is true for other products.
It is advisable to have done market research before visiting duty-free shops as prices can vary for the same product from store to store, says James Danavant, CEO of digital finance platform Tend.
«For example, at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, the price of a 1-litre Bacardi Gold varies from 14 to 23 dollars (12.50 to 20 euros), depending on the gate we are at.».
What we need to restrain is avoiding shopping when the flight is delayed, which usually leads us to splurge in order to entertain our boredom.
And as Andrea Warock rightly points out, «Nothing good ever comes from airport shopping».
Taking the wrong things in hand luggage
«Another mistake we make at the airport that costs us more money is not understanding the transportation restrictions,» says Gina McGeigy.
You should put the items you are not allowed to carry in the cabin in the suitcase you hand in at the airline counter, and the essentials in your hand luggage.
«We make sure we have a small carry-on with some essentials,» says Mamie Wheaton. «If we lose our suitcase or get stuck at the airport for a long time, we won't have to spend any money to buy things like a toothbrush, a sweatshirt or a charger for our phone.».
Free benefits
A good way to reduce costs at the airport is to look at the free benefits for which we may qualify. For example, an airline loyalty programme may include vouchers or club access for certain routes, which has an impact on our credit card.
«If we travel frequently, we use a credit card that will give us free access to the various lounge bars», says Mamie Wheaton. «While these cards typically charge an annual fee, if we travel frequently, the amenities can easily offset the fee. They offer free food, drinks, wi-fi and are staffed with personnel who can help us if we experience a delay or flight cancellation.».
Snack markets
The ideal is have made provisions for food before arriving at the airport.
«We buy the snack by the gate and not on the plane. Some in-flight meals have to be pre-booked and can be much higher priced,» says James Danavant.
Car rental
We do market research necessarily. One website that could be useful to us is the CarRentals.com.
«Airport car rental agencies are in higher demand during high travel periods, which leads to higher prices,» says Andrea Warock.
«Often we can find better deals at car rental agencies far from the airport. We check with our hotel if they have a free shuttle service that could take us to the car rental agency, otherwise we opt for public transport or taxis.».
Public transport
As Andrea Warock explains, «Taking a taxi may seem like the easiest option when you get to the airport, but it's certainly not the cheapest.».
«In some cities, public transport is easily accessible and the most cost-effective way to get to your hotel or final destination.».
Information can be found at the public transport offices of the airports or at the hotel where we will be staying.
Contingencies
While many of the costs of a trip are within our control, there are some that are not, so it's best to be prepared to avoid spending more money than we have calculated.
«These days, travel rarely runs smoothly and delays are almost inevitable,» says Mamie Wheaton.
«When we plan a trip, we set aside some extra money in case we need to buy food while at the airport for a long time, book a hotel for a night the airline won't cover or pay for a change in our airline ticket.».
