The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

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Tips on Bagging Some Travel Savings by Booking Last Minute

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If you have the travel bug but your aren’t feeling flush enough to spend money on an expensive trip, then this is an article which is right up your street. Last minute travel has had its naysayers over the years and whilst there are many aspects of travel which you could once save on when you booked last minute that you no longer can, there are still plenty of ways you can bag a discount if you wait it out.

Whether you are looking for long haul savings or cheap last minute deals for a cruise, here are some top tips on how to secure them.

Flexible With Your Location

If you have you heart truly set on somewhere then you are unlikely to be able to get a great last minute discount, simply because your window of opportunity is so small. If however you simply want to get away from it all and explore somewhere new, then you are going to put yourself in a great position to be able to get a worthwhile discount. Most flight aggregators now have an ‘anywhere’ option that you can put in for destination, keep checking in and see where you may end up.

Flexible Dates

In recent years we have seen that some of the biggest flight and hotel savings are found by those who are prepared to travel and return on weekdays rather than the traditional weekend to weekend vacation. Stay flexible with your dates and you’ll be far better placed to go out and get those big savings.

Signing Up

There are few things more frustrating than an email inbox which is bursting at the seams with spam and unwanted junk mail, which is why many of us will ‘opt out’ of receiving newsletters from companies. If however you are looking to save some serious cash on your travels then it is highly recommended that you sign up to the newsletters and communications of airlines, tour operators and holiday providers. Often you’ll find some killer deals in these emails which you may very well be missing out on right now.

Following Social Media Accounts

There is an abundance of social media accounts which track airlines, cruise companies and hotels, looking to spot great last minute deals or pricing errors which you could take advantage of. Usually the deals that they share online are gone in a heartbeat which is why you should be looking to keep your finger on the pulse of the content that they are sharing.

Traveling Light

Most of the best offers that you will find on flights will not include any more than carry-on luggage, something which puts many off. If however you are able to be smart with your packing then you can take advantage of these deals. In reality you can still take a pretty sizable suitcase with you that fits into the restrictions around carry-on luggage, think smart, pack smart and save a huge amount of money on those last minute flight deals.

Wait for it… wait for it… go get that deal.

 

Tips for Sticking to Your Shopping Budget While Travelling

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If you think about it, the need to shop was what brought expeditions around the world. Think of the Portuguese or the English setting sail out in the world because they were looking for spices and silk from across the globe. So it is not surprising to realize that even today, shopping and traveling seem to go together.

In fact, for globetrotting shopaholics, they find that it is probably one of the best ways to get to know a place. Haggling with the local merchants and purchasing their products can be thought of as immersing yourself in the culture. However, as exciting as shopping sounds, it is not without its problems. Apart from negotiating prices, the most significant challenge is making sure we get to stick to our travel budget.

After spending for flight tickets, hotel accommodation, and travel insurance, striking a balance between rewarding yourself and following a budget might seem daunting. There is a way to save money and still come home with arms full of goodies — just follow these tips!

Avoid the big brand names

When traveling, try not to buy from big brands for one simple reason: they are available at home, too. Yeah, there is something unique about being able to experience buying Givenchy or Zara in France, but that limits your buying options. Pretty soon, you might not have enough money left to purchase local artisan or handicraft wares exclusively available in small local boutiques.

Do your research first

While it is tempting to buy from every little shop you encounter, looking up where you can find genuine local products will help you get a good deal. For instance, in Japan, there are lots of shops that sell the kimono. However, not being local would mean you would not know what to look for when shopping for a kimono other than its design and size. So the best way to make sure you end up buying good quality items is to do your homework at home first and look it up.

Additionally, the estimated price should be part of your research. Knowing the cost range will help you decide how much you can allocate for shopping, and how much will be left for food and other expenses.

Get familiar with the range of products and prices available

It is a good idea to allot time to browse around shops before actually shopping. This will give you an idea of the price range available for every merchandise. And honestly, if you think a particular deal is too good to be true (and it probably is), just familiarising yourself with the prices will help you decide where and which items to buy.

Learn the different ways to haggle

Some merchants allow their customers to haggle for the price, make sure you take advantage of that opportunity. Haggling methods vary from place to place, and if you are uncomfortable to negotiate on prices, you need to learn the different strategies for haggling. Some areas would prefer it if their customers are assertive, while others would be more amenable to your negotiations if you say it in a softer tone. So make sure that while you are browsing items, you observe how people around you are haggling, then adapt.

Follow these tips, and you will surely have no problems buying to heart’s desire without hurting your travel shopping budget. Good luck!