Travelling on a Limited Budget

Everyone likes to go on vacation whether they are senior citizens, students, families, or being just single. It is possible to travel on a limited budget if the necessary preparation and research is done in advance.

Travelling on a Limited BudgetBuying tickets in advance

Train tickets can be bought for very much less if they are bought at least three months in advance. This involves checking out family and group discounts.

Buying tickets that are flexible with dates, and that do not involve peak hours are usually cheaper. Peak hours include 6.30 am to 9.30 am and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

If you travel out of peak hours, it is most probable that you can afford  first class travel. Travelling during spring , fall, or winter is usually cheaper than summer months.

Summer months are crowded with vacationers. It is cheaper to buy tickets way in advance for long distances, and to buy tickets the same day for shorter distances.

Buying on-line

Buying on-line takes out the hassle out of joining lines. It is easy and convenient and all the information can be checked at home with just the click of a button.  All the discounts that involve senior citizens, and students can be applied.

E-Tickets are easy to check in with, because all the information has already been added to the computer’s data base. It is also convenient to search for cheap train fares on sale and how to redeem reward points. Redeeming reward points is a good way to buy your whole fare once you qualify.


Travelling on a Limited Budget

The type of ticket

Buying two tickets can be cheaper than a return. Using a broker to check for the cheapest rate is a convenient way to obtain ready-made information. This provides information about cheap operators with cheap fares. Multi city tickets could also prove to be cheaper.

If you are a regular traveller, it is sometimes cheaper to get a rail card or season tickets. Frequent passengers are also given discounts.

Splitting the journey

Splitting the journey in two could allow you to get cheap train tickets than buying a ticket for the whole journey. The only disadvantage is that the train will have to stop at the stations that you buy tickets for.

So if you have a lot of time but not a lot of money you could check the stations where the train will stop at, and check the fares and savings that are associated with splitting the journey.

Rail Passes or tickets,

If you are travelling in Europe and plan to go between countries before planning your vacation it is good to  check whether it is cheaper to have rail passes or tickets. The point to point tickets may be more cost-effective than rail passes. However rail passes may offer more flexibility with time.

Travelling on a limited budget encourages cheap train fares but this may result in the journey being longer and of a lower standard. However the rides can still be scenic and enjoyable.

 Travelling on a Limited Budget is a guest post from Carly Greaves who is a London travel writer and a serious backpacker having travel across Europe and Asia on a six month trip around the globe.