Traveling is unquestionably the best way of spending a vacation. You get to see new countries, explore new cultures, and get away from the everyday noise. However, this pleasure might turn out to be very expensive, of course, if you don’t have extra billion dollars on your credit card and a few successful companies back home.
If you want to see more things, you need to spend your money wisely. For example, you can give up the chance of staying in a 5-star hotel and can visit another city instead. So here are a few ways of planning your cheap holiday as thrilling as ever.
Start in the Airplane
The first thing you spend your money on is your plane ticket. In certain seasons, like summer, ticket costs are crazy high, but you can reduce a few zeros by planning your trip beforehand.
Plan your vacation time early in the year, let your boss know, apply for a Schengen visa (if you need one) and start researching the airlines. Some airlines would offer direct flights, others might be indirect, meaning it will take you longer to get to Lisbon, and you’ll be twice more tired. Don’t pick and choose at face value, compare flights, and you will most probably find a deal that will save you a lot of money.
Plan Your Stay
Although it’s always nice to have a luxurious bathtub in your room, but 5-star hotels are not always the best choice. If you are on budget travel, look for a soft pillow, not for shiny hallways. Some of the comparatively cheaper hotels are SANA Estoril Hotel, Hotel Real Parque, Ibis Lisboa Oeiras, Hotel Tivoli Sintra, and so on.
Look for discounts, traveler reviews, and so on. Bed & Breakfasts or hostels are can also be cheap choices, though you should consider the fact that they won’t be convenient if you’re traveling with kids.
Eat Tasty and Cheap
It’s probably useless to say that the cheapest way of eating in Lisbon is going to the supermarket. You can get some muffins or make a sandwich for breakfast, do picnics for lunch, and find a cheap restaurant for dinner.
Some of the restaurants that serve good food and won’t rob you of your belongings are Cafe Luso (which is, by the way, a great place to listen to Fado), Solar dos Presuntos, Rua dos Douradores, Tasco da Sé and so on. They are not the best of everything in Lisbon but they serve delicious food. You will have to pay no more than 10 Euro, which is not much at all, especially considering other European cities, which are even more expensive.
Attraction Savings
Some places are overrated and, most importantly, overpriced. There are a number of events and festivals that don’t require tickets but are extremely fun. After all, you need to get acquainted with Portuguese culture. You can take your own tour through Alfama, Lisbon churches, and other places of interest.
Despite the financial limitations, don’t be greedy on everything. There are a few things that are worth your money. You can combine free-admission famous museums with some of the expensive eating places or attractions, to get the taste of Lisbon.
Keep in mind to save on things you are not a fan of, and spend yourself on your passions. This would be the best vacation plan you will remember till the rest of your life.
