Planning a road trip can be an exciting adventure, but it can also get expensive if you’re not careful. Here are ten budget-friendly tips to help you make the most of your journey without breaking the bank. We have undertaken many road trips over the years so sharing our own tried and tested tips here.
1. Plan Your Route and Budget
Before hitting the road, map out your route and create a budget. This will help you estimate costs for fuel, accommodation, food, and activities. We do try to stick as close to it as we can, appreciate this really
isn’t always possible but its a good guide to aim for.
2. Pack Your Own Snacks and Meals
Eating out can quickly add up. Pack a cooler with snacks, sandwiches, and drinks to save money on food. We have become total pros at this. While we do of course enjoy treats on the road. We find that by bringing what the kids like for snacks, not only does it save money but it saves time searching for a place that they all like and want to eat in
3. Choose Affordable Accommodation
Look for budget-friendly accommodation options such as hostels, motels, or camping sites. This can be one of your biggest expenses and can really eat up your budget. We do a lot of research in this area before we leave and use all the various booking engines to compare prices.
4. Travel During Off-Peak Times
Traveling during off-peak seasons can save you money on accommodation and activities. Appreciate this isn’t always possible with kids in school and hobbies etc
5. Use Apps to Find Deals
There are many apps available that can help you find deals on accommodation, fuel, and activities. Nowadays there really is an app for everything, even the like of Uber eats, or Free now for transport can have discounts for new customers in new countries, or even the likes of Groupon or Living Social.
6. Take Advantage of Free Activities
Research free activities and attractions along your route. We have become pros at this and you really don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun.
7. Share Costs with Friends
Traveling with friends or family can help you split costs for fuel, accommodation, and food. We often do this and travel as a multigenerational holiday. My parents love spending time with their grandkids and we all share the costs, a win win situation.
8. Maintain Your Vehicle
Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you start your trip. I cannot stress this enough,
emergency repairs and call outs can be really expensive. And yes I am talking from experience unfortunately. Our approach to this aside from regular maintenance is to keep a relatively new car which we do utilising a finance provider like Vizion Finance. This helps spread the cost and make it a lot more affordable.
9. Avoid Tourist Traps
Tourist areas often have higher prices for food and activities. To be totally honest most of our favourite adventures have been those off the beaten track or those lesser known attraction in popular tourist areas.
10. Be Flexible
Flexibility can help you take advantage of last-minute deals and changes in plans. We are probably at the extreme end of this in that we wouldn’t hesitate to get up and go with minutes notice!! 
By following these tips, you can enjoy a memorable road trip without overspending. Tell me in the comments below if you have trips planned or if there are any tips that I have missed
Happy travels!
Note: This is a collaborative post
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