Travel
TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU TRAVEL
ON A BUDGET
T
hings are changing in the
Middle East, and everyone
seems to be on a budget
nowadays, but if you are like
me and live for your holidays, I have
some top tips that will help you to
continue to enjoy travelling without
breaking the bank.
1. Collect air miles
Everyone might have heard of air
miles, and chances are, you are already
a member of one or more air miles
programmes with different airlines.
Collecting air miles on just one airline
is, in my opinion, the slower way to get
to a free or discounted flight, instead,
I recommend joining a programme
which allows you to collect air miles
which can be used on any airline. In
the Middle East, Airmiles.me is an
excellent programme to join, as it will
enable you to collect air miles on your
everyday purchases in selected shops.
If you are not scared of credit cards,
then HSBC bank offers an advanced
master card which allows you to earn
air miles every time you use it. I use
this credit card exclusively for all my
purchases, and I pay it off monthly. So
far, I have been able to redeem several
free tickets on the airlines of my
choice. The only thing to be aware of
is that the interest rate is quite high, so
make sure to always clear your balance
when the bill is due. If you mostly
travel on Etihad or Emirates airlines,
several banks offer cards on which you
can gain miles on either of these two
airlines, every time you spend.
2. Look for a deal
Sites like Groupon are increasingly
offering discounted holidays to various
destinations. The only drawback is that
as educators we can only travel in the
high season when these deals might
not be available, but if you are flexible
with your destination and flights, you
might still be able to bag a bargain.
The trick is always to check the deal
sites and to act fast. The Entertainer,
which is an app offering two for one
deal on hotels, is also another great
option. Use a two for one deal on
hotels with the Entertainer and a
budget airline like Fly Dubai, and you
have a winning combination. There are
also travel companies like Holidayme.
com and The Holiday Factory, which
offer affordable packaged holidays to
various destinations.
3. Travel with a group
Many educators travel together;
they share transport, tours and
accommodation, which then makes
the trip more affordable. Can't find
a group? Start one, all it takes is a
post on your social media, stating
where and when you want to go,
while inviting others who would like
to come along to get in touch with
you. The advantage of group travel is
that you are able to take advantage
of group rates on flights, hotels and
tours. Check out groups on Facebook
like; Lovin Dubai Travellers and Abu
Dhabi Travelers where you can meet
likeminded people and ask for advice
on various destinations.
4. Consider a staycation
If you cannot afford to fly and travel
is an itch that you must scratch, then
a staycation might be just what you
need. There are plenty of exciting
places close by or a short drive away
that you can explore. Check out the
neighbouring cities, emirates and
countries. Get a group of your friends
and rent a villa by the beach or a
cottage in the mountains. Don't be the
person who spends many years living
in the Middle East without exploring
all the fantastic places that are right
on your doorsteps.
54
Term 1 Sep - Dec 2019
After the Bell