Top ten money saving tips for travellers

Need a break but fear you can't afford it? Well don't despair because here are ten areas where you can save money and still see the world.

1. Ditch the travel agent and hit the web

Browsing the internet can save you big bucks and take the hassle and out of visiting (as well as paying) for a travel agent. Travel reservation sites search numerous hotel reservation sites simultaneously to return the cheapest rates to their customers.

Last but certainly not least, make sure you sign up to relevant web based newsletters to ensure you are up-to-date with the best deals around.

2. Stuff yourself at breakfast

Make sure you book a hotel where breakfast is included. Eat as much as is possible at the buffet, so you are too full throughout the day to even think about lunch. When you do eat out, find the off the beaten track restaurants that are frequented by locals – better food, cheaper.

3. Be thrifty with food

Buy market produce. What's fresh and in season is always cheaper, and it's fun to spend the morning meandering through a local market, picking out what tickles your fancy to eat for dinner that night. Have a picnic in your hotel room with some bread, cheese, cold meat, salad, and locally produced wine – cheap and delish!

4. Get around like the locals

Do it like the locals do and get around on a public transport travel card or multi day pass. London's Oyster card saves you upward from $4 every trip. You could even hire a push-bike for the day. Just don't carry your map in front of your face – it's a dead giveaway that you're a tourist.

5. Make money while you're there

Whether you’re teaching English or singing on a corner (or on top of a bar), it's not too difficult to earn a few dimes while you're away. It's also a great way to meet people, and who knows; your talents might just get "discovered"!

6. BYO

Drinks in bars are expensive: drink before you go out. It's way cheaper to neck a couple of vodka lemonades in the hotel than to buy cocktails at the bar. Otherwise, find a nice cosy restaurant that lets you bring your own bottle of vino that you bought for next-to-nothing at the markets.

7. Drive there

Heading off on holiday doesn't have to take you overseas. With so much to see and do close to home, why not head off on a long drive and escape the city? There are gorgeous boutique hotels on offer right around Australia, and loads to see and do in this wide and wonderful country.

8. Visit affordable countries

It might sound obvious, but a cheap holiday is most easily found in an affordable country. There is a very valid reason why your friends have all been jetting off to Bali, Fiji and Thailand for their getaways recently: these countries are stunningly beautiful, and cheap as chips. It's not unrealistic to expect a full-body, one hour massage on a beach in Thailand, for $10 AUD. Bring it on!

9. Go in the shoulder season

Don’t go during school holidays – prices are bumped up, and you'll have to listen to someone else's kids running around squealing the whole time. With fewer customers around, airlines, hotels, restaurants and attractions will offer great deals and occasionally even freebies. And everybody loves a freebie.

10. Duty free

Duty free will save you 10% on booze! While you might think your boyfriend will adore that statue of the Empire State Building you picked up for him in New York and lugged all the way home with you – chances are he would prefer a bottle of his favourite aftershave that you can pick up duty free once you arrive at your home airport.