Lifestyle
Travelling to new destinations is always exciting, but it requires more than just packing a bag and remembering your passport. Among the essentials, financial readiness tops the list. And that's because being financially ready can make the difference between a smooth journey and a bumpy one.
To ensure your next trip is a success, we will guide you through the steps you should take for a stress-free travel experience.
- Set a travel budget
Before taking off, it's important to create a travel budget. Begin by considering your overall financial situation and how much you can comfortably set aside for your trip. Consider your salary, expenses, and any existing financial commitments (for example, car loan instalments). Once you understand your financial limits, you can determine how much you can spend during your trip.
Next, break down your budget into different categories: transportation, food, sightseeing activities, and other expenses. This will help you keep track of how much you're spending on each category and prevent overspending. And don't forget! Leave some extra cash for unexpected expenses or emergencies.
- Save up
Saving money for travel requires discipline and a proactive approach. Start by analysing your current spending habits and identify areas where you can cut back. Consider reducing unnecessary expenses. Instead, redirect those funds towards your travel savings.
You can create a separate savings account and set up automatic transfers from your main account. When you open a savings account on the Bank al Etihad mobile banking app, you also have the option to round your purchases to the nearest JOD.
For example, if you pay 3.50 JOD using your card, 0.50 will be transferred to your savings account. The amount may seem small now, but it adds up over time and will help you reach your travel budget faster. You can even speed up reaching your budget by multiplying your round-up amount by up to 10 times!
- Book flight tickets
Finding affordable flight tickets is a crucial part of any trip. Start by researching and comparing prices across different airlines and travel websites. Visit websites that allow you to compare prices from multiple sources at the same time. Be flexible with your travel dates and consider travelling during off-peak seasons to secure better deals.
Consider booking flights with layovers or choosing budget airlines to reduce costs even more. When comparing prices, consider extra expenses like luggage fees, seat selection, and in-flight meals.
Once you find a suitable flight at a reasonable price, book it as soon as possible because prices can fluctuate quickly, and delaying your booking may result in higher prices.
- Find an accommodation
Accommodations can be costly, but with some research, you can find budget-friendly options other than hotels, such as hostels and vacation rentals.
In addition, you can opt for accommodations located slightly outside the city centre because prices tend to be lower.
- Choose the right card
When picking a card that will be your trusty travel buddy, make sure to choose one that aligns with your travel goals and financial needs.
It's important to remember that different cards provide different advantages. When it comes to accessing airport lounges, our Platinum, Signature, and Infinite credit cards have you covered. Similarly, our Signature and Infinite debit cards also offer access to airport lounges.
Don't want to worry about exchange rates or fees at your travel destination? Stick with our foreign currency credit card. And if you're not much of a credit card user, no worries! Our multi-currency prepaid card lets you load 13 currencies other than JOD for all your globetrotting adventures!
- Get travel insurance
Travel insurance does more than cover medical expenses. It also protects you against luggage loss or theft and flight cancellation fees, among other things, which is why we always advise people to travel with it.
You can easily get travel insurance through our mobile banking app. Just follow these simple steps here. Once you've made your purchase, we'll send your travel insurance certificate straight to your email. So, you don't have to leave your house or even get off your couch!
- Start a daily travel expenses diary
It's crucial to start a daily travel expenses diary to avoid overspending and keep track of your expenses during your trip. Start by calculating the average cost of meals, transportation, sightseeing activities, and other daily expenses at your travel destination.
If you're unsure how much living costs are where you're heading, you can find information on travel blogs and forums.
Once you have a rough idea of daily costs, create a spreadsheet to record your daily expenses. Set a daily spending limit and track your actual expenses against it. This will help you identify areas where you can adjust your spending and stay within your budget.
We hope this article's steps prepare you to take your travels to the next level. Now, all you have to do is take many pictures once you land!
Banking Basics
