Free Things You Can Do on Vacation to Save Money

Going on vacation isn't cheap. The cost of flights, accommodation, and meals adds up, so it's normal to want to find ways to cut back on your expenses without going too overboard with your spending.One of the best ways to save money on vacation is by doing some free activities. This is the most manageable expense to trim; remember, you need to eat; you've got to find a way to get there and somewhere to stay, so it's a no-brainer.You might be wondering if this is even possible, but it sure is; you'll find lots of free experiences to do that won't break the bank when you're on holiday in this article.

Go to the Beach

In most destinations, you'll find a free beach to visit unless you need a sun bed to lounge on, even at the famous Arienzo Beach in Italy's famous Positano. You've just got to keep an eye out for the free section, where the people are lying down with a towel rather than availing of one of the sun loungers.Be sure to bring along everything you need so you don't have to reluctantly fork out unnecessary money at an overpriced stand. Things like lunch, water, sunscreen, a shovel, and a spade for the kids will do the trick.

Take a Hike

Hiking is a fantastic free activity you can do wherever you are in the world. That's the beauty of nature: there's no charge to experience it. All you need is a pair of half-decent walking shoes and a bottle of water, and then you're good to go and hit the trails.Most people think you need mountains to hike, but that's not true. You can hike on paved trails, between villages, or coast to coast if you've got enough energy in you.Keep in mind that not all hikes are free, particularly if you go to a national park; there's often a fee to enter them in order to build facilities for visitors and conserve the park's beauty. If you're looking for a trail wherever you are, you can use apps like AllTrails and Strava.

Join a Free Walking Tour

The best way to get to know a city is by taking a walking tour, and luckily enough, many of them are free, especially in places around Europe. You can tip your guide if you enjoyed the experience, but it's at your discretion; don't feel obliged to do it if you don't want to.Whenever you arrive in a city, just type into Google 'free walking tours,' and some providers will show up. Often, you'll just have to give your name so they have a better idea of the number. However, some just require you to show up at the meeting point, or if you see the tour leader standing with a flag saying free tours, you can approach them and ask if you can join.

Check out Some Free Museums

If you're a history buff, you'd be crazy not to check out some free museums when you're away. These tend to be government-funded displays, which is why they don't cost visitors anything to enter.Take Washington, D.C., for example; think of the number of museums there that don't charge anything, from the Smithsonian museums to the Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.You'll also be able to find some museums that offer free entry on certain days of the week, like the Goya, Velázquez, and Picasso in Madrid. Do your research before you arrive; you'd be surprised at the number of museums that won't cost you a dime to go and see.

Visit Some Local Markets

What better way to get a glimpse of local life than paying a visit to some markets? When we say markets, we don't mean the typical type set up specifically for tourists; we're talking about places where residents go to do their shopping. You don't have to buy anything when you're there, although it's good to give back to the local economy in some way by picking up a handful of local fruit or vegetables. Typically, the goods here aren't expensive, so if you want to pick up some food for the room, it's a great place to do so. Local markets tend to be the epicenter of a city; you'll get to witness the true hustle and bustle of a place while also understanding the way of local life that many tourists don't get to see.

Attend a Free Event

Free events are always being held in major cities, whether in New York or Phoenix, no matter what time of year. You've just got to find them online before touching down or asking the person working at the reception of the accommodation you're staying in. Another way of seeking them out is by heading to the city's tourist information center; if something is going on, they'll be one of the first groups of people to hear about it.

Hit up Some Historical Landmarks

Most historical landmarks can be seen from a distance, so you don't have to pay anything to catch a glimpse of them. Think of sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty; there's no fee for them. Usually, government authorities will try to charge people if they want to go inside or get up really close to see it, but many of these sights tend to look better from afar anyway.

Start Saving Money on Your Vacation by Doing These Free Things

It's no secret that going on vacation is pricy, especially when you're paying for two parents and a few kids. By doing some of these things, you'll be able to save yourself a lot of money. There's no point in splashing out on 3 to 4 paid experiences every day; you'll run through your dollars if you do that. Of course, if there's a big highlight in the city that you've always wanted to do, save your money for that and do some free activities to balance out the costs.