Race Across the World 2024 winner, Alfie Watts, has shared the best travel tips to make the most of your holiday, while still keeping to a budget
Race Across the World 2024 winner, Alfie Watts, has shared his top tips for making the most of your holiday, while keeping to a budget this year.
The contestant, who was the youngest-ever winner of the travel competition where you must get from one destination to another on a tight budget, has revealed the best holiday hacks in light of the huge demand for getaways in which you can get the most bang for your buck.
When it comes to getting organised for your trip, Alfie has recommended some essential rules you should follow.
His first tip reminds holidaymakers to “research everything,” from taxi services to eating in and around the city.
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The winner told eSIM company, Airalo: “My top tip is to research everything. Does the country you are going to use mobile taxi services to make them cheaper? What’s the currency situation and exchange rate?
“Are they a cash society? Should you spend £10 extra on a hotel to have breakfast and eat enough to call it lunch too? All these things make a huge difference.”
He continued his advice by stating what tourists should never do while abroad, and it may come as a surprise to some.
Alfie said: “Never eat in city centres in big chain restaurants, never eat at the airport and never say yes to the first taxi that grabs you outside the terminal, as they’re likely to take advantage of you and charge a higher fee.”
The participant of Race Across the World 2024, added to be able to survive “comfortably” while on holiday, you should give yourself a minimum allowance of around £40 per day.
He said this may differ due to the cost of living in countries around the world, listing Thailand and Spain in comparison .
Alfie commented: “When it comes to budget travel, I’d always recommend a minimum safety net of £40 a day. With this, you can survive in any country with good food and good vibes.
“My biggest budget travel tip is to consider the cost of living in certain countries. Flights to Thailand might be more expensive than flights to Spain, but the cost of living is 3 or often 4 times cheaper in Thailand than in Spain.
“Don’t be put off by steep flight costs and always work out the overall cost of a trip before booking.”
Another tip he had was to think about buying an eSIM while you’re away, which could save you a lot of money, as it can “save time and most importantly, money.”
He added: “An eSIM ensures you’re not being overcharged for roaming fees and allows you to stay in control of your holiday budget.”
Alfie also claimed something surprising, related to booking your holiday, many holidaymakers may not know.
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The winner said six weeks before departure is the best time to book a trip, especially during the off-season in the country you are planning to fly to.
He said there was a “common misconception” that booking flights when they are first released is the best way to score cheap tickers, but actually he said often booking a holiday at the last minute can be the best way to keep to a budget, due to the provider’s need to “fill up seats and room allocation.”
Alfie explained: “The cheapest time to travel or go abroad is always going to be in the destination’s off-season, especially in Europe. Flights and hotels are always dynamically priced based on demand, so choosing the best time to go anywhere is vital to saving that little bit of cash.
“There is a bit of a misconception that booking flights when they first get released is the cheapest way, and sometimes it is (particularly for those holiday routes in July and August).
“However, package holidays have always been the cheapest to book at the very last minute due to a need to fill up seats and room allocation, but flights depend on so many different factors.”
He continued: “I have always found the sweet spot is around 6-8 weeks before departure, as airlines are starting to panic that they won’t fill the seats.
“In May, I visited Montenegro, which is the start of the peak season, but hotel accommodation is 35% cheaper now than it is at the end of June, and the weather is still amazing, so be sure to do your research.
