This post is brought to you in part by BigPay.

Everybody could use a nice holiday, just to get away and recuperate from the stress of our everyday lives. But let’s be real, planning a trip can get a bit difficult and tricky, especially if you have a budget and want to get the best value for it.

1. Timing is key

Did you know that AirAsia offers the best deals with free seat sales every first Monday of the month? Well, now you do! Booking your flight tickets in advance during free seat sales can ensure that you get the best deal for your upcoming travels.

Bonus tip: If you’re a flexible (or impulsive) traveller, check out Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” option. When selecting your destination, type in “Everywhere” and you’ll see it pop up on the drop-down list. This will search for destinations that can be reached from your departure point and rank them from the lowest price. Perfect for a last-minute weekend getaway or to start exploring new places!

2. Pay attention to exchange rates

When travelling abroad, exchange rates are usually a concern as they tend to fluctuate and some banks even add charges when you swipe abroad. You can always find out what your bank is charging and  compare that to the best exchange bureau in town in advance.

Admittedly, this process can be rather time-consuming, hence the easiest way still remains to go with a card that offers real exchange rates and no additional fees, such as BigPay. The mobile app is able to automatically detect when you arrive in a new country, and your international spending on the BigPay card is summarised under one trip with exchange rate tracking for each transaction. Compare it to the rate on www.xe.com if you don’t believe us!

3. Affordable accommodation

Save money on accommodation by travelling to places where you know of someone living there. Though it might seem exploitative, be sure to return the favour in kind gestures or perhaps, offer to pay them for your stay – it would be cheaper than getting a hotel!

But if there’s no one you know at your travel destination, give Airbnb a go! A little tip, look for a room offered in a household. More often than not, your host will be the best guide for your visit as they would know the local happenings in the area, how to get around, and where to visit. Alternatively, there are a lot of hotel booking sites, the most popular ones being Booking.com and Agoda. If you sign in and register with Agoda and Booking.com, you can get discounts and receive alerts on special deals, sometimes up to 50%!

4. Be wary of processing fees

Most bookings and transactions usually take place online prior to your trip and lots of companies tend to charge extra processing fees when booking online, on top of the regular fare. Most of the time, it’s almost impossible to bypass these extra payments, unless you’re deciding to go with a card that offers airline perks, such as BigPay.

Linked to AirAsia, you can enjoy the benefits of zero processing fees for AirAsia flights and AirAsia travel discounts on F&B and baggage fees. Not only that, you get to earn AirAsia BIG points when you top up or use your BigPay card, which has the flexibility of a Mastercard that you can use anywhere in the world.

 5. Ditch the roaming

Most countries have internet hotspots for tourists so be sure to download communicative apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, or Skype to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Be careful and make sure that you don’t accidentally use your mobile data on roaming, which can be quite costly. You can also avoid the need for data to use Google Maps by saving offline maps in advance. Save the region or country you’re going to so you can get directions and search up tourist spots on the fly.

If you’re the type of person that needs to stay connected and be online 24/7, opt for a local sim card, which will be significantly cheaper than roaming charges. Frequent travellers should try giving Flexiroam a go. Simple to use and without the hassle of buying a new sim card in each visiting country.

So what are you waiting for? Get planning and pack your bags, your next travel adventure is waiting! Visit www.bigpayme.com to download the app and start saving money on your travels.