Luxury Travel on a Budget

South Africa

Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to settling for basic. There are may be many ways to get a taste of luxury travel without spending big. Here are just a few ways to spend less on luxury travel.

Be an early bird
Booking hotels and flights early (more than nine months in advance) can often allow you access to exclusive discounts. However, this isn’t the only perk of booking early – early bird customers are also some of the most likely to get free upgrades to first class on flights providing there are seats, as well as free upgrades to premium suites in hotels providing there’s an empty room. There’s certainly no guarantee you’ll be upgraded, but early booking can increase your chances.

Split the cost among a group
Going away with lots of friends and family could also allow you to experience certain aspects of luxury travel for less. The biggest example of this is accommodation – if you’ve always wanted to stay in a large luxury villa or a chateaux, being able to split the cost between lots of people could make it more affordable. You can find such accommodation at sites like luxuryretreats.com. This tactic of splitting the costs may also work when hiring vehicles abroad or even chartering a luxury yacht.

Go luxury in a cheap destination
Certain destinations such as Paris, Venice, and New York can be very expensive. But if you’re willing to try a more unconventional city break to somewhere like Lisbon, Krakow, or Tallinn, you could find that the costs are a lot cheaper. This could allow you more value for money when it comes to aspects like accommodation and eating out. In fact, what might get you a two star hotel and a cheap fast food meal in some cities could get you a five star hotel and fine dining in other cities. Expand your net and go a little off of your pre-selected beaten path.

Treat yo'self on the small things
You may be able to add small touches of luxury to your travels without spending too much. For instance, rather than hiring a regular transfer vehicle to take you from the airport to your hotel, you could consider traveling in style with a luxury limo from goluxe.limo. Maybe make your big meal of the day breakfast or lunch vs. dinner. If you have the ability to eat most of your meals where you're staying, do that and spend a little more on an experience or must-do/see.

Go all out for one day
There’s also the option of having a basic vacation with one day of luxury. On this one day, you could splash out on a premium hotel suite or expensive restaurant meal, giving you a taste of luxury without having to go luxury for the entire trip. This might be a good idea for a day near the end to finish your vacation on a bang out note.

Where are my more budget travelers? How do you inject a little luxury without breaking the bank? 

How to create a luxury bedroom on a budget

Enjoy this photo of a NON-luxury bedroom. Caution: changes in progress

No, that is not a luxury bedroom pictured above. None of my bedrooms are luxury bedrooms. I'm not really a luxury person. I've pretty much done everything at home and at the shore on a budget. I've loved doing it more at the shore so that house is in much better shape than my house at home right now, but I digress...the fact is that you can get a luxury feel for less.

This year at the shore I tackled the top two bedrooms on the third floor. Aside from changing bedding and some art and trim paint last year, they remained untouched. I wanted a face lift without spending a lot. I relied on paint, contact paper, some fresh bedding and art, new cheap matching end tables, new lighting, and a new mirror. We looked into getting vinyl flooring but are settling for getting the carpet replaced - we are unable to get the stains out of the current one. Both rooms up there look fresh and I'm so pleased with how they're progressing - I'll share pics after the new carpet is installed and everything is put back on the walls later this month. They're not luxury by any means, but they're coming along nicely.

But back to the topic at hand...how to create a luxury bedroom on a budget.

*********

If you’ve got kids your bedroom is probably the only area in your home that’s still yours. Free of toys and children’s clutter, it’s a place for you to rest and relax. That means it’s incredibly important to create a relaxing, luxurious space. However, most of your money is probably spent on the kids, so you might be working on a budget. Here are my top tips for creating a luxury bedroom without breaking the bank.

Art
Art is a great way to add luxury to any space. Framed prints can look just as good as originals at a fraction of the price. A large feature piece hanging above the bed could be the first thing you see, welcoming you into the room.

Lighting
You can add some glamor to your main ceiling light by using a large, intricate light shade and installing a dimmer switch. To add further romance and luxury to your room, include lamps, string lights or lanterns. Lighting is a wonderful way to change the mood of a room, so make sure you give yourself options.

Mirrors
Mirrors are exceptionally glamorous and can also be very effective when it comes to making a smaller space look larger. Adding a large mirror to a wall or dressing table can add a new level of depth to your room and change its focus.

Floor
Wooden floors with thick, soft rugs look luxurious and feel fantastic under your feet first thing in the morning. Wooden flooring isn’t as expensive as it used to be and there are many different options when it comes to rugs. If this is still coming up over your budget, hire a carpet cleaner and make sure your existing flooring looks its best.

Restore
Instead of buying new furniture, either upcycle what you’ve got or restore antique and second-hand pieces. Upcycling is incredibly popular now so there are lots of brilliant ideas out there. Spend some time cleaning up, painting, and varnishing existing furniture. You could even repurpose it into something completely new.

Declutter
There is nothing less luxurious than clutter and mess. Having a cluttered and untidy bedroom can lead to trips and falls and increase stress. It can even affect your sleep. Not what you want in a relaxing bedroom space. Spend some time going through your bedroom throwing away or donating what you don’t need and finding homes for everything else. When it comes to decluttering, better organization is essential. Things like DIY drawer organizers can effectively help you fit more into the same space.

Accessories
To create a calming, luxury bedroom, you need to make it look comfortable. Stack throw cushions on your bed, include extra seating if you have space, and make sure extra throws or blankets are to hand when you need them.

While decorating can be very expensive, it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of small, cheap changes you can make without spending a fortune. Experiment with some different ideas to find what works for you, reflecting your personality and meeting your needs.

*********

It really is about the little touches, which are typically inexpensive. And the cheapest of all things - decluttering - is free. Aside from paint, that is the absolute best, fastest, and cheapest way to change how a room looks and feels.