5 tips for planning your holiday on a budget

New Delhi:  As 2017 draws to an end, most people are planning the perfect end-year date. But what better way to end this year, than with a budget holiday away from your daily routine?

COO and co-founder, Walnut App, Patanjali Somayaji, shares five tips to keep in mind, while planning your holiday this New Year:

1. Have a basic plan ready

Do you wish to go on a solo trip or with your spouse, or would you rather prefer traveling with the entire family? Moreover, will the trip be in India or abroad? It is important to have a basic plan ready, well in advance, as it reduces cost and saves one the hassle of last minute planning and the stress that comes along with it.

Also decide if you want to stay in a hotel, resort, homestay, or AirBnB and book it online to get a better offer.

2. Use past holiday spends as an indicator

Where did you go last year? How much and on what did you spend? Were you within budget or did you exceed it? Check your expenses from the previous year to get a rough estimate for this year's trip. You can then factor in your income and savings to work out your overall spending comfort level and plan this year's trip with ease.

3. Keep a lookout for special deals and offers

Many online/offline retailers and travel portals come up with tempting deals on hotels, air/rail fares, and even complete package deals for couples and families. The offers also apply to one's debit and credit cards. Remain alert for such offers and book your holiday accordingly. This will help you cut down on your overall holiday spending and stay within budget.

4. Make a checklist

Once your plan is in place and you have an estimate of spends, start putting every item on a checklist with amounts such as air/rail fare, boarding/lodging, meals and local transport, where applicable. Holiday spends aside, ensure that your list also has items with your regular ongoing spends and bills.

Apps like Walnut automatically display reminders for credit card and most other utility bill payments.

5. Get a travel insurance

Regardless of whether you're holidaying in India or abroad, get a travel insurance. An accident, loss of baggage or a medical emergency is the last thing anbody wants on a holiday, and while there's no guarantee of it not happening, it helps to be prepared for such situations.

Get an adequate travel insurance cover, check what is covered, and what is excluded. Because, if there is anything worse than not having travel insurance, it is having it but having the claim denied as some clauses were not applicable.