Before heading out on a vacation, people tend to do plenty of research about their destination(s). How far are the main attractions from the hotel? What is public transportation like? Is the city walkable? What should we do over the weekend? Where should we be going to eat?

You should be doing all that research, and more, before you head out. After all, you don’t have unlimited time and this is the best way to make sure you’re maximizing the time you have on your vacation. 

Many people see a vacation as a way to let themselves go. You don’t have to follow your diet anymore, you’re on vacation! Go ahead and eat that second hamburger. Buy that second round of beers for everyone. 

You definitely should be more relaxed on your vacation, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise your health or your wallet. 

Below, we’re going to run through five ways that you can stay healthy while also saving some money on your next vacation.

Look for a Free Tour

Free tours have been on the rise over the past decade, making their way into plenty of major cities around the world. Walk into a major part of town and you’re likely to see multiple tour guides holding umbrellas above their head offering free tours. Your place of lodging may even have similar offers. 

These tours are free and ask for a tip at the end if you happened to enjoy the tour. Other than that, there is no financial obligation. 

In addition, these tours are led by locals or those who have lived in the city for a number of years. Therefore, you’ll be able to get plenty of recommendations and ideas from your guides.

On top of all of this, you’ll be walking the entire time! There’s no better way to get a little bit of exercise in than a 3-4 hour walk around the city. You’ll be able to get your bearings, decide what you want and do not want to see, and have plenty of great recommendations.

Meal Plan Accordingly

Eating out at every meal can be expensive. That’s why you should be looking to eat a few meals back in your hotel, apartment, or hostel.

The easiest way is to eat breakfast at the hotel, bring some lunch with you, and then go eat out at night. Or, you could do whatever works best for you and your fellow travel partners. If you’re traveling alone, then you’ve got complete control over the menu. 

Either way, hitting up the grocery store for at least 50% of your meals is going to save you plenty of money. Plus. you’ll be able to choose some healthy options to stock in the fridge. 

Limit Public Transportation Use

Public transportation might be cheap (especially if you buy a pass), but all of those tickets can add up in a hurry. Of course you’ll need to take a taxi, tram, or bus to get to the airport but for moving about the city, walk around instead.

Not only will you be saving pocket change, but you might be able to find plenty of places that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Finding a little hole in the wall place is much more difficult when you’re zooming by on a bus instead of taking a casual stroll around the block. 

Bring Snacks and a Water Bottle

Most travelers walk outside their hotel room in the morning and don’t come back until nighttime. After all, that’s the best way to take advantage of your time. 

That also means a lot of time on your feet, moving around, and burning up energy. Instead of stopping every few hours to purchase a new bottle of water, bring your own filtered bottle with you. Fill it up before you head out and any stops you can manage along the way. While you’re at it, pack your own healthy snacks and put them in your purse or backpack for the day.

Even though it may not seem like a lot, you could be saving $20-25 over the course of a week. Something you could use to get a few extra drinks or go on a fun boat tour at a later time!