Travelling is one of the most popular activities, especially in the summertime. Whether you are travelling alone, with family, friends or on business, there are always ways to reduce travel costs. For example, you can perhaps travel several times a year instead of just once.
Cost reduction is just a question of planning and organisation.
Here are ways to reduce holiday costs.

First of all, start planning in good time, because the most important criterion for saving costs is flexibility in terms of travelling time.
During the high season, of course, everything is more expensive, so if you can, don't plan your holiday during the peak season. Usually the peak holiday season is in July and August.

• The best way to compare prices for accommodation and transport is on the internet. Enter your destination in the search engine and the words "cheap" and either "hotel", "hostel", "guesthouse" or similar or "flight", depending on what you are looking for.
• Package holidays or club holidays are generally not cheaper because you are relieved of the planning and you may be paying for services that you will not use.
• It is often cheaper to buy the individual elements separately, i.e. flight tickets, hotel, travel insurance, etc.. You just have to look for them specifically.
• Don't take an excessive amount of luggage with you that might take you over the permitted luggage weight. This often costs unnecessarily extra.

This is a good time to go on holiday. During major sporting events such as the World Cup, demand for holidays in countries where football is popular drops. During this time you can often find cheap package deals, especially to traditional holiday destinations such as Spain and Portugal.

Thanks to the high level of competition with the so-called low-cost airlines, there are now very cheap flight tickets within European countries, but also to the USA or Asia. Even notoriously overpriced airlines such as Lufthansa have special offers that you just have to find.
However, you also have to search and compare on the Internet.

Despite the cheap flight offers, it is often cheaper to travel within Europe by train. There are package tickets such as the InterRail ticket, which offer unlimited rail travel within a certain period of time. The InterRail ticket is now also available for adults. You can find the price groups under:

http://www.bahn.de/p/view/preise/international/interrail/interrail_pass.shtml#3.
You can also book train tickets within Germany for €29.00 per person to many cities online. The only catch is that you have to book a specific train and the ticket is not transferable.

Travelling to politically unstable or currently less popular countries is sometimes dirt cheap. Travel agencies often shy away from politically critical countries because, to a certain extent, they are responsible for their customers. It does not always mean that it is not "safe" in these countries. Another reason for particularly favourable offers can be an economic crisis. In such countries you can buy more with your money than in your own country.

The most important medium for cheap travel is the internet. It is often cheaper to book a flight ticket, train ticket or hotel online than over the counter because the systems are automated and do not require staff.

The advantage of travel insurance is, of course, that you are covered in the event of a health problem or theft of travel goods. However, you also have to consider how necessary this really is in each individual case. If you are only taking things with you on your trip that would not necessarily be a pity if someone were to actually steal your bag, you do not need baggage insurance. As an ADAC-Plus member, you are also largely automatically covered, so extra travel insurance would be superfluous. However, if you want to be insured just in case, please note the following points:

• Countries that are considered safe cost less insurance because it is not often used.
• Don't just buy the travel insurance that's in your itinerary, consult the internet here too.

During your stay at your holiday destination, you can of course also save a lot of money if you pay attention to a few things:

• There are inexpensive souvenirs everywhere that are unique and that you would love to take home with you. It doesn't always have to be the best souvenir.
• Eat in inexpensive restaurants. One of the joys of being on holiday is the country's culinary fare and the fact that you don't have to cook yourself. Bars or cafés often offer local specialities and are much cheaper than restaurants.
• Don't necessarily spend money on things you could have at home. Concentrate on activities that are specific to this place.

Don't use your mobile phone to call home. The rates are often horrendous. In tourist shops, tobacco shops or special telephony shops there are phone cards that you can use in phone boxes and that have particularly favourable rates for many countries. Ask the shop assistant which is the cheapest card for your home country.