No matter which part of the world you are planning to visit, it’s crucial to establish or set a budget in order to make things flow smoothly so that you can have a hassle-free trip. Budget plays a vital role in every kind of trip or vacation; you need to take several factors into account so that you can come up with a specific budget that caters to your every need and requirement. Budget tends to vary from place to place, some destinations are more on the expensive side, and some are on the inexpensive side. But that doesn’t mean you can’t visit any expensive destination on a set budget, you can make it possible by using some money-saving tips.
Having said that, Peru isn’t necessarily an expensive country, but given its popularity as a tourist destination, a trip here can turn out to be quite costly. If you are planning to visit Peru on a budget, then you definitely need to have money management skills and some discipline, especially when you are planning to stay for a longer period.
To make things easier for you, we have put together a list of some money-saving tips that will help you travel in Peru on a budget.
Watch out for scams
Being a victim of scams or trickery is the last thing you want to experience when you are traveling on a budget. You have to be even more careful where the money is involved. There are so many ways you can be conned by scammers in Peru. Even when you are exchanging notes for any reason, be extra careful as there are chances of you getting fake currency in exchange for your real money. Therefore, educate yourself about the scams that take place in Peru and how you can avoid them.
Get to know the local currency
Peruvian Nuevo Sol is the currency of Peru, and you should educate yourself about it so that you know its worth and can spend the money wisely. Not understanding the local currency of the place you are visiting will give you a hard time knowing the amount of money you are actually spending on the trip, which can easily make you overspend. Also, don’t compare the Peruvian prices with the prices back at your place.
Enjoy food for cheap
Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa are some of the most popular tourist spots in Peru, hence, expensive restaurants and foods. The foods offered at these restaurants tend to be far more expensive than the ones served at typical restaurants that are usually visited by regular Peruvians and locals alike. The best way to save money on food is by eating at the restaurants where locals go, and you will be really surprised by the amount of good food you can eat on a budget in Peru.
Learn to bargain
Bargaining is one of the main keys to having a budget-friendly vacation, you should definitely learn how to haggle, it will help you in the long run. Try to negotiate over prices, especially if you are visiting traditional markets. The salesperson usually starts with higher prices, but you don’t have to be afraid to negotiate, try settling for the price that is acceptable to both parties. You may also encounter many people that will straightaway decline to negotiate. Also, you can try bargaining while getting a room in a hotel or hostel.
Learn Spanish
Spanish is one of the official languages of Peru, learning Spanish will definitely help you in the long run. Your inability to speak Spanish might cause you some inconvenience in Peru, it will also somehow reduce your chances of negotiating prices, haggling, and even avoiding scams. Spanish lessons and audio courses can be quite expensive, but learning Spanish will help you in the long run and will help you save some money on the road.