Best $200 You Can Spend Before Traveling Abroad
Written by
Kerra Bolton
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Rebekah Evans
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A recent Kayak study on travel trends found that the cost of international flights decreased by 4% since last year.
While the thought of spending more money while flights are becoming more affordable may be frustrating, investing in travel insurance, sturdy carry-on luggage and a portable safe could save you time, money and headaches later.
Traveling abroad soon? GOBanking Rates explored some of the best ways to spend $200 or less before you leave.
Travel Insurance
Purchasing travel insurance helps individuals protect their money and their health, said Jeremy Murchland, president and CEO of Seven Corners, a travel insurance company.
“If you’ve invested a lot in travel, you don’t want to lose the money you spent just because something happened and you can’t take the trip anymore. With travel insurance, you could get that back,” Murchland explained.
“Other companies might offer a voucher to fly with them at a later date or take a different cruise, but sometimes that isn’t enough,” he added. “Sometimes you need your money back and travel insurance is the best way to do that.”
Marla Barret, travel consultant, said her research from VisaGuide.World showed that most travel insurance policies range between 4% and 12% of the trip’s total cost. For example, buying travel insurance for a $2,000 trip can cost between $80 to $200, depending on the trip and type of policy.
Barret said a comprehensive travel insurance policy for under $200 usually includes reimbursement for non-refundable trip costs like illness or weather; hospital stays and doctor visits while abroad; emergency evacuation, compensation for essential items in the case of lost, stolen or delayed baggage and extra expenses for meals or lodging during travel delays.
A Good Carry-On Bag
Avoid the headache of lost luggage by investing in a high-quality carry-on bag for an international trip.
“This way, you’ll avoid the possibility of losing your luggage at baggage claim and you can go straight from the flight to ground transportation when you land,” said Henri Chelhot, CEO of FlightHub.
Chelhot said travelers can find an affordable, sturdy, airline regulation-sized carry-on bag for $200 or less.
“To make everything fit in that bag, I recommend using packing cubes,” Chelhot said. “These small compressible bags help maximize space and keep your items organized. They’re easy to find for around $20.”
Local Sim Card
Buying a local SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card could help travelers save money on internet data charges.
“To avoid searching for a local mobile operator after landing in a foreign country, you can purchase a virtual eSIM card,” said Grzegorz Kowalski, CEO and founder of TripOffice.com, a company that rents workstations to digital nomads. “However, you need to check whether your phone supports eSIM technology. With newer smartphones, this shouldn’t be an issue, but it’s worth verifying before making a purchase.”
For travelers to Mexico, an eSIM card from Maya Mobile with 10 gigabytes is about $28.
Keeping Valuables Safe
Investing in a small safe for under $200 could save huge headaches later while traveling abroad.
“A small travel safe or a secured, slash-proof knapsack is crucial while investing new sites,” said Tim Choate, founder and CEO of RedAwning.com, a vacation rental platform. “For passports, credit cards and other valuables this provides peace of mind.”
Choate said portable safes, anchored to a permanent object in one’s hotel room or rental property “may literally save lives.”
“Even a locked purse with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-blocking materials can help to considerably inhibit digital pickpockets,” Choate said.
Travelers can also put AirTags in their luggage to keep track of them in case the bags go missing or stolen. A two-pack can cost as little as $20.
Some airlines let you sync your AirTag with their system,” said Erika Kullberg, personal finance expert and attorney. “I recommend securely attaching them inside your luggage so they can’t be easily removed. Share the AirTag’s location with someone who isn’t traveling with you in case your phone is also missing or stolen.”
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