Santiago on a Budget

Traveling to a hot spot like Santiago, Chile, both literally and by popularity, can be tricky on a budget. Keep a few trusty, savvy travel tips in mind while planning your next trip and enjoy a dream destination on a very real budget.

Getting There

With any international flight, airline prices can be tricky. Shop around as early as possible and set price alerts. Use Hopper, Google and Skyscanner to check flights for you and give you updates for price increases and drops. Download coupon-cutting internet extensions like Retail Me Not and Honey that can tack on an additional savings at checkout, without scouring the internet for deals — but still scour the internet for deals.

Where to Stay

Don’t be afraid to bundle with apps like Kayak and Priceline. Sometimes you can save on flights, rental cars and hotels, but the affordable hotel market in Santiago is plentiful, so don’t let up-charged pricing get the best of you out of convenience. Check the surrounding neighborhood and land on where you want to see, then search here with price limits, amenities and anything else that’s a necessity for you and make sure you’re paying the lowest price.

Spending Money

The Chilean peso to the United States dollar is a vast difference, so be sure to exchange some cash at your personal bank at home before traveling. The U.S. dollar is rarely accepted in the country, so make sure you bring some with you and be mindful of the conversion.