HOW TO TRAVEL ON A LOW BUDGET
11 TIPS ON HOW TO TRAVEL SMARTER AND CHEAPER
If there is a constant in my life, especially for those who know me personally, they know that I do not like to stay in one place for too long, without traveling and discovering new places and making new adventures.
But how do you travel so often? … Of course, if we could all afford it like you...
It may be put a little differently but the concept is the same; these are the phrases that I've heard so many times. If I had a euro for all the times I heard them, I would probably now live on the income.
Although I have tried to explain that this is not how they think it is, many have the wrong idea that to travel you need who knows what large sums of money and that it would be impossible to travel decently without selling a kidney. Often, however, these are the same people who do not give up eating at least once a week at the restaurant, who spend money on drinks or buying the latest smartphone model or expensive clothes.
Now, don't get me wrong, traveling is an investment, nothing in this life is given to you for free, and if you really want to travel, then your priorities need to change, and the first step is to put aside little by little;
before buying something, stop and ask yourself: do I really need it?
That being said, traveling on a low budget, or free, almost, is possible; and it is simpler and within everyone's reach than you think.
In this article I want to share all the ways and tips to travel on a low budget and even earn something, yes, you got it right, I said earn!
Over the years I have learned some tricks and I hope that this practical article may help you.
When you book a flight from your smartphone or computer, be sure to browse by opening an incognito window. Your browser takes into account your history and movements when you browse and will end up finding you offers at higher prices.
Be flexible. One of the best ways to find flights and accommodations, at a cost 3x lower is to be flexible when choosing dates. This may mean, choosing to travel in the low season; I happened to travel to Vietnam during the low season, the so-called rainy season, and I can assure you that I have faced no more than 4 rainy days and only in the afternoon or evening. During the low season, in fact, not only the prices are much cheaper but you will also avoid the crowd of tourists that there is during the high season. For example, websites like Skyscanner allow you to use criteria to find the cheapest month to fly.
Not always booking in advance means getting the best offers. If it is a very popular and usually expensive destination, then it will be advisable to book in advance, even months before; in any case, it may be useful to put a price alert on the flight spotted, to be notified every time the price change.
Sometimes traveling at night is cheaper, although this is not always the case. Often the price of a plane ticket changes a lot from one day to another, so you can try to go day-by-day to try to identify the cheapest deal.
As for accommodations, I like to use websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com. Especially when I book on booking, I always do it from the smartphone, through the app, as there are offers available only on mobile. By booking through the app, I usually get benefits such as discounts, free room upgrades, and free breakfast that were not included in the price, originally.
Often booking a house or an apartment, especially for longer periods is much less expensive than booking a hotel room and it also cut on food expenses, as you have the option of cooking yourself, which brings me to point 7...
If possible go buy in the local groceries shop, and make food instead of eating out. In some places even eating the local street food is an extremely cheap option as well as delicious. If you're staying in a place with breakfast included, stock up for the rest of the day. You paid for that food, so don't be shy!
As for transportation, depending on where you are in the world, choose the least expensive option. In most places, transportation such as buses and trains are not only cheap but also the best way to get around. If you are in remote areas, maybe you can instead consider renting a car or a bike and if you are in Asia, the best way to get around is through the Grab app.
Another way to save up on your flight is to only bring a carry-on. The cost of airline tickets with checked baggage can be outrageous. It may seem restricted to travel only with a carry-on, but trust me you don't need 10 pairs of shoes and 20 different outfits. Instead, choose a few basic items that you can wear in rotation with different combinations. Although I almost always travel only with a carry-on and a backpack for my photo gear, I still find myself with much more stuff than what I actually wear. Traveling minimalist, not only is cheap but also much lighter, trust me, it will change your life!
If you want to travel almost completely free and even enrich your baggage of experience, you can consider checking pages like Worldpackers.com where you can find food and accommodation anywhere in the globe for free in exchange for work. If you’re curious about my personal experience with Worldpackers, click here.
What if I told you that you can make money from your trips? Well, not exactly, but by using cashback apps like LetyShop you can get back a nice sum from the price of booking accommodation or a flight.
At the end the important thing is to do your research, take the time to look for the best deals, and remember that it is the experiences that will remain in your heart and that you will remember even when you are old. Traveling with a small budget is possible if you use common sense, and I hope I have given you proof with this article; so what are you waiting for, create your next life experience..