Ways To Travel The World On A Budget
Did you know that you can travel the world on a budget and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to see certain places? You don’t need to win a lottery ticket to make your travel dreams come true. All you need is a smart plan and some tips and tricks to make this holiday a reality!
Make A Plan
Remember that if you choose to travel spontaneously, it might lead to some extra added expenses so you must come up with a plan. Your itinerary does not need to be tight and includes an hour by hour schedule. All it requires is the right idea for you to create an epic adventure. Create a plan where you have an idea of how long you will be spending time in that country, what all places are a priority to visit in your list and how the commute & accommodation will cost. Tada! You have all the basic requirements in place and now you are set to go on a trip that will cost far less than the one that goes unplanned.
Travel Out Of Season
Don’t travel during peak season holidays like summer. Because these times the cost is much higher and the travel industry takes advantage of groups/families travelling together. Research what is the best time to visit the place you have on your bucket list and go sometime before or after those dates. This is often called the “shoulder season” where you can have a great trip on a limited budget. Well, maybe the sun won’t be out as much as you’d like (plus side to it is it won’t be quite as hot). You even get the advantage of lower prices by hotels and airlines.
Pack Smartly
Pack almost everything that you may need on this trip so that when you need something, you won’t have to worry about shopping for it from outside (except for a few souvenirs). Let me quickly run you through a few essentials; get a pair of long jeans, a waterproof jacket, warm hoodie, because you can never predict the weather. For an in-depth understanding, check out: The perfect travel checklist here.
Be Accommodation-Savvy
No matter how shiny and attractive hotel suites might look, they will dig a hole in your pocket. An attractive and much more fun alternative is hostels or dorms. Sharing a room will divide your cost and here you get to stay with different kinds of people and sleep on bunk beds which is so much fun! Another great alternative is AirBnB where you get spare rooms in houses & apartments of local people. It is not very expensive like the hotel rooms. You can even reach out to your family or friends in that particular area and stay at their place.
Book Flights In Advance
Flight cost can be the major expense on your checklist. To reduce it, you can book flights well in advance because trust me you will end up seeing a marginal difference in the cost. Airlines even ‘release’ the flight seats a year in advance so be smart and book at least 2 or 3 months before your departure. If you end up booking just a few weeks before, you will end up spending unnecessary money.
Choose A Different Commute Option
You don’t need to take a flight if the destination is reachable through a train or a car. Trains are always the best option when it comes to budget travelling. They fall within your budget and give you the convenience of travelling in leisure. So if you have the option of choosing a train over a flight ticket, go for it!
Hitchhike
Do you know you can even get to your destination for free! Yes, hitchhiking is a great way to move around the place. Well, safe places to be particular. You can do this in Eastern Europe, Central America, New Zealand, and Australia quite easily. To get you started here are some tips:
- Use a sign — Create a sign that clearly shows people where you are heading. This will help the driver to understand if they can help you or not.
- Look Presentable — People need to trust the person they are picking up. Therefore, you must be presentable and look good with clean clothes and a bright smile on!
- Make sure of the Law: In some places, it is illegal to hitchhike. So check the laws wherever you are going.
- Keep your valuables on yourself: Don’t leave your valuables in a bag that goes in the trunk. In case you forget or it gets stolen!
- Be very careful: You can never predict a person by the first time you see them, therefore to be safe, check the license plate carefully or text the details to a friend. Better be safe than sorry!
By implementing these various tips and tricks you will be able to travel in less money and enjoy your trip to the fullest! Be creative with your planning and travel the world for cheap!
Because it is possible and you can do it!
