Do you often end up looking through your social feed, staring off into space about faraway lands, aesthetic photography and extraordinary experience? At that point you wake up and check your bank balance.. hell. To travel on a budget is overwhelming for numerous individuals, and tragically can deter some would be wanderers from encountering this magnificent planet. But in reality exploring exotic places doesn’t have to cost a fortune and you certainly don’t need to win the lottery to travel the world. If you dream of traveling full time but are wondering how the heck people afford it, you’ve come to the right place. Here are Budget Travel life hacks you must know!
1. Plan around off peak travel times Be aware of the seasonality of travel. What is considered to be “off-peak” in one country might not be in another. Various destinations have different tourist seasons so make sure to do your research. Travel to countries whose quality of life is inferior to ours or during their low season. With a little planning you can ensure you plan around the price hikes and tourist swarms
2. Find cheap flights You can find amazing deals on flights if you know a few tricks. The best way to get an incredible deal is to monitor it frequently. Sign up for newsletters, or join Facebook Groups. Do the research. Book flights in advance especially return flights; running out of money abroad without a guaranteed ticket home is never ideal. Airlines ‘release’ their flight seats up to a year in advance and the closer you get to your departure date, the more the prices increase, especially in the last month.
3. Be accommodation-savvy Sharing a room naturally divides the costs and communal bunk rooms offer the opportunity to meet people who might be keen to explore with you. Other great alternatives are websites like AirBnB and Couchsurfing, where you simply book a spare room in a local person’s house or apartment. It’ll halve the price and allow you an authentic snapshot of real life in the city. Consider your host your very own personal tour guide, filled with insider-tips for the best eateries and tourist spots in that neighbourhood. You could even stay with family or friends – this could take you to visit places you’d never have thought of before.
4. Keep track of all your expenses Track every single thing you spend money on while traveling. And when I say “everything”, I mean everything: accommodation, food, transportation, tours, entrance fees, snacks. It may sound extreme, but it is the best way to stay on top of a tight budget, and after a while it becomes a habit. There are plenty of apps out there to keep track of your budget so make sure you try out a few and pick the one that works for you.
5. Don’t overuse your cash Cheap lunches can be bought in a supermarket or even a local fresh food market, rather than in an overpriced cafe or restaurant. Aim to wander around before choosing a place to eat dinner too; if you just pick the first restaurant you see you won’t know if you’re overspending. Drinking beverage with every dinner soon adds up. Alternatively, hostels and spare rooms often let you have access to a kitchen if you want to save a little money by cooking for yourself.
6. Pack light and Pack right People had been guilty of over-packing in the past and they lug around extra clothes they never wore. The luggage fees that many airlines have started enforcing made us simplify our packing list so it’s down to the essentials. Carrying less makes us feel more free, plus, packing light means you can carry on your luggage and you won’t have to pay those pesky baggage fees, which can add up if you have multiple flights.
7. Shop at local markets Eat seasonal and local products. Get closer to the local market and observe the prices and the offer. What you can find more easily, will be the cheapest.
And there you have it: Your own fully-customized travel budget! Using out-of-the-box, nontraditional ways to travel can lead to big savings.
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