Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive or take a huge chunk out of your savings. Sometimes the cheaper the trip, the more fun you have on the experience. Here are a few destinations to visit without breaking the bank:
Thailand
Thailand is one of the cheapest destinations to travel to. Naturally, near commercialized beaches and luxury resorts it is expensive. But if you go further off the beaten path then you can find a hotel with a swimming pool from $30.00 a night, surrounded by rice fields, buddhist temples, and hill tribes.
South Africa
South Africa is another great destination to travel to when you are on a budget. You can see the safari as well as explore the beautiful Cape Town. Day to day travel is really low here with food and lodging expenses being at least two times lower than other popular destinations. The most money you’ll be spending is the flight to get there, but it is definitely worth it.
Puerto Rico
The great thing about Puerto Rico is that you don’t need to apply for a passport to go there and they also accept US currency so there is no exchange fee. There’s beautiful beaches, great shopping, and amazing restaurants. If you travel end of April to December, which is low season, you’ll find even more great deals on direct flights.
Vietnam
Vietnam offers beautiful views, great food, and amazing sights for a small price. You can stay at a very nice hotel for cheap and there are many budget friendly hotels to relax at that are all safe and clean. In addition, the meals there cost around $5.00 for authentic vietnamese food, which is a steal for any place you travel to.
Greece
Greece’s declining economy has them no relying heavily on tourists. They have affordable hotels, 3 or 4 stars for less than $100 a night in a central location. The prices get even cheaper when you go to the countryside. In addition, meals are very inexpensive with a gyro at around 1-2$ and souvenirs are also very cheap.
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. If you plan, look for deals, and go to the right destinations then the options are endless. You just have to pack your bags and book your flights.
When planning and getting ready for a trip packing is usually procrastinated and then done in a rush. Packing well is essential to a successful trip, for example forgetting sneakers to hike or a bathing suit at the beach can lead to a major vacation inconvenience. Creating a list and making sure you have all the essentials is a great way to make sure you are never in a situation without something. There’s a fine balance between packing everything you need and overpacking as well.
Important Documents
Make sure to pack all important documents including passport, ID, credit cards, cash, tickets, hotel confirmation, and travel itinerary. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than getting to an airport and discovering you forgot your boarding pass or your passport. Not to mention, having no money is certainly no way to spend a vacation. Make sure all the documents are in a safe, secure, easy to find place that can be easily accessed since you’ll most likely need them a lot throughout your travels.
Clothing
It can be easy to overpack in the clothing, shoes, and accessories department when going on vacation. Make sure to plan out your outfits by day and lay them out ahead of time. In addition, make sure to pack a few extra shirts and an extra pair of pants just in case you spill on an outfit or get sweaty. Shoes wise, packing 2 to 3 pairs should be good enough depending on how long you stay. Shoes take up a lot of space and weigh a lot so if you’re traveling via airline it’s best not to add to many. In addition, extra underwear and socks are something you can never go wrong with. Depending on where you are traveling and activities you are doing pack outfits you can layer, bathing suits, etc.
Toiletries
Depending on where you’re traveling, it’s best to buy travel sized bottles once you arrive at your destination. This eliminates the chance of bottles exploding in your bag and also gives you more room for other things. In addition, many travel lines restrict you to only packing a certain amount. Other toiletries that should be brought are basic makeup items, towels, medicine, first aid kit, deodorant, etc.
There are many other things that should be packed for trips but these are a few tips to get you started on sorting out what to bring and what not to bring to have a successful vacation.
While most people travel to get away from the stress of the ‘real world’ and to unwind it is important to remember that there is still danger and you should travel with some caution. Often, tourists are taken advantage of especially when they are in a foreign country. Remember these travel safety tips when you are in another country or strange place.
Don’t Stand Out
Muggers often target tourists because they don’t know their way around and don’t know when they are being scammed. Do not stand out from the crowd and look like you don’t know where you are going or what you are doing. In addition don’t wear valuable like expensive watches or big jewelry. This can bring unwanted attention. Make sure to research how locals dress as well. Use google maps with an earphone to find your way around and always stay alert.
Secure Your Valuables
This generally goes without saying, however it is important to secure your cash, passport, and cards. Always make sure they are in a secure place that cannot be easily snagged. In addition keep the numbers of your credit and debit card companies with you so you can call and cancel right away should they be taken. Let your credit card company know you will be overseas as well to prevent them from freezing your card since this is usually a warning sign that they’ve been stolen.
Beware of Scams
Thieves are tricky and many time you may not even realize you are being robbed until after the fact. Watch for people posing as police as well as people who are trying to charge you for tours to show you sights of the place you are at. Beware of everyone, even children. Many people have been pick pocketed or taken advantage of because children distract them with signs or surround them in the streets asking them things. Of course, don’t let this scare you away from talking to locals, just make sure to use caution.
Communication
Make sure to let people know you’re leaving as well as give them your itinerary so they know where you are at. Always stay connected, before you leave on your trip check out if your phone has international plans or you can get a cheap burner phone so that you are able to communicate with others. Check in with someone at least once every few days.
Stay Healthy
It is important that you keep your health especially in unfamiliar countries where you don’t know the language. Make sure that you know the water is safe to drink and if not budget accordingly to buy bottle water so that you don’t get dehydrated. Watch what you are eating and pick crowded places that have lines over places that are empty. This will eliminate your chances of food poisoning.
These are all important tips to keep in mind when traveling, however they should definitely not scare you away from going places! These tips will just ensure that you have the best traveling experience possible.
Traveling the world is a dream that many people don’t deem possible due to finances and time. However with the right money saving tips you can definitely afford to take a trip every year without having to eat ramen every day.
Flights
Your flight is usually your biggest purchase when you are traveling. Flights can definitely be costly especially when flying out of the country. To save extra cash make sure to be flexible for your flying in and out day. Often leaving one day later or earlier can make up to a $300+ difference. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest day to fly due to the fact that there is less demand then so flying out those days can save you a good amount of money.
Although they can clutter your inbox, signing up for email alerts from airlines as well as flight deal sites like Secret Flying and The Flight Deal. Also, travel light if you can. Airlines charge if you have two bags or more and some are even charging per bag. Instead, opt for a carry on if possible – this way you don’t have to worry about pesky luggage claims either.
Transportation
Car rentals and taxis can put a huge dent into your budget. When traveling, using public transportation as much as possible is your best bet for saving money. Also walking as much as you can is also a great idea. You can take in the sights, get exercise, and not spend a single cent on transportation.
Food
When eating out three meals a day food budget can definitely sky rocket when traveling. While you want to be able to experience the many foods the culture has to offer, you can do this without emptying your wallet. For breakfast try shopping at the local market or grocery store and picking up fruits, yogurt, and other snacks. Also, watch where the locals go.
Often restaurants catering towards tourists can trap you and leave you with an expensive bill. Instead, try local stands and see where the lines are to taste delicious food. Another money saving tip is to eat big meals at lunch rather than dinner. Since food is often cheaper in the afternoon you will save money on the same food you’d be eating at dinner without sacrificing the experience of trying out new foods.
Accommodations
If you don’t feel comfortable staying in a hostel but also don’t want to pay the pricey fees that come with a hotel then there are many other options. AirBnB is a great way to stay, as well as experience the culture of another country or place better. Also staying in a home allows you access to a kitchen which can tremendously cut down on the high cost of having to eat out. Also staying in the less touristy town 15 minutes from your destination can cut down on costs if you don’t mind being a little bit farther.
Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can still travel. Sticking to a budget, finding cheap transportation and housing deals, are all great ways to travel without breaking the bank. The key to traveling cheaper is to plan so start researching your next destination early and thoroughly.
