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.
Going on vacation and traveling to a new place is exciting but can also be stressful. Airports, packing, planning, etc. are all known to cause a few headaches. Thankfully, technology is making traveling easier and less stressful so you can enjoy your vacation.
Portable Battery
Too many times in the airport is it impossible to find an outlet that isn’t being used. A phone dying can definitely cause stress and throw off plans, especially if you need to get in contact with someone once you land. The portable battery allows for people to charge their phones anywhere they want without worrying about an outlet as well as having a back-up plan for when your phone does die.
Nokia Treasure Tags
These tags allow you to keep track of you luggage, laptop, or carry on. The battery lasts for up to six months so you can easily see where you left something behind should you misplace it. It will beep if you misplace an item, so you can find it or tell you the location of the item should you not be close enough to hear it.
All in One Wallet
Tired of rummaging around for all of your different identification cards that you need to pass through airport security? Royce Freedom Wallet allows for you to put your passport in one side and your credit cards and identification in the other. The wallet syncs with your phone so you can track where it is should you misplace it. If you do misplace it or it gets stolen, your phone starts to beep so you can know right away, rather than leaving it behind at a hotel or restaurant.
Portable Translator
While it may not speak the full language, this portable language translator can certainly help you out with over 12,000 phrases in 12 different languages already programmed. Talking to business owners, asking for directions, and being able to communicate in an unfamiliar country with ease is extremely important to stress free travel.
These are just a few devices of many that can help make traveling easier. With technology advancing everyday, the stress of traveling can be lifted off of your shoulders and give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy your new experience.
Often airfare can be the most expensive purchase of a whole trip and often the least fun. Getting to a destination shouldn’t have to cost you massive amounts of money. Saving money on your flight will leave you with more funds to do the fun things you want to do and also make going on vacation more affordable.
Tools
- Leave on a Wednesday – most people book their vacation so that they leave on a Friday or Saturday making these the most popular days to fly. Booking your flight on a Wednesday will normally be a lower cost (unless it’s a holiday) because there is less demand.
- Monitor Social Media – Many airlines will post hot deals on social media, promoting cheap flights. However, these deals often don’t last long so it’s important to jump on them when you see them. Following airlines Facebook and twitter will help you be able to monitor these deals more easily.
- Pick the Layover – Although layovers and plane changes can be annoying, they are likely to save you $50-$100.
- Compare – use sites like expedia.com, Skyscanner, google flights, and more to compare different airlines and see which flights are cheaper. Keep in mind if these airlines have extra baggage costs, etc. because these all can factor into the price
- Get an airline credit card – Fly often? Get an airline credit card that gives you points towards flights every time you use it. You can rack up a lot of miles and get flights for free by buying things you would normally purchase anyway using that card.
- Be Flexible – When planning a vacation be flexible with the days you’re flying out and flying back. Adding a couple days to your travels can save you big bucks. Plus who doesn’t love an extended vacation?
- Don’t Book Roundtrip – Sometimes flights can be cheaper if you book two one-way tickets than if you book a roundtrip flight. Flying to a place with a different airline than you fly home from can definitely save you money.
There are plenty of sites and tips out there that can help you save money on airlines costs. The important thing to do is to research and not book the first slight that you see. This way you can have more funds when you get to your actual destination.
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.
If you are a travel junkie looking to stock up on great gear to get you through the airports, flights, and hotel rooms – look no further. This list goes through some of the quintessential travel items that will make your trip a breeze. Next time you find yourself packing for vacation or a business trip, make sure these items end up going with you.
Electronic Luggage Scale
Because there is nothing worse than arriving to the airport late only to check your bag – and it’s over weight. This little gadget will make sure you’re underweight before you even leave. Plus, most are compact enough to throw in your bag for the return trip home. We both know you’re not going to be able to resist a souvenir or two.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
There are a number of great little speakers out there and they pack a punch! Bring one of these along for your hotel room, on the beach, or while relaxing by the pool. Whatever speaker you decide on will be compact enough to tuck away in your suitcase, but loud enough to get any party started!
Waterproof bags
Before your next trip, grab yourself a waterproof bag. You never know when you’ll be caught in a rainstorm or making a spontaneous beach trip. Having a waterproof bag on you will give you the peace of mind that all your personal belongings will remain dry. It’s also not a bad idea to keep a full change of clothes in one of these bags so you are ready for anything!
Power Pack
Whether you are traveling for work or vacation, you may not always have access to an outlet to charge your devices. Plus, it always seems that our devices are on the verge of dying right when we need them. Keeping a portable power pack charged and on your person can save you in a bind.
Refillable Liquid Travel Containers
These bad boys will save you a ton of money and effort. They are TSA approved and easy to use. Fill them up with your favorite shampoos, conditioners, and other liquid bathroom products. This makes your weekender with only a carry-on much less of a headache. They also save you money from having to buy the travel size bottles! Just fill with the products that are already in your shower at home and you are good to go!
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Planes can get noisy and you’ll want to be prepared. Do yourself a favor and grab some noise cancelling headphones before your next trip. You’ll be able to listen to your favorite tunes without having to crank the volume to drown everything else out. If turnin’ the tunes up to 11 is your thing, these types of headphones have you covered. The cancel noise without sacrificing sound.
