Traveling
“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!”
-Dr. Suess
Asia
Africa
North America
South America
Europe
Australia
How you can travel budget not bougie
When I travel I have figured out that the amount of money spent is not proportional to the amount of fun or meaning I am getting out of travel. When I do splurge on a fancy hotel or an airbnb i find myself befriending the staff or being completely alone. Look at the following guide to get inspired to spend less and to be fulfilled, to learn and explore and make new connections.
My travel hacks
Here are some ways that I have set myself up for a traveling lifestyle. The majority of the time I travel solo, meaning no friends and no groups, here is how I do it without spending $$$…
- Pick up a part time job in the airline industry for free and heavily discounted flights. Thank you Skywest! I recommend anyone with a travel addiction to try working for an airline. The trade off is that the pay is low and the travel is standby but if you can figure it out it’s a life changer! Every corner of the world becomes accessible!! Want to read what Non-Rev travel looks like?
- Hostelworld.com and Booking.com are my friends. I rarely stay at fancy hotels or even basic US hotel chains and opt for a more authentic experience. I will search for either a cheap (under $50 a night) boutique or local hotel, a hostel or airbnb. Hostels can be amazing and so inexpensive. Check out my post on Hostels.
- I love food, trying local food, searching out cool places to eat, finding the local food markets and eating out. To save money and keep myself slim ish I often skip lunch and have a light breakie.
- Skip tours. Often tours are more expensive than if I went alone. I do not want to be in a large group of people. I know I said I like people but not tourists. Ha! #notouristzone! It takes a bit more footwork to figure out how to get to where you want to go but the adventures along the way can be worth it.
- Public transportation is a yes! Tuk tuks, buses, trams, trains should be your friend when you travel on a budget. Most countries have a very organized, inexpensive and efficient system.
- Free walking tours are a great way to get an introduction to a new city. Check on GuruWalk.
- There are almost 200 countries to visit on this planet so choose wisely. If you choose London it will be more challenging to spend less, you may have to stay there a shorter period or find couch surfing or dog sitting opportunities. If you choose an #offthebeatenpath country (i.e. Albania, Ecuador) you will be able to stay awhile and explore every inch of the country. Luckily there are so many inexpensive, safe and incredible countries to see.
- Saving money on flights and hotels allows me to spend more on experiences like diving, taking kiteboarding lessons or visiting a special place for a once in a lifetime experience i.e. Elephant Nature Park or an African safari.