Travel the World on a Shoestring
The time when travel was only for those with high-earning jobs or indulgent parents has long past - now, anybody with the will to save up for a few months can enjoy a jaunt around the globe. To enjoy your trip to the max while remaining within your budget, here are a few golden rules that you should follow.
1. Find the cheapest flight available: You can pick up an airplane ticket for next to nothing these days – the key is to be flexible with times and dates. If you’re traveling the globe, you can probably even afford destination flexibility. Book as far in advance as possible to secure good prices and use a price comparison website to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. If you’re going to be traveling to several destinations over a number of months, it’s worth researching a round-the-world ticket tailored to your trip.
2. Get a discount card: If you’re entitled to any sort of discount, whether it’s through a young person’s or student’s ID or simply a hostelling card, make sure you take it with you. This will potentially make your train, bus and even plane tickets cheaper, while also giving you reduced access to some attractions.
3. Cut living costs: Ensure that you spend as little as possible during the day by staying in hostels or hotels with cooking facilities and limiting your budget for eating out. Another good way to reduce costs is to walk around the cities you’re visiting rather than taking public transport. Taking night trains and shuttles can also help to keep your hotel costs down.
4. Sleep cheaply: While it maybe tempting to stay in the lap of luxury, your trip will go much further if you choose budget accommodation. Cheap hotels can sometimes be a better option than hostels – you’ll get a room to yourself rather than a dorm, and prices are often equivalent to the better hostels. To find the cheapest accommodation, book before you arrive on a site like lastminute.com. Online booking will often give you a better deal than booking with the hotel or hostel directly.
5. Consider volunteering: Many volunteering organizations will sponsor your accommodation and food if you work an agreed number of hours for them. In Australia and New Zealand, it’s becoming usual for travelers to hire themselves out as ‘WWOOFERS (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) in order to save living costs. Find out about the volunteering options available in the country you’re traveling to before leaving.