At some point in all of our lives, we’ve experienced wanderlust to a degree. The desire to travel and to explore the unknown can be undeniable at some points. When you start feeling restless and want to embark on an adventure, it can be easy to get excited looking up plane tickets and fantasizing with your friends—oh, the places we’ll go! It can be just as easy to become discouraged by the price tag. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to cut expenses and make the trip you want happen. Here are seven easy ways to travel on a budget:
1.
Camping
At first, camping might not sound as appealing as a hotel or a resort, especially if you aren’t already an outdoorsy person. Camping forces you to go outside of your comfort zone and spend some time away from things that could be distracting. After a long day of traveling, it can almost be a habit to want to veg out in front of a TV and disconnect from the world. When you’re camping, it brings you to appreciate your surroundings and the new environment you’re in, and to intentionally invest in those you’re traveling with. In addition to these benefits, camping is often less than half of what you’d pay if you stayed elsewhere. Some national parks even allow you to camp for free—which fits right into the budget!
2. Buying plane tickets ahead of time
If you choose to fly to your destination, it’s important to remember to buy your plane tickets as soon as you are able to. Buying your tickets early makes them cheaper than they would be if you buy them last minute as the flight is filling up. Being on top of things can aid you in saving money and a lot of unnecessary stress later on!
3. Packing your own food
If it’s an option, bringing a cooler with your own food can be useful. Buying food from a grocery store and eating that along the way comes out far cheaper than going out to eat three times a day (not to mention those gas-station snack breaks). Bringing your own food also encourages you and your group to eat healthier and overall feel better during the trip.
4. Driving
Plane tickets can get spendy! If you have a car available, driving to your destination get-away is a good way to save money. Carpooling with friends and having everyone pitch in for gas cuts prices way down. Driving also allows you to spend more time with your friends and family.
5. Finding less popular locations
Over spring break, destinations such as Las Vegas or Cancun are popular. As a result, the airline tickets and prices in the area skyrocket. Finding a less popular area to fly into, and then driving to your destination can make a serious difference in cost. Or, finding a new destination altogether is an option. Just because a location doesn’t seem as popular doesn’t mean that it isn’t a hidden gem waiting to be explored. It’s more exciting finding new locations, and you’ll have extra cash.
6. Take advantage of natural entertainment and free events
During the summers especially, lots of communities have free events going on. Finding free events to participate in will help you to have a better feel for the area and can add to the experience in ways you might not have anticipated. Another option is to utilize the natural entertainment—does your destination have mountains? An ocean? A rainforest? Hiking, lounging at the beach, or sightseeing is another cost-effective way to enjoy your trip while still getting out there and making the most of your time. You’ll experience more doing these kinds of activities than getting caught in a tourist trap.
7. Plan, plan, plan
Having a solid plan can keep you within your budget. For example, packing a map can save gas money when your phone’s service cuts out and you have to go without a GPS for a while. Making sure that you’ve packed enough food and water in order to be efficient with your resources can help you to resist the urge to impulse buy all the snacks at the gas station.
