I've always loved to travel. It has always so fascinated me to learn about other cultures, see how other people live and trying new foods! I believe travel is a great experience and everyone can easily educate themselves on various places. Let's not beat around the bush, travel can be very expensive. Now, I don't know about all of you but I'm no millionaire and I definitely don't have a private jet. So, I have always tried to save as much as possible. But have no fear! Traveling on a budget is completely doable. Here are a few tips that I have come up with!
Tip 1: Do your research.
Before you even book anything, check the time/month of everything! Question whether it will be cheaper to fly out in October verses June. Even the day you book a flight could be cheaper, Tuesdays have been rumored to be the best days to book flights! Research the location, map out places you want to visit within the area, etc.
Tip 2: Hotels aren't always the best option.
Instead of staying at an expensive hotel or resort, try to look into Airbnb. Airbnb is an app that allows you to stay in actual homes. The owners go through an extensive background check and their homes are looked at as well. You could stay in one room and possibly share a bathroom or have an apartment to yourself for x amount of days. The great thing about Airbnb is that you see the home and living space before even booking anything. It tells you the price the owner is charging for a night, shows you the environment and all other details. The owner doesn't have to be there at the same time as you, it all depends on the situation. I recommend anyone and everyone to look into airbnb.
Option two is that you could stay at a hostel. Now before you freak out over the fact that I just said hostel, hear me out. They aren't all creepy, dirty places, where the majority of horror movies take place in. (Hence, the movie Hostel, Hostel Part II.. I'll just stop there, you get the point.) I've stayed in a hostel.. In New York City and it was clean, well organized and there were no killers staying that weekend. (At least I didn't hear anything about that - just kidding) But of course with everything and anything, do your research. Look at the website and reviews of the place.
Tip 3: City life is expensive.
Instead of staying in the city where its more expensive maybe try to find surrounding towns that are cheaper to stay in and have access to shuttle buses that take guests to the city. You don't have to stay 100 miles away from all civilization but the outskirts of the city could be just as great!
Tip 4: Try using local transportation!
This tip goes with the previous one. Try exploring other cities within the place itself. For example in Europe, you can easily take a train to another country. It's cheap, fast and you're visiting multiple places at once! It can't get better than that! Why not visit Italy while staying in Spain ? Or visiting France? There are endless opportunities to visit other cities or towns! It doesn't have to be abroad only, it can be in the states as well!
Tip 5: Don't be too cheap.
If you have the chance to try authentic Italian cuisine or beer in Germany, are you going to pass up the opportunity?! I would hope not! Splurge on things that will benefit you in the end. If you have the opportunity to visit a vineyard in Italy and taste wine or even try Mofongo in Puerto Rico, do it! It will all be worth it in the end!
Now, I'm not an expert in travel but by following these few tips you should be on your way to exploring new places and countries, all while spending wisely. Be safe and have fun!
