Imagine a world when you can travel all for FREE. No need for loads of cash. Wouldn’t that be awesome?!
Alas, in reality, money is the fuel that gets you from where you are to where you want to be. Without money, your travel adventure will feel like a plane grounded on the runway without the fuel to take off and explore all the world has to offer. Then, the worst case, of course, is that the fuel runs out halfway through the journey and you end up in trouble.
In that vein, this article looks at how to reduce the three largest expenses; flights, accommodation and transport so you have more to spend on the fun stuff.
1) Find Cheap Flights
If you’re looking to travel internationally, then flights can take a large chunk of money from your travel fund. However, if you can be flexible with your flight dates then searching for cheap flights via comparison engines such as www.skyscanner.net that compare hundreds of flights by almost every airline in the world to present you with the cheapest deals for the dates and destinations you are looking for can save you a heap of cash.
Another factor to consider is being flexible with your departure and arrival airports; as an example if you were flying to Laos it might be worth searching for flights to other parts of Asia; like hub airports such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok – then getting a cheap AirAsia flight (the equivalent of Ryanair) direct to Laos, or even, to the North of Thailand where you get a local bus to the border for just a few pounds.
Similarly, if you live in America and want to visit London — if there were a flight to Manchester that is $200 cheaper — it would make financial sense to book that flight and travel to London on a cheap train ticket. The other thing to consider, if travelling to somewhere like Paris, where there are a number of airports all within range of the city; as an example Paris Orly tends to be cheaper than Charles de Gaulle (for flights within Europe).
Bottom line is, the more flexible you can be in terms of time and location, the cheaper the flights you will be able to find.
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2) Work For Your Accommodation
A further large expense when travelling is accommodation; even in countries known for being cheap such as Indonesia, a basic room can be around $10 a day, this can add up, whereas if you’re looking for a hotel in West Plains, Missouri it can get really expensive.
There is the option to rent a property for a few months, which can work out a LOT cheaper than staying in hotels or even hostels. Then, if you’re particularly enterprising you could always rent a three bedroom house in a convenient area which you sublet via AirBnB to other travelers.
The other thing to consider, if you’re really on a budget, are sites such as workaway that essentially allow you to volunteer for four hours a day, and in return you get free accommodation and food. This is not just a cheap way to travel, it’s a great way to be part of a community and meet other people whilst making a difference – particularly if you were to be volunteering somewhere like an orphanage or animal sanctuary.
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3) Rideshare
Transportation is a further hefty expense particularly if you plan on renting a car. Once upon a time, people on a budget felt it safe to hitchhike their way around the globe, and whilst this can be an effective way to get around on a shoestring there are also several dangers to consider, particularly if you’re travelling as a lone traveller or a group of female travellers.
A safer alternative to hitchhiking is to rideshare using a site such as blablacar that offers more security to both drivers and passengers. There is an element of cost, but it is minimal compared to other popular forms of transport and if you’re lucky enough to be the one behind the wheel this is a great way to reduce your fuel cost.
How do you save money for traveling?
Share your tips in the comments!
Featured Photo: Credit
