travel on a budget
You know that myth that says traveling is only for people who have a lot of money? That being well traveled is a sign of being wealthy? I suggest you forget about it. It's not true.
Traveling on a budget is often the most fun way to go. As a penniless college student, I consider it a game to see how much I can do while studying here in Europe without spending a dime. And having been to several developing countries, I can say that though it's often a blast to relax in a fancy hotel once in a while, the most rewarding experiences are often with the people that live there, at a cost probably much lower than the cost of living in your home country.
Some fun examples
My time in Bandipur, Nepal, with my dad and two siblings, is my favorite example of Budget Travel. Our first night, we spent in a typical hotel we had found on Airbnb, for $50 per night. Unsatistfied with both the price and the quality of the hotel, we decided to look for a cheaper one on the streets. In the very center of the village we found one -- for only $5 per night! The compromises, of course, were great. The walls were thin and made of rickety wood, the shower heated irregularly, the bathroom shared with the whole building, without a flushing toilet... but as a brief adventure, it was very cheap. What's more, meals in the area costed pennies, and local hikes were free. Bandipur was my favorite travel experience, but our 3 days there cost less than $100 total!
With my family in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we argued the hotel keeper down to a price of $12 per night -- bargaining is crucial in many South-east Asian countries, because businessmen will automatically quote a much higher price to a foreigner.
In Portugal, I exchanged 100 dollars into euros, but only ended up spending less than 5 of them: I bought a delicious lunch in a local supermarket, and ate it overlooking the port of Ponta Delgada. I had a typical Portuguese chocolate drink in a cafe for only 70 euro cents, and bought a little coin purse in a souvenire shop for 2.55. The coin purse is still one of my favorite and most useful souvenires.
On tour in Spain with my orchestra, I was surprised when I learned I only had two hundred dollars to buy all my own lunch for 2 weeks. I needn't have worried -- I barely spent half of it. I used to go out with my friend to buy lunch in supermarkets, where a loaf of bread cost 40 euro cents and a huge bottle of water 70. My most memorable meal was one of those: we bought chocolate, sweet wine, croissants, and a package of fresh strawberries, and ate them in the city center. The whole thing probably cost 5 euros.
Traveling on a budget is often the most fun way to go. As a penniless college student, I consider it a game to see how much I can do while studying here in Europe without spending a dime. And having been to several developing countries, I can say that though it's often a blast to relax in a fancy hotel once in a while, the most rewarding experiences are often with the people that live there, at a cost probably much lower than the cost of living in your home country.
Some fun examples
My time in Bandipur, Nepal, with my dad and two siblings, is my favorite example of Budget Travel. Our first night, we spent in a typical hotel we had found on Airbnb, for $50 per night. Unsatistfied with both the price and the quality of the hotel, we decided to look for a cheaper one on the streets. In the very center of the village we found one -- for only $5 per night! The compromises, of course, were great. The walls were thin and made of rickety wood, the shower heated irregularly, the bathroom shared with the whole building, without a flushing toilet... but as a brief adventure, it was very cheap. What's more, meals in the area costed pennies, and local hikes were free. Bandipur was my favorite travel experience, but our 3 days there cost less than $100 total!
With my family in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we argued the hotel keeper down to a price of $12 per night -- bargaining is crucial in many South-east Asian countries, because businessmen will automatically quote a much higher price to a foreigner.
In Portugal, I exchanged 100 dollars into euros, but only ended up spending less than 5 of them: I bought a delicious lunch in a local supermarket, and ate it overlooking the port of Ponta Delgada. I had a typical Portuguese chocolate drink in a cafe for only 70 euro cents, and bought a little coin purse in a souvenire shop for 2.55. The coin purse is still one of my favorite and most useful souvenires.
On tour in Spain with my orchestra, I was surprised when I learned I only had two hundred dollars to buy all my own lunch for 2 weeks. I needn't have worried -- I barely spent half of it. I used to go out with my friend to buy lunch in supermarkets, where a loaf of bread cost 40 euro cents and a huge bottle of water 70. My most memorable meal was one of those: we bought chocolate, sweet wine, croissants, and a package of fresh strawberries, and ate them in the city center. The whole thing probably cost 5 euros.
how to save on...
The flight: Buy flights early, and compare them across flight finding sites. The ones I usually use for international flights are Kayak, JustFly, and Expedia. Often, the cheapest ones are the ones with the longest layovers. If you're up for an extra adventure, combine your initial trip with an extra-long layover, and visit an extra country on the way! See more about lay-over adventures on our Passing Through page.
*Word of warning #1 - Sometimes the cheapest flights, for special deals, are non-refundable. Make sure, if you buy one of those,
that you won't have to change or cancel your flight date.
**Word of warning #2 - Be wary of taxes and hidden fees! Check the baggage restrictions for each airline, and don't trust the
initial price. I once bought a round-trip flight to Madrid for what I thought was $350, but ended up being over 500.
Other transportation: For buses and trains, you often get what you pay for. To save money, the dedicated budgeter can take a bus instead of trains, which are more comfortable and quick. Inconvenient times like early morning and after 10pm might also save you money. For Europe, GoEuro is a good site for looking up the cheapest buses between cities.
In less developed countries, you have to be careful when cheap transportation crosses the line to dangerous. For example, my friend tells me you can catch a city bus in the Congo, but the cheapest ones sometimes don't have breaks! Other less harmful drawbacks might be uncomfortable seats, little privacy, or a hundred passengers crammed into one vehicle.
Lodging: Hostels and Airbnb are a good way to go, especially in countries in Europe and North America. On Airbnb, you can often get an amazing house or apartment in a great location, for a fraction of what you would pay for a hotel. Hostels are also a cheap option, and you can take the opportunity to meet lots of people from all over the world.
In some cases, though, local hotels are actually cheaper than either one. In Kathmandu, Nepal, our Airbnb was $30 per night, but a city hotel was only 10. Locals in the tourist industry are usually able to take advantage of a foreigner who is not used to low prices abroad, and charge much more than they need to.
The food: My favorite option for a diet on a budget is to shop like a native - Supermarkets and local convenience stores often offer a good meal for very cheap. If you want to get a more substantial meal, avoid the nice-looking restaurants where the waiter system is very similar to a large Western country. Scope out the culture in the smaller places -- but if your waiter doesn't speak a word of English, you might have to get creative.
Sight-seeing: Don't assume the only way to get to know a country is with a guided tour! Although many must-see attractions have paid entrances, there's a lot you can do on your own for free. My favorite option when getting to know a city is to pick a few interesting attractions and walk from one to the other, changing my route to accomodate pretty parks or quaint side streets which attract my attention. Museums and famous historical sites can be pricey, but churches, parks, and local markets are examples of fun things which don't cost a dime! Hiking and window shopping are also good free options.
Souvenirs: When it comes to souvenirs on a budget, avoid souvenir shops designed for tourists - those are always the most expensive. Think of the smallest items that will bring you the most utility. For example, on my tour to Argentina, I bought a beautiful book-mark for 2 Pesos which I still use all the time. Famous foods or sweets are also a good (though fleeting) memento, and they can often be bought cheap in local food shops. As long as you have something to bring back with you that reminds you of your travels, it doesn't have to be fancy.
*Word of warning #1 - Sometimes the cheapest flights, for special deals, are non-refundable. Make sure, if you buy one of those,
that you won't have to change or cancel your flight date.
**Word of warning #2 - Be wary of taxes and hidden fees! Check the baggage restrictions for each airline, and don't trust the
initial price. I once bought a round-trip flight to Madrid for what I thought was $350, but ended up being over 500.
Other transportation: For buses and trains, you often get what you pay for. To save money, the dedicated budgeter can take a bus instead of trains, which are more comfortable and quick. Inconvenient times like early morning and after 10pm might also save you money. For Europe, GoEuro is a good site for looking up the cheapest buses between cities.
In less developed countries, you have to be careful when cheap transportation crosses the line to dangerous. For example, my friend tells me you can catch a city bus in the Congo, but the cheapest ones sometimes don't have breaks! Other less harmful drawbacks might be uncomfortable seats, little privacy, or a hundred passengers crammed into one vehicle.
Lodging: Hostels and Airbnb are a good way to go, especially in countries in Europe and North America. On Airbnb, you can often get an amazing house or apartment in a great location, for a fraction of what you would pay for a hotel. Hostels are also a cheap option, and you can take the opportunity to meet lots of people from all over the world.
In some cases, though, local hotels are actually cheaper than either one. In Kathmandu, Nepal, our Airbnb was $30 per night, but a city hotel was only 10. Locals in the tourist industry are usually able to take advantage of a foreigner who is not used to low prices abroad, and charge much more than they need to.
The food: My favorite option for a diet on a budget is to shop like a native - Supermarkets and local convenience stores often offer a good meal for very cheap. If you want to get a more substantial meal, avoid the nice-looking restaurants where the waiter system is very similar to a large Western country. Scope out the culture in the smaller places -- but if your waiter doesn't speak a word of English, you might have to get creative.
Sight-seeing: Don't assume the only way to get to know a country is with a guided tour! Although many must-see attractions have paid entrances, there's a lot you can do on your own for free. My favorite option when getting to know a city is to pick a few interesting attractions and walk from one to the other, changing my route to accomodate pretty parks or quaint side streets which attract my attention. Museums and famous historical sites can be pricey, but churches, parks, and local markets are examples of fun things which don't cost a dime! Hiking and window shopping are also good free options.
Souvenirs: When it comes to souvenirs on a budget, avoid souvenir shops designed for tourists - those are always the most expensive. Think of the smallest items that will bring you the most utility. For example, on my tour to Argentina, I bought a beautiful book-mark for 2 Pesos which I still use all the time. Famous foods or sweets are also a good (though fleeting) memento, and they can often be bought cheap in local food shops. As long as you have something to bring back with you that reminds you of your travels, it doesn't have to be fancy.
Article by Ruth Swope