Top tips for cheap traveling
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31047)
United Kingdom
April 29, 2012 10:26am CST
I read a blog from a family that traveled around the world on a low budget. They said getting somewhere is the biggest expense so they suggest earn free flights with air miles, use local transport, drive your own car or ride your own bike.
They said don't prearrange your accommodation before you go. The best deals will be found on the ground and won't be advertised on the Internet.
They mentioned it is worth staying where you can cook your own meals. They said buy local food because it is inexpensive and imported food is way too expensive. They mentioned don't be afraid of shopping at the local areas because they are where you get the best deals.
I find flights expensive. I choose my destination and go with the cheapest airline. I always prearrange my first few nights so I can relax after the long flight. I booked four nights in Cartagena but missed the first night due to getting stuck in Bogota. After a missed connection another airline had kindly flown me there. I got the other three nights but when my kids got sick I stayed another four nights. So I had a bill for eight nights. It was over $500. I stayed in a much cheaper guest house in Santa Martha. I love staying in accommodation I can cook my own meals. Like I stayed in an apartment for three nights in Buenos Aires. I love having a fridge to keep my drinks cool. I found the quality of fruit and vegetables was low there. It was joyful to see excellent quality in Chile.I have a vegan diet and need imported soya drink. Where it is available it is pricey.
Can you think of any more tips for traveling on a low budget?
What do you think of what they suggested in the blog?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
29 Apr 12
If you are in the US there are many many ways to earn free flights, hotels and car rentals etc. I myself have been to 15 countries for free. I do agree strongly with the notion you should stay at cheap hotels, you can find killer deals on upper range hotels as well if you know where to start looking.
Start saving credit card points, surveys for miles etc and you can see the world for a really low cost to you.
1 person likes this
@flagella08 (5065)
• Philippines
2 May 12
this is the first time knowing about this. you're so lucky that you got a lot of freebies especially travel freebies. i wish i can avail that too. i don't have frequent travels so i don't think i can have free flights from credit card points. keep up the good work pal.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
29 Apr 12
When I used to travel around, I would book things through a travel agent which would mean that I didn't have to do anything other than pay the money and then go. However, I soon found that I was able to save a lot of money by not booking everything at once. Also, if you take flights at times which are slightly inconvenient, it might mean that you are able to save some money there. It doesn't really matter what time you fly if you don't live very far away from the airport, so this is certainly something that you would do well to consider.
1 person likes this
@Soniasony (1827)
• India
30 Apr 12
This is really a great information , can you give us more details on the blog which you read which would be helpful for me.
@marguicha (220158)
• Chile
2 May 12
Hi dear friend,
I have a credit card that is associated with a travel agency. That way I get some dollars if I buy with the Visa. I pay it all during the month so I don´t have to pay extra. Depending on where I go, I pay about a half of the ticket with that. And I can use any airline. The frecuent flier has not been of much help as cheapest flights are not always in the same company.
I prefer to stay in apartments too. I make my breakfasts and diners as cheap as at home. And I will have lunch wherever I do, but always take a snack along. But at least once during my stay I like yo eat at a good restaurant where they serve ethnic food. I feel it´s part of learning about the country I´m visiting.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
1 May 12
It is good that Malaysia are having low budget airlines that
we can choose for international destinations. What the blogger
said have some truth in it, shopping where the local did is much
cheaper. Cook our own meal is more economical too :)
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
4 May 12
Well,i think that you are really professional for that.I usually choose to go cheap flight and also the accomodation is a second important factor.I choose hostel first and that is also a good way to communicate with people who also traveling around.Then goes to eating,local snacks would present the culture of people there.These ways could make my trip much cheaper i think.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Apr 12
I think it is a good idea to use local transport, I always do that. A bike is also a cheap form of transportation. I have travelled around in Denmark by bike, but if you are travelling to country that is far away from your own country a bike isn't a realistic option. I use budget airlines as much as possible. When I travelled around in Europe for a month I bought an interrail pass. I visited 7 different countries, and it would been expensive to buy a normal ticket each time I was travelling from one country to another. I think that an interrail pass is a great way to save some money if you plan on visiting many different countries in Europe. Hitchhiking is another way to save money on transportation, but it can be risky.
The cheapest kinds of accomodation that I have tried are camping and bed in a hostel dorm. In Lithuania and Latvia I only stayed in hostels, and didn't spend much money on accomodation. Another option would be couchsurfing where you stay with one of the locals in the country that you visit. I haven't tried that myself.
The family that you mentioned said that it wasn't a good idea to prearrange accomodation. I both agree and disagree with that. I think it is true that you can find a good deal when you arrive and I have experienced that, but the opposite thing could also happen. I don't always book my accomodation before I leave, and sometimes I end up walking from the place to place, because every place is full or closed. I experienced that in Budapest and I had to stay in a really expensive hotel, simply because it was the only room I could get.
@vandana7 (99920)
• India
30 Apr 12
Maximax, I would love to know how more about that blog. I would rather stay in cheaper accommodations and go on sight seeing tours. Personally, sea is not my favorite. I prefer lots of gardens tall dark woods, mountains and certainly not hot climate. :) I am also not a great fan of constructions whether historic or present. Perhaps you could suggest a few that would be in my budget. Somebody mentioned China. They suggested take a trip for 12 to 13 days. I am afraid to go along with papa for that long. I mean, if papa gets sick in another country, I would find myself so helpless. A couple of days is fine. So if you have some interesting and affordable (I am not very rich) options, please share. :)
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
29 Apr 12
hi maximax, I found the blog to be pretty much spot on.
I know when we went to Morrocco/Marrakesh, we picked up
up tour guide there, we rented car once we arrived with
the assistance of the tour guide..
It was great because we were able to see places and things
we would not have seen with a tour group..It was one of my
best travelling experiences,,
how ever I would not as much as go back as much as I would
like to...WHY??? because a couple of the places we visited
there have been involved in some sort of up roar from what
I remember..
so thanks but no thanks.
@thelmadacullo112659 (642)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
to save or have a cheap expenses in travelling,its better to booked ur tickets in a month bfore u travel so that u can benefits promos in the fair and by that ur expenses will be lesser,
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
I do agree with most of the points noted on that blog. However, most travellers don't want to be inconvenienced with having to look for a place to stay when they reach their destination. So, if you share the same perception, I would suggest to check for blogs around the net about the place you'll be visiting, and most of the time, you'll find stories of how they were able to save money on accomodation, trips, food, etc... I got most of my save tips from other travel blogs.
