Globetrotters and travel bloggers are often posed with questions like “how do you pay for your frequent trips?” This inquisitiveness seems reasonable but the reply to this remains, on most occasions, the same-“why don’t you do some research?” But people, who are time-pressed, may find this fact-finding task a little daunting. So, here you find all you ever wanted to know about budget travelling. We unravel pocket-friendly travel secrets for you so that you can set out on your dream world tour without breaking the bank-
1. Go for low-budget flights and put loyalty programs to your advantage
Travelers, who don’t mind a little cramped legroom or long for a luxury meal, can try out different budget airlines. No doubt, there is no end to choices, but here’s what we vouch for and recommend. If you are looking to limit your budget somewhere around €10 (UK£9), then the flights made available by easyJet, Ryanair and Vueling are the best in Europe. Looking for affordability in Asia? You can choose one among Indigo, Air Asia or SpiceJet. In America, eminent airline, Southwest and JetBlue offer the most cost-effective flying solutions. But here’s a heads up. If you have got a ticket at a dirt-cheap price, then chances are, they operate from airports located in the farthest of city outskirts or maybe you would be required to spend a fortune on any additional service that the airline might provide.
Also, there are sites these days that make a fair comparison of flight charges and tell you about profitable deals. Some of these sites viz. Kayak, Skyscanner and Kiwi offer amazing results that help you zero in on one final choice, especially when you haven’t finalized a destination.
Alternatively, as an audacious move, you can embark on those loyalty programs. If jargons like points, miles and loyalty don’t get through your head, you can check out the blog One Mile at a Time which simplifies such concepts besides bringing amazing flight deals to the table.
2. Earn abroad
Turn into an Au pair or crew a cruise ship, but earn while you travel abroad. And trust this- there is no dearth of money-making sources when you are on the go. Yes, you won’t get a 5-star treatment throughout your journey, but you sure will cut down your food and lodging costs. Bachelor degree holders of American origin can even join Peace Corps in domains such as environmental protection, education and health. And those, who are not American natives, will be able to teach in nations such as Korea, Japan, Spain and France.
If you don’t mind soiling your shirt, you can also be a member of WWOOF, which enables volunteers to associate with sustainable farms located around the world. What this organization makes you do is dedicate a couple of hours every day to work towards bettering these farms.
Now, people who love being sporty at the sea, can offer their service on ships as part of their crew. Associating yourself with names like Carnival and Royal Caribbean can prove utterly beneficial as they provide big hooks as well as some leisure at port cities. Yacht jobs-whether luxury or charter or private, can also be rewarding.
3. Make lodging affordable
For globetrotters with a budget crunch, there are sites like Agoda and Hostelworld which do a comparison of guesthouse and hostel charges. For a great accommodation find in the local community, you can rely on Airbnb. And if you don’t mind doing some work, you can sign up with house-sit and avail of free accommodation facilities. Websites like TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse and Carers can act as a great link between homeowners on vacation and potential home-sitters. You can also choose to live in a vacant University dorm room in Europe often offered on a discounted rate to travelers. Try out couchsurfing if the idea of mingling with the locals of a place excites you. An added benefit would be a free-of-cost lodging.
4. Pay less for commutation
Thinking of boarding a regional jet for some extra luxury? Think again, it could cost you dearly. As an alternative, you can travel by cars and buses. Opt for low-priced trips around Europe or America offered by super affordable bus companies such as Megabus. And for a safe car ride, log into Bla Bla Car or Ridesharing.com. They get you boarded on cars travelling towards your destination. Before you set out on your journey abroad, apply for and obtain an international license. This will certainly take the hassle out of your trips.
5. Partake in various programs
Servas is an international, multicultural organization offering hospitality services to broad-minded people on the go who are willing to know about the cultural trends and ways of living of the locals of a place they are visiting. Although it’s not easy to be a vetted member, the scope for cultural intermingling is endless here. Even the annual membership charges are not high. As an alternative, you can get connected to locals interested in offering a place to stay, some food or some time to show you around. And you can do this with the help of websites like Hospitality Club and Global Freeloader.
6. Refrain from being too choosy
Hop onto a plane and land in your dream destination- does it ever happen this way? No! Being too picky is never a good idea. So, be flexible. Don’t dismiss the possibility of travelling in the off-season. Also, don’t be too choosy about a departure airport. And always expect great things in store even if it’s a less popular destination you intend to visit. Sometimes, doing things other than what’s planned can make travelling possible at throwaway prices.
