Tips on Travelling on a Budget

Travel. It has been a goal of mine since I realized the opportunities and experiences it can bring. Ever since my study abroad days, I have made it a point to always travel and see as many parts of the world as possible. Nothing has personally been more satisfying than seeing another piece to the puzzle of the Earth, to become familiar with the name of what was once just a city printed in a textbook.
I've played the game as a broke college student studying abroad and I am now still playing the same game as a travel-intensive consultant. Since I started on these adventures, I keep getting asked how do I travel so much and I want to open the idea up to everyone that it is possible to travel well on a budget. And with that... here are my tips on traveling well and within budget:

• Plan Ahead: Preparation will save you a good amount of cash in the long run. Before picking out a travel destination and date, shop around to find the most ideal seasons (both in weather and costs). I usually research several websites such as Google Flights, Kayak, and Priceline to make sure I get a good sense of prices. 
• Travel During Low Season: If you're able to take time off to travel during the low season, this will save you a ton on airline tickets, hotels, and time waiting on tourist attractions. Generally speaking, summer is a high travel season and fall/winters are low travel season. Of course, it helps to do some research to see how the weather could be during low season. The ticket price could be awesome but you could also be stuck in the frigid winters of Norway. Speaking from experience, I found out this is probably why my plane ticket from Paris to Oslo was only 9 euros round trip when I bought it as a broke college student studying abroad. Despite the -23 Celsius weather, I still had a blast!

And I wonder why that ticket to Norway was so cheap during winter... (Trondheim, Norway)

• Take Off on Odd Days: Plane tickets tend to be pricier during the convenient days or rush hour days. If traveling for a week, try leaving on a Tuesday or Wednesday to potentially trim air ticket costs. 
• Check Frequently: Airline prices tend to fluctuate a lot so it helps to check on a weekly or half-weekly basis to see if the prices drop. Checking the Google Flights calendar is also a big help. 
• If Possible, Travel on Points: This is the well kept secret of many jet-setters. Working in a career that requires a ton of business travel helps build up those points for free flights. Even if you don't have a travel-intensive career, travelling on the cheap is still possible and can be easily done by playing the credit card game (more on that later). 
• Find Alternatives to Hotels: Hotels can create a huge dent in the travel budget. Traveling during high season or holiday can run a decent hotel room up to $500+/night depending on the location. Consider alternatives like Airbnb, hostels, couchsurfing, or even a buddy's home! A familiar face, bottle of wine, and dinner could easily convince a friend to let you crash their place!

Who needs a 5 star hotel when you have this and cheap booze? (Athens, Greece)

• Skip the Tourist Attractions: Some tourist attractions can get pricey and it's alright to skip it. I remember going to a museum in Hawaii that would run about $70 for admission to all 3 museums at that one attraction. It didn't look particularly appealing enough for $70 so Ben and I left and went elsewhere. That money later bought us a nice dinner and tons of cocktails- much more worth it in my opinion. Never feel bad about missing out on a tourist attraction. 

Who needs the museum when you've got this?? (Trondheim, Norway)

• Find Cheaper Alternatives to Attractions: With enough research you maybe able to find great alternatives to the typical tourist attractions so there is no missing out on anything! When Ben and I went to Oahu (Hawaii), snorkeling was a heavily advertised activity and there would be companies charging $40-50/person to bring them to a bay and loan them snorkel equipment. Little did the visitors know that on $7 they could buy snorkel gear at a local store and drive up to the same location. Only added costs were parking for $5. 

And so we learned that hiking is free! (Oahu, Hawaii)

• Skip the Taxis: This really depends on the nature of the destination and the number of people on the trip but if possible, avoid taking a taxi when traveling on a budget. The costs add up quickly. Instead try looking into car-sharing services like Uber, renting a car, or taking public transportation for the trip. Depending on the destination, having a car can mean the difference of seeing 10 things instead of 2. Ben and I are fans of renting cars when we visit locations where everything is spread out and public transportation is scarce. In heavily crowded destinations it's probably best to take public transportation. 
• Try Local Food: I'm not talking about those Michelin star restaurants found in your travel guidebook. I'm talking about randomly wandering the streets and eating whatever looks good at the local market. It's one of the best ways to be immersed and get a sense of the culture. If you're not sure what to try, ask a local for recommendations.

And THAT was worth the 2 euros and then some... (Athens, Greece)

In the end, it comes down to the idea of never ever paying full price for anything. Smart travelers can make it through multiple trips for the same amount of money that an average person may spend on one. Don't be that guy buying group tour packages and eating at all the hip restaurants if you want to see everything on a budget. Of course all these tips may not work for everyone but I'm sure at least a few could apply!

Travelling has provided me with the most awesome, eye-opening experiences. It has opened new worlds, cultures, and languages for me that no one could feel from a textbook or see through a TV screen. Nothing could ever fill that void for curiosity as travel had. However all my trips would not have been possible without some careful planning and it is possible for anyone to strive to travel like I did!