Tuesday, November 15, 2011

How to Travel on a Budget

I've been traveling for the last seven months; France, India, the States, England, Italy and even more France. I'm not rich and I really haven't spent an exorbitant amount of money. So how do I do it? I've had a lot of help from my friends. I've very rarely stayed in hotels which saves more money than I can imagine. Shout out to Razvan, Shark, Julien, Kappa, Atmika, Kim, Annalis, Courtney, Randi, Claire, Marine, Paolo, Fabio and especially Ben. Without you all, this life-changing journey would not have been possible.

Don't have friends you can crash with? There's a website called CouchSurfing where you can hook up with people from all over the world who are willing to open their homes to you. Although I have never tried it, I have explored it a little and it seems very safe. You can choose whether you want to stay with males, females or both and many members are verified by people who have stayed with them. Hostels are another way to save money over hotels. Although you share a room with up to 13 other people, they are actually fun and secure. Read reviews before you book.

There are lots of other little ways to save money along the way. Discount airlines are great but make sure to read the baggage requirements or else you could end up getting charged hidden fees. Take the metro or bus to and from the airport instead of a taxi. Go grocery shopping as often as you can to save on restaurant bills. Your waistline will thank you as well. If you're going to be in a place for a while, get a local pay as you go phone to save on roaming charges. Avoid tourist traps by researching the place online first. Many attractions, such as museums, offer discounted rates on certain days or to students, etc. Get informed. Hanging with the locals is generally the best way to see a city and it will save you the expensive admission prices of overrated attractions that suck anyway. The most important travel tip ever: be open minded and you will be surprised where each day takes you: most likely without spending a lot of money. 

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