How to Travel Cheaply
What else in this world will make you realize that you cannot just take anything for granted, but traveling? Sure, everyone wants to travel, but not all people can afford it. Listed below are some tips to prove that you can travel cheaply.
Everyone has a travel planning personality. Read below for tips unique to the Accountant, Constructor, and Romantic.
If You Are The Accountant
If you are planning for a trip anywhere in the world, you have to choose your destination first before setting the budget, or vice versa. It does not take a genius to know that what matters most is your destination. After all, you are traveling, and your main purpose is visiting a tourist spot or taking a break. You spend money because you are traveling, and you are not traveling because you are spending money.
However, in some cases, you have to draft your budget first. The amount of cash you carry matters a lot. Sometimes, your budget even determines your destination, so it makes sense to follow the safe rule: draft your budget first and know where your money can bring you.
Determine how much you are willing to spend on a trip. Set the maximum amount of money you are comfortable spending. Take note that you have to pay for entrance fees, accommodation and airport transfer among many expenses.
For example, you are willing to spend $2500 on a trip. Out of this, you allocate $900 for your roundtrip airfare. You only have $1600 left to spend while you are at your destination. Check the Internet for the cost of living there, so that you can estimate your daily costs and fit them all in the budget left. You have to be ready if you suddenly realize that the budget will only allow you eight days of stay in your dream destination. If you plan to be on vacation for a whole month, look for another place that is as good as your dream destination, but cheaper.
If You Are The Constructor
List everything that you expect to buy each day, and you’ll find out your daily local cost. Multiply that by the number of days you are planning to spend there.
You will have to determine pre-departure expenses, like gear, new clothing, guidebooks, medicines, prescriptions, shots, medical protection, photographic equipment (film, batteries), and the cost of visas and passports. Know how much you are spending on airfare and determine your local transportation expenses. Search the Internet to find out the fare for local taxis, buses, trains and other land transportations.
Aside from transportation, you will have to spend money on meals and lodging. Current guidebooks, friends who have been in your planned destination, or the Internet will help you with tips on how to find the cheapest accommodation. The same is true with where to eat good food, or where to find cheap meals.
Allocate budget for special experiences, because these can eat up a lot of your budget without you noticing it. Special experiences include rafting, trekking, sailing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, going to theme parks, entrance fees, souvenirs, shopping and all the other activities that require you to pay out. You will find clues about the cost of each special experience, again, through travel agents, guidebooks, the Internet, and national tourism offices.