According to budgetyourtravel.com, average vacation expenses are up more than 3% compared to last year. While the cost of travel is more expensive, traveling on a shoestring budget is still possible. With the right tools, pre-planning, and cheap travel hacks, you can still explore the world without breaking the bank. Here, we’ll help you master the art of cheap travel so that you can visit every destination on your bucket list.
Choose Cheap Transportation
Transportation can often be the biggest expenditure when you are traveling. For a week’s vacation, a couple spends an average of about $1,000 on transportation for a domestic trip. You can reduce these costs with a few cheap travel hacks. First, it’s always a good idea to see if it’s less expensive to drive to your destination rather than fly. If this isn’t possible, you’ll want to try and find the cheapest flight possible for your trip. This means that you should look to book flights early, travel out of season, and fly on a budget airline.
Maximize Your Budget
When planning and saving for your trip, you should use a credit card that offers cashback rewards or travel points. If you can use those points to book your flight or hotel, some of your expenses will be covered. In addition to using a travel card, you can also find discounts on attractions on sites like Groupon, AAA, and Viator. TripAdvisor also usually has a list of top free attractions for many destinations. By planning your itinerary and making smart choices, you can maximize your budget and make the most out of your travel.
Use The Sharing Economy
In the digital age, travelers are now able to connect, collaborate, and share in ways that were never possible before. By using the sharing economy, you can save significant money on travel. For example, if you plan on traveling abroad why not set up a house-sitting or pet-sitting job while you’re there? The idea is that no money changes hands during these interactions, instead you get free accommodations for providing a service. You can also consider sites like Couchsurfing to find a free place to stay with a local. In addition to saving money, you’ll also get an authentic experience staying with a local host.
As far as meals are concerned, you can also use the sharing economy to eat with local cooks. EatWith lets locals post listings for things like dinner parties and specialty meals that travelers can then sign up for. These opportunities to eat with locals are usually less expensive than a food tour offered by a company.
Volunteer Abroad
If you want to fully immerse yourself in a new culture, volunteering abroad or participating in a work exchange is a cheap travel hack that allows you to explore the world. One great site to find work exchange programs is Worldpackers. There is a fee to sign up, but many similar sites also charge a small fee. Then, you’ll have access to their database of opportunities. Most volunteer and work exchange opportunities include housing and meals in exchange for working on a farm or in a school, for example.
How do you afford to travel on a shoestring budget? Let us know where you are headed on your next trip.
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Teri Monroe
Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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