Bit by the travel bug? How to get around without spending a fortune
The travel bug. Its real.
It’s no secret I love to travel. The food, the colors, the people: being in a new place is exciting. But being in a new place is also expensive.
That being said, here are some tips and tricks I have found, through research and experience, that have made my traveling cheap (or cheaper).
Airbnb.com
Airbnb is a great way to go when you are trying to save some money. All the amenities of a hotel are nice, such as a pool and breakfast bars, but in my opinion they all look the same. All the ones I can afford look the same, anyway. The thing about an Airbnb is every room is different. They are decorated differently, they smell differently, and the hosts are all different. I have loved meeting new people this way. My favorite host lives in San Diego. Her room was colorful, and her location was great. She was so accommodating and let us use anything in the common areas.
Through Airbnb, You can find anything from backyards to camp in, to private rooms. At first I was wary (what if I walk into a killer’s house?!) but my partner assured me it was safe, and my experience so far has been great!
With each listing, you can read reviews to make sure it’s what you are looking for and read about the person you are willing to stay with. I doubt 154 people will all say a host is great if he/she was rude or distasteful in any way. I’ve even stayed in an Airbnb in Guatemala! They are all over the world. If you are looking for a more local feel, this is definitely the way to go.
Check air fares regularly
Airplane tickets, believe it or not, are going down. On top of that, I check all my flights on tripadvisor.com to make sure I’m getting the best deal. Did you know on tTripadvisor.com you can receive email alerts when the price of a flight changes? When I was looking to fly to D.C., I simply signed up to receive an alert and would constantly get emails of cheap flights going to D.C.
Another trick of the trade? Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, are historically the most expensive days to fly. I recently bought plane tickets that went from $255 to $154 simply because I was willing and able to fly out on a Thursday (instead of Friday) and fly back on a Tuesday (instead of Monday). I mean, come on. If you’re willing to be flexible, it definitely helps!
Eat local
Eating local wherever you are is the way to go, regardless. But did you know eating local can also save you a few dollars? The food is good (in my experience), the atmosphere is wonderful, and you get to know the city you are visiting in a whole different way.
Drive!
Gas prices are so low. Take advantage of that! Use your Smith’s Marketplace card for even more savings on gas! Go somewhere near, or far. Sorry, I had to put in the plug for Smith’s. I love them, remember?
What are tricks you are using to make travel cheaper? Let me know in the comments box below!
