Traveling on a Budget
Jeff and I have often heard people say that we must be loaded if we can afford to travel. I suppose it’s common to make that assumption, but the truth is, we have many friends who have a fixed income, and yet they can travel the world. Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the airfare, but we make up for it later in other ways. Even with rising costs, there are ways to see our favorite sites, even on a limited budget. Sometimes it may take some research, but budget traveling is worth it, and it’s always nice to have some extra cash in your wallet as a result! Even some of the more expensive countries have cheaper accommodations and food if you know where to look for it. Connecting with fellow travelers is also a great way to find out where the more affordable places are.
Here are some travel tips I want to share with you. I hope this helps.
- Avoid tourist traps
- Eat local street food
- Don’t go out for every single meal
- Offer free services in exchange for cheaper or free accommodations or food
- Take local transportation
- Walk more places
- Bring a hot water pot
- Shop at local stores away from the tourist places
Now, I’m going to explain in detail how to save money using these important tools. Being resourceful is the best way to ensure a fun, yet affordable travel experience.
Tourist traps are a nightmare for anyone who travels with a limited income. Jeff and I have never been big fans of having someone plan our day. We are both independent as far as calling the shots. We decide when and where we choose to go. Going on group tours has never been our thing, and staying in all-inclusive resorts is even worse. Now, for some people, this may be the way to go, but this article is meant to cater to budget travelers like us. Bypassing all of the tourist traps is a great way to experience things that many people never have the opportunity to do, as well as connecting with indigenous locals for the ultimate travel experience.
One thing Jeff and I have never been a big fan of is eating in high-end expensive restaurants. Once in a while, if we find a really good restaurant and it’s a special occasion, it’s fine, but our best dining experiences have been eating at local food stalls. The food is fresh and prepared right there. The locals don’t want to spend a lot of money either, and as a rule of thumb, always check to see if a place is full of customers. If it is, you can be sure the food is worth the wait.
Speaking of food, this is another way to save money. Don’t feel like it’s necessary to go out for every single meal. If Jeff and I sleep in really late, often times we just have a late breakfast, skip lunch, and have an early dinner. If we’re out late and sleep until noon, we just call our meal brunch, then when we get hungry later, have dinner. Sometimes we get out later in the evenings when it’s cooler to do our walking, so it’s very common to get back as late as 2 a.m. We still need our sleep, so we make sure to get enough rest, and don’t worry about getting up early. We’re traveling, and not on a set time schedule. Now, I’m not saying everyone on a budget should skip a meal. If you have low blood sugar, then you definitely need to eat something. This is just what works for us, and this is something each person needs to decide for themselves what works best for them.
Offering free services is a great way to save money and connect with the local community. Volunteering your time is also a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself. In South Korea, I volunteered at the USO at Osan Air Force Base. I made cookies for the military troops and their families. It was truly rewarding, especially since many of the young airmen were on duty away from home, so I wanted to give back to them as a way of thanking them for serving our country. I also helped out at the base library organizing and filing books, which was conveniently next door to the USO. I also taught English to monks in the province of Kampong Chhnang in Cambodia. There was a small schoolhouse in the pagoda where the monks came to study. Outside of the pagoda, children who lived in the village came to learn as well. I bought them paper and pencils, but that was very cheap. The monks were so grateful, that they bought us water and picked fresh fruit off the trees and gave some to us. That was something less we needed to buy at the market. Volunteer work in itself should be a selfless act without assuming that you will get something in return. The true reward is something that comes from within. The thing about karma, whether it’s good or bad, will eventually come around. If you never give a part of yourself, you will never find out how something so meaningful can change your life.
Taking local transportation is another great way to save money, as well as see some beautiful historic sights around the city. Of course, depending on where you are taking public transport, just keep in mind that it can sometimes be a YouTube experience. That said, however, please keep in mind that traveling by bus is affordable and a great experience as well. If travelers know how to get around by taking public transportation, then they can accomplish almost anything. I know that sounds like something you would get from a fortune cookie, but trust me, being a self-sufficient traveler can be gratifying.
Walking is another way to get to your destination, and not only that, but it’s also great exercise as well! Whenever you take a taxi or bus, it’s easy to miss out on the local hotspots. Walking is good because you find places that are easily overlooked while taking motorized transportation of any kind. It may take longer to find whatever you’re looking for, but even more so, it can be rewarding. Jeff and I have found nice stores, local bars, and coffee shops just by walking around. It’s worth exploring every nook and cranny, because one never knows what lies ahead just around the corner.
It may sound silly, but bringing along a hot water pot is a great way to save some money, and I’ll explain how; I mentioned how it’s not necessary to go out and eat every meal. A hot water pot is great for boiling eggs, cooking oatmeal, and heating up hot water for coffee or tea. We do this all the time. The local stores usually carry the items we need, so we can enjoy our breakfast in the comfort of our room, and that saves on money. It also helps to increase our budget a bit if we want to go out for an occasional pricier dinner somewhere nice. We try to stick to a budget, so that when we do go out, it’s more of a special treat.
In our opinion, shopping at local grocery stores is the only way to go. Grocery stores in other countries are quite similar to the stores in the US. We buy some staple breakfast items such as eggs, oatmeal, and fruit, which is the perfect balance for a healthy and nutritious start to our day. If there aren’t any nearby grocery stores, there are plenty of other local shops within walking distance that carry some items at cheaper local prices. Instead of going out for three meals a day, go to the local shops. You will be very surprised at what you can find. Your waistline—and your wallet will definitely thank you.
I hope you enjoyed my post on traveling on a budget. Please keep reading for more helpful travel tips!
