happiness

How to travel on the cheap

travel on the cheap

Good morning Loves.  I absolutely love travelling. This year I want to travel as much as possible and as much as my budget permits.  There are so many reasons why I love travelling including getting out of my daily routine, shopping to buy things we don’t have up here in Canada (the list of products is bigger than you may think) and just having a change of scenery.

I honestly believe that everyone can travel if they do it on a budget.  Of course it would be fabulous to have an American Express Black Card and be able to spend limitlessly, but that is just not the reality for most Americans.   Us normal folk have to work hard for our money, save it for months and then enjoy our vacation as we travel on a budget.

Five travel tips to help anyone travel on the cheap

1. Book ahead, if you can.  It’s no secret that booking ahead can save you a ton of money.  I am not convinced this rule applies for hotels, but it is true for flights and other accommodations.  I read somewhere that you should book flight accommodations at least six months in advance.  I think that’s a great rule if it gets you a discount and if the flight is completely refundable.

2. Search discount websites.  I am a huge fan of Priceline.  Over the last two years I don’t think I’ve stayed in a hotel that I didn’t book on Priceline.  Actually that’s not true.  I booked my first hotel in Vegas last year through Travelocity and it was a total nightmare.  I checked out after one night and moved to the Excalibur hotel after booking my next four nights at a discount on Priceline.  My mom likes HotWire.com, but I have yet to book any travel with them.

3. Travel with friends.  I like travelling alone because I can do what I want when I want and I can turn up the heat as high as I want.  I can eat in bed and watch TV until 2 a.m.  However travelling alone is a budget breaker.

Travelling with friends can be fun and it definitely makes travelling on a budget a lot easier. Plus if you travel to a city where a friend lives you could always stay with them.

4. Plan your activities.  If you know that you want to visit a landmark check their website ahead of time for discounts.  Some museums, theatres and shows offer discounted entrance fees and tickets if you purchase in advance or online.

5. Save money on food.  I am not a foodie.  I don’t appreciate food the way some people do.  I always say the less money you spend on food and travel accommodations, the more money you can spend on shopping and experiences.  I am a vegetarian and it’s not too expensive for me to eat.  When travelling in the U.S. I try to find the nearest Chipolte and I’m good to go.  If I am travelling abroad I like to have a great meal for dinner or if I’m busy I have a sit down restaurant meal once every two days.  I don’t like wasting time eating when I could be out exploring a new city.

Photo by tahnyakristina

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