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As Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” How true that is! And yet, the expense involved in traveling to far-flung places can be daunting for many.
Not to worry! With a spirit of adventure and some creative planning, you can still indulge your wanderlust without breaking the bank. Here are 15 tips and tricks to stretch your travel budget in the coming year:
Go Off The Beaten Path
Avoid pricey tourist traps and instead veer onto the road less traveled. Venture away from major cities and famous sites. Meander down side streets, country lanes, and dusty backroads. Chat with locals and let their suggestions guide you. Leave the itinerary flexible. Wander aimlessly and savor the feeling of discovery.
Let your curiosity lead the way. Follow winding dirt tracks through rainforests and rice paddies. Ramble through ancient villages lost in time. Marvel at intricate temples far from the tourist hordes. The most memorable and meaningful travel experiences often happen spontaneously, in out-of-the-way places.
Stay 3 Nights Or More
You’ll get a cheaper room rate if you stay put for several nights versus just one. Hotels and inns commonly offer discounts for multi-night stays. Make a place your home base and take day trips to surrounding areas. It saves the hassle of constant packing and relocating.
I once spent a week in a tucked-away inn high in the Swiss Alps. The room rate decreased steadily the longer I stayed. And each morning I’d peer out the window, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and decide which new adventure awaited that day.
Fill Up On Breakfast
A hearty breakfast before setting out fortifies you for a full day of exploring on the cheap. No need to waste money on overpriced snacks and sodas later. Just be sure to take advantage of the free morning spread at your lodging. Fill up on fresh local fruits, breads, cheeses, yogurt, granola, juices, coffee, etc. It’s included in your room rate so you might as well enjoy it.
I’ll never forget the sumptuous breakfast buffets at cozy pensions in Vienna. Quiche, cold cuts, pastries, cereals, roasted vegetables, cheeses, jams, and Viennese coffee. A fabulous (free) feast to fuel a long day wandering the city.
Walk Or Take Local Transit
Shun pricey tour buses, taxis, and rental cars. Explore cities and towns on foot to soak in the local ambiance. Let your feet take you off the predictable tourist track and into quirky neighborhoods that guidebooks ignore. If walking isn’t practical, take local buses, subways, trains, ferries, and other transport to get around.
I traipsed all over Dublin on foot, happening upon delightful pubs, shops, and historic sights not mentioned in any guidebook. And when my feet grew weary, I’d hop on the efficient Dublin bus system. Between walking and public transport, I didn’t need any other mode of getting around.
Try The Street Food
Skip the overpriced touristy restaurants. Join the snaking queues at popular street food stalls and savor authentic local flavors. Try a little bit of everything that appeals to you. Chat with fellow diners and food vendors. For the price of one restaurant meal you can sample a variety of delectable street snacks.
In Singapore, the bustling outdoor hawker centers offer mind-boggling varieties of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and fusion dishes. I happily grazed my way through these markets every day, mixing and matching savory treats. A delicious cultural immersion!
Buy Groceries At Local Markets
Resist the temptation to ring up exorbitant in-room service charges. Grocery shop like a local instead. Visit farmers markets, food stalls, and supermarkets to buy bread, cheese, fruit, snacks, wine, beer, etc. Picnic in parks and scenic spots.
While road tripping through New Zealand, my wife and I would buy bread, local cheeses, salad greens, spreads, and wine from small-town grocers and create our own delicious picnic spreads. We’d dine al fresco surrounded by dramatic landscapes for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant.
Sip From A Reusable Water Bottle
Fill up your bottle for free at public drinking fountains, restroom sinks, hotel lobby water coolers, etc. Unsafe tap water can first be sterilized using a light-weight water purifying device. Refilling on the go slashes unnecessary plastic waste and saves a small fortune compared to buying endless bottled water.
When backpacking through Europe, my trusty Nalgene bottle went everywhere with me. I’d top it up for free wherever possible, avoiding costly bottled water purchases. A small yet impactful way to lower my carbon footprint and travel budget.
Fly Or Ride Overnight
Redeye flights, red-eye buses, overnight trains…Utilize night travel options to maximize time at your destination while saving cash on a spared hotel night. You arrive refreshed in the morning, ready to dive into sightseeing. Night trains are wonderfully old-school. Share a sleeper cabin with fellow voyagers as the darkened landscape slides past.
My favorite overnight journeys include a vintage Orient Express train through Eastern Europe and a sailboat passage from Athens to Santorini under moonlight. Night travels add adventure while lightening the budget.
Stay With Locals
Skip impersonal hotels and sterile resorts. Immerse yourself in local life by staying in a village homestay, farmhouse, hostel dorm room, or shared apartment rental. Sites like Airbnb open up affordable options in ordinary neighborhoods versus tourist zones. Split costs by booking a private room in a shared flat.
While backpacking through India, my wife and I stayed in family-run homestays across the country. We felt like welcomed guests, not just anonymous tourists. Sharing meals, swapping stories, and being guided around by our generous hosts provided rich cultural connections.
Don’t Pay List Price
Politely haggle prices at outdoor markets, with unmetered taxi drivers, or anywhere bargaining is locally accepted and expected. Offer an initial counteroffer of about half the quoted price. Through lighthearted back-and-forth you’ll eventually land on a fair figure. Approach haggling with patience and a smile.
In Morocco’s frenzied souks, I learned to bargain like a pro! My initial ridiculous low-ball offers would be countered with equally ridiculous high asks. After rounds of tea and banter, we’d finally shake hands on a price we both could live with. I walked away thrilled with my locally-crafted souvenir.
Go Off-Season
Avoid peak tourist times when demand, and prices, are sky-high. For warmer places, travel during the cooler fall, winter, or spring. For cooler climates, visit during the warmer summer and fall. Off-season adventures often allow deeper cultural immersion versus peak times when places are overrun with tourists.
Instead of joining the teeming summer crowds in Paris, I visited in early spring. The vibe was much more laid-back and authentically Parisian. I strolled for hours through nearly empty museums, restaurants had plenty of tables, and hotel rates were half the high-season prices.
Venture Beyond Guidebooks
Use guidebooks as inspiration for your itinerary but allow flexibility and spontaneity once on the ground. Wander without a set plan. Follow overheard conversations about some hidden gem. Diverge down narrow alleyways that intrigue you. Let each day unfold organically versus rigidly sticking to your guidebook’s organized walking tours and museum checklists.
While exploring the Greek Islands, I’d get tips from old locals playing backgammon in the village squares, then happily detour to some out-of-the-way beach or hillside taverna they’d recommended. Those unplanned adventures ended up being the trip highlights.
Ask The Locals
No website or guidebook advice compares to insider tips from actual residents. Regularly ask hotel staff, shopkeepers, fellow travelers, and villagers about local secrets, hole-in-the-wall eateries, events, transportation shortcuts, etc. Let locals guide your spontaneous explorations.
When visiting Siena, Italy I got chatting with the younger guy working at my inn. He suggested I check out a neighborhood street festival occurring that night which hadn’t been listed anywhere. It turned out to be the highlight of my entire trip – incredible food, wine, music, and mingling with exuberant locals.
The Takeaway
Follow these budget-minded tips and tricks to keep your next adventure affordable without sacrificing experiences. Travel frugally, immersively, and adventurously. Stay flexible, get off the beaten path, live like a local, and embrace the unexpected.
Safe travels! And may the road rise up to meet you in 2023.
