13 Ways To Travel When You Have No Money

---

I recently asked subscribers of my newsletter about the number one thing that holds them back from traveling. The near universal answer?

Money

This is something I hear from everyone I talk to.

“Matt, I simply don’t have enough money to travel.”

This problem and how to overcome it probably my most asked question. Since this question comes up so often, I like to constantly remind people of this fact:
You do not need to be rich to travel.
Let’s repeat that.

You do not need to be rich to travel.
I sure wasn’t. I had an administrative job making $30,000 a year before I left for my first trip. That’s a pretty below average entry wage for Boston. (This guy even saved $14k in six months on a minimum wage job!)
Yet I managed to save enough to travel the world. How? I made it a priority. If travel is not a priority for you, you will always find some other things to spend money on and you’ll never have “enough” money to travel. I stopped spending money and saved everything for my trip. I was still paying college debt and yet still managed to save over $20,000 dollars for my initial trip around the world.
“But Matt, I work a minimum wage job/am a student/live on social security/am homeless/insert other excuse here and no matter what I can do, I’ll never be able to do it. I can’t even pay back my student loans. What do I do?”

What do you do when you are in that boat? What do you do when prioritizing your expenses doesn’t work? What if you just can’t get ahead?

Many, many things.

If you feel that no matter what you do you will never get ahead by saving money, follow this guide to ultimate travel frugality and see the world on the ultra cheap:

1. Work Overseas – Not making enough money at your job? Why not get a job overseas? There are plenty of opportunities in the world as long as you aren’t picky — and after all, this isn’t a career you are starting, it’s just a way to earn money for travel. Here are some jobs you can get to pay the bills and fund your travels:

• Au pair
• Bartender
• Hostel worker
• Waitress/Waiter
• Farm worker (Very popular in Australia and New Zealand)
• Dive instructor (Some certification required)
• Tour guide
• Cruise ship worker
• Casino worker
• Seasonal worker at ski resorts

Working overseas often gets discounted as an option because it seems hard to do. It’s not. Just be open. These jobs don’t require advanced degrees or a lot of work experience either. Are you going to get some high-paying office job? No. Will you get a shitty, low-wage job that will pay all your travel bills? Yes! I’ve met people from all walks of life, both from Western and non-Western countries, funding their travels this way.

Here are three websites that can help you find work overseas:

1. Council on International Educational Exchange Work Abroad Program
2. Alliances Abroad
3. BUNAC

2. Teach English Overseas – One of the best ways to make money for travel is to teach English overseas. You can make a lot of money teaching – I replenished my travel funds while working in Thailand, and I have had friends leave South Korea with tens of thousands of dollars in the bank.  All you need is the ability to speak English fluently and maybe a TEFL degree, depending on the country you work in. The world is yearning for teachers and this is a job in high demand – many companies in Asia will even pay for your flight over.
Teaching overseas is probably the easiest and most lucrative job to get. Contracts can be as short as 6 months and you’ll get to spend time living in and experiencing another culture. Teaching overseas was one of the best things I ever did.

Here is a more advanced in-depth guide for those ready to take the plunge.

3. Get Free Flights – There are so many ways to earn free flights I hate when people tell me they can’t afford to fly. Sign up for a few travel credit cards, collect miles, and then fly for free.  Most cards offer sign-up bonuses of 30,000 points — and if you sign up for both an airline card (think United airlines card) and a general rewards card like the Chase Sapphire or American Express card, you can combine the two point balances and get a cheap flight faster.

Credit card sign ups are the best way to collect miles. I’ve used these sign up bonuses to collect hundreds of thousands of miles.
Can’t sign up for credit cards? There are many ways to increase your mileage balance without credit cards. Three impact ways are:

• Watch out for deals – I sign up for all the airline mailing lists. I always watch out for special 2 for 1 miles deal. Or when they have special card offers to get extra miles. United Airlines just gave me 1,000 miles for watching a demo on their new shopping toolbar. I once got triple miles by buying some clothes from Gap just by seeing it in their mailing list. That doesn’t even utilize all the special bonus offers airlines have on cars, restaurants, and hotels.
• Shop at their member stores – All airlines have special offers with all the big stores- Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target, etc. Shopping at those preferred stores will earn you 2 to 4 miles per dollar spent- sometimes even more. If you spend 1,000 dollars a month, you can earn up to 3,000 miles just by going through their websites. The products don’t cost extra. I do all my shopping through the airline malls simply for the extra miles.
• Put everything on the card – I pay nothing in cash. I put everything on my card- from Starbucks to phone bills. My total monthly spending is about $2,500 per month. That’s more miles for me. Everything I do is to benefit my mileage account.

4. Couchsurf – This service connects travelers with locals who are willing to let them stay with them for FREE. Using this site you will never have to pay for accommodation. Years ago I read about a guy who has been traveling for years while only Couchsurfing and I’ve used this service about 10 times and always meet amazing people. Sometimes you get a room, sometimes a couch, sometimes an air mattress, but it’s always free. There are also local Couchsurfing group meet-ups that can help you make friends in your new city. Similar sites include Servas and Hospitality Club but I like Couchsurfing the best. It’s a more active community.

5. Hitchhike – A free way to get around destinations that is relatively safe and quite common in many parts of the world including Central America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  I’ve hitchhiked in a few places around the world and know many people who have done the same.

6. Free Walking Tours – Want to learn about the city, get your bearings, and see the major sights? Take a free walking tour. You can find them in 90% of the major cities in Europe, and there are also a few in large Asian cities, New York, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some good free tour companies include:

• Australia Free Walking Tours
• Big Apple Greeters (NYC)
• Athens
• Brasov
• Bratislava
• New Europe Walking Tours (All over Europe)

Local tourism information offices will also have a list of free walking tours in that city.

7. Housesit – Can’t afford your vacation? Watch someone’s house while they go on theirs.  You can sign up for one of the sites below and watch people’s homes for free, allowing you to stay in one destination for a while and get to know it well without having to pay for accommodation. Added bonus: you get a kitchen to cook your food!
Housesitting resources:

• House Carers
• Mind My House
• The Caretaker Gazette

8. Cook Your Meals – The best way to save money on the road is to cook all your own meals. I recently spent $60 USD for a week’s worth of groceries in Stockholm instead of an average of $15 USD per meal eating out! That’s a saving of $150 USD! If you are Couchsurfing, your host will probably have a kitchen and many hostels, campsites, and guesthouses also have kitchens. No kitchen? Pack your own container and silverware and make some sandwiches and salads on the go. Not every meal requires a stove right?
Just because you are traveling, it doesn’t mean you need to eat out every meal. You won’t ruin your trip to Paris if you decide not to eat out one day! There’s simply no reason to be spending lots of money on food on your trip!
Here are some more tips how to lower your food expenses when you travel.

9. WWOOFing – Working on a farm will get you free room and board, while allowing you to commune with the great outdoors. You have to pay to get to the farm but once you are there, everything else is covered! You can find farms all over the world and you don’t need prior farm experience to get a job.
And four ways to save money that cost a little but are still very cheap:

10. Get rail passes – Booking ahead of time can usually save you about 50% of the cost of a train ticket, but if you don’t want to be tied into a fixed schedule, rail passes can save you a lot of money. I’ve saved hundreds in Europe and, in Australia, a train pass saves a whopping 70%. If you plan to ride the rails a lot, don’t over look a rail pass.

11. Sleep in large dorms – Large hostel dorm rooms are the cheapest paid accommodation out there. If Couchsurfing isn’t your thing, this is your next best way to save money on a place to sleep. Hostelworld.com and Hostelbookers.com are two good sites for finding hostels.

12. Use student and other discount cards – Are you a student, teacher, or under 26? Welcome to the world of 50% off attractions and a plethora of discounts. Get a student/teacher/youth card and save big! You can get these cards at STA Travel.

13. Get city tourist cards – If you plan on seeing a lot of sights in a city, you should get a city tourism card which offers you discounted and free access to the major attractions and museums, as well as free public transportation. I saved over $100 dollars with the London pass, $80 with Paris Museum card, $50 with a Helsinki card, and tons more with other city tourism card. They are an amazing way to save money on attractions that not enough people use. You can purchase these cards online or at the local tourist information city when you get to your destination.
Between all of these tips, you’ll be able to travel for relatively little money. After all, I recently spent 5 days in Stockholm on $100 and once spent 10 days in London on $700. If I can do it, you can do it too.
The key is to get out of the mindset that you must travel using the flight/hotel combination. By using out-of-the-box, non-traditional ways to travel, you can save big and find ways to travel. Stop looking on Expedia or reading Travel+Leisure.
Think outside the box, save big, and turn your dream into a reality.

source by: http://thoughtcatalog.com/matthew-kepnes/2013/11/13-ways-to-travel-when-you-have-no-money/

Read More

21 ways to find cheap flights on the internet

Finding Cheap Flights

Besides saving money on your accommodation, learning how to find cheap flights will help you reduce your other big travel expense.
Thankfully, there are strategies and tips we can apply so we don’t have to pay top dollar!

It’s hard to believe but when Caz and I first started traveling in 1997 our only option was to wander in to our local travel agent and book our flights via them. These days, flight search engines and the ability to book online directly with the airlines has opened up a whole new world of choice.

When searching for cheap flights, the cheapest fare is only part of reducing the cost and if you’re traveling with a young family like we do, it’s often about BEST VALUE rather than the lowest fare possible.

Back in the day when we were traveling solo or as a couple, we’d happily rough it on budget airlines and deal with late night stopovers and budget facilities. However, with two young kids (ages 7 and 3) our needs and priorities have changed.
If it’s a long haul flight, we prefer to get to our destination as quickly and as painlessly as possible, with the most amount of comfort and facilities our budget allows!
And if it’s your one-and-only dream trip for the year, and it’s a relatively short vacation period, maybe you should pay the little bit extra and fly direct too!

The journey is not always half the fun. Know your priorities, comfort levels and budget and make an informed decision – sometimes a bit of sanity is worth the extra cost.

If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, you can probably deal better with an extra stop-over and off flying times.
Flexibility is most important when you’re looking to save money on the cost of your airfare. If you are locked into fixed travel dates, or can only fly on weekends or during popular holiday periods, it’s going to be more of a challenge, but not impossible.

21 Tips for finding cheap flights

1. Start searching as early as possible

Airlines generally release tickets 11 months in advance. Once you know your destination start searching and continue to check at least once per week.
Flight prices are live and fluctuate constantly due to supply and demand, so have a price in mind YOU are comfortable paying and be ready to jump on it.
Sure, there are last-minute deals that might beat what you’ve already paid, but that’s not guaranteed. If you want to play the game of waiting for a bargain, you’re better off NOT having a fixed destination in mind. More on that down below.

2. When is the best time to buy your ticket?

There really is no hard and fast rule. However, there are some general trends to be aware of. Peak season and holiday weekends will have the most demand, so expect higher prices. You can, however, stack the odds in your favor by buying at a certain time.
A study by CheapAir, who analyzed 560 million flight searches, found an optimal time to buy was on average 7 weeks in advance (for domestic flights). Others have suggested a sweet spot of between 3-7 weeks in advance. The WORST time was within 14 days of flying, or too far in advance, more than 5 months.
For international flights, Cheap Air found the sweet spot is 11-12 weeks prior to departure. As for which day of the week to buy on, they suggest no particular day was better than the other and buying on a Tuesday and Wednesday was somewhat of an urban legend.

3. What DAY is best to fly?

It might not matter when you buy your tickets, but cheaper deals can certainly be found depending on the day you choose to fly!
The consensus is that it’s best to FLY OUT on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. These are typical off-peak days with airlines carrying fewer business travelers, usually meaning lower fares and a surplus of seats. Meaning you also have a better chance of grabbing frequent flyer seats on these days (which we love).
Fridays and Sundays are usually the most expensive days to fly.
And don’t get confused with the idea that buying a ticket on a certain day will result in lower airfare. That’s a separate thing to the day you actually fly!
It has been suggested to try these combination examples:

• Domestic: depart Saturday, return on a Monday.
• International: depart Tuesday, return on a Wednesday.

4. Be flexible with your flight dates

The best tactic to save money on flights is to be FLEXIBLE with your travel dates. Give yourself the best chance by searching a couple of days, or even weeks, either side of your preferred departure date.
If you are locked into exact dates, it will be more challenging to get the best deal.

5. Adjust your time of day for flying

If you can’t change the date of your flight, play around with the time of day you choose to fly, which can change the price dramatically.
Flying at unpopular hours, such as the red-eye or early in the AM instead of late morning through afternoon, increases your chance of getting the best deal. Most of the time, the cheapest flights leave either very early in the morning or late at night.

6. Identify the cheapest payment method.

Recently I got stung with a $94 fee for booking flights using my credit card, which I now avoid on cheap domestic flights.
In Australia, Qantas lets you pay using BPAY from a debit account, and Jetstar and Virgin through the POLi system which is also a direct debit payment from your chosen bank account.
I still use my credit card however when purchasing the more expensive international flights to gain those credit card member benefits and frequent flyer points, and for added consumer protection.

7. Check alternate airports

If there is more than one airport near your origin or final destination, check them both. The more options you have in terms of airports and travel dates, the more likely you will find your best deal.
IMPORTANT – Ensure you know where the airport is situated in relation to your accommodation and planned activities before you book your tickets. We messed up once and discovered I was flying into an airport much further away from the city centre. It cost me extra to pay for a bus into the city centre and a lot more in time than simply flying direct to the main airport.

8. Fly where the deals are

Instead of choosing a destination and then spending days or weeks trying to find a flight deal, considering flying to where the flight deals already are!
Choose a destination you can comfortably afford overall and one you’ll enjoy. Use a flight search engine that lets you type in your departure city and search for a list of cheap flights to anywhere in the world. If you are flexible with where you want to go, these are handy tools and fun to play around with.
Keep reading for tips on how to do this down below in our “How to search for deals” section.

9. Consider round trip tickets

Even if you are only flying one way, sometimes they are so expensive that the round trip ticket is actually cheaper. Just forfeit the return leg portion. We have done this from Sydney to LA. Crazy, but it happens.

10. Use different airlines

For domestic flights within Australia, it’s often cheaper for us to use different airlines and book two separate one way flights. For example, we have flown Jetstar Airways in one direction and Virgin Australia for the return (or vice versa).
Do your research and factor in online booking costs. If you do two separate airlines, you will be paying 2 online booking costs.

11. Avoid holiday periods

Obvious I know. But try not to fly up to 7 days before or after a major holiday period. However, certain strategies such as flying on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (when the flight attendants are extra nice) or even on September 11 can save you a penny.
And we’ve all herd of the term “tourist season”. For example, Europe in the summer is peak tourist season. Consider visiting in the off-months instead. Sure the weather might be a bit cooler, but the prices for flights (and accommodation) will be lower, and there will be less people lined up at popular attractions.
Just make sure all the tourist sites and accommodation providers are open in those “down” months.

12. Consider a longer layover

Flights with longer layovers usually have lower price tags.
One advantage of the Expedia flight search is that you can plan for longer stopovers on the same ticket.

13. Join a frequent flyer program

Why not? These programs are free to join and you can earn points towards cheaper fares, upgrades, and free companion tickets.
And many programs are created for airline partnerships where they’ll recognize and honor each others’ miles – such as the new Qantas / Emirates partnership.
We have benefited greatly from our Qantas membership. When we were living in Raleigh, North Carolina we had to attend a family wedding in Cape Town. I (Craig) had accumulated enough points to fly return trip from North Carolina → Atlanta → London → Johannesburg → Cape Town and return! Whilst I had to pay a couple hundred dollars in taxes and fly a longer route, saving over $2,500 was well worth it.
And recently I saved big on my flight from Sydney to Washington DC to attend the White House blogger summit.
IMPORTANT
Frequent flyer programs mostly accrue by miles. So even if you don’t travel very often, taking just one long haul flight will add to your points balance.
If you have a premium status, such as Gold or Silver, you usually gain access to the airline lounges even if you’re flying economy. You also get priority check-in, priority security, and priority boarding.
If you only travel once or twice a year it’s probably best for you to use a flight search engine to get your best flight deal. (recommendations below)
However, if you are a frequent flyer, paying a little extra for flights by staying loyal to a premium airline or alliance such as OneWorld could be your best long-term bet for getting flight perks.
For an extensive list of frequent flyer programs click here.

14. Sign Up for an Airline Affiliated Credit Card

If you are using a credit card, why not accumulate frequent flyer points? The best cards and benefits depend on which country you live in and what cards you have access to.
In Australia, we use a Commonwealth Bank American Express Card which gives us two Qantas points for every dollar spent.
We use this card to pay all our travel expenses, business costs, plus everyday living expenses and bills. This does take discipline. Make sure you don’t accrue interest by paying it off in full each month (very important).
And don’t forget to shop at member stores that are affiliated with the airlines. By shopping at these preferred stores you will also accumulate points. Our credit card program is linked to our phone bill company and supermarket chain.
For USA residents check out this credit card list by The Points Guy.
For Australian residents check out the list of cards here.

15. Sign up for Email Notifications

The best airfare sales can go largely unannounced. Sign up for your favourite airline e-newsletter as promotional fairs and discount codes reserved only for email subscribers can save you money. You can also be notified of last minute deals.

16. Use Your Age or Student Status

If you’re a student or under 26 years old, ask about student discounts at STA Travel. STA Travel’s Exclusive Tickets can save you money.

17. Be careful of refundable tickets

It really depends on risk. If you’re taking a short trip and haven’t paid a fortune for it, don’t worry about purchasing refundable tickets or trip cancellation insurance.
However, if you’ve made a significant investment and face a high risk of cancellation, such as traveling during peak hurricane season or you have a potential medical condition, refundable tickets and trip cancellation insurance is a good idea!

18. Avoid fees

Most airlines are charging for everything these days, and if you have 2 bags or more, expect to be charged for it. Try to keep all your luggage within one bag per person, and make sure your luggage is not over-sized.
Alternatively, look for airlines that don’t charge fees, and some airlines will waive bag fees for frequent flyers or members of its credit-card program.
If you do need to check baggage, paying for it in advance is much cheaper than doing it at the airport. Check with each airline before booking so you can make an informed decision. For US based airlines check out this chart which displays all the fees compiled by Smarter Traveler.

19. Which seat is best?

It might not save you money, but it can save your sanity, especially if you’re traveling with kids or gadgets.
Seatguru shows you the best and worst seats on the plane, user comments, and photos. Find out the pitch of the seats, if they have powerpoints, personal TV screens, bassinets for infants and if baby changing facilities are available.

20. Consider a mileage run

Some people do what is called a “mileage run” if they are close to obtaining elite status for a whole year with a particular airline.
They basically find a cheap flight to anywhere and take that flight whether it be just a day trip or a weekend away. The cheap cost of the flight is seen as a small sacrifice to pay if the extra miles accrued allows them elite status for a whole year.

21. Delete your cookies/history

Some websites store your search data and will increase the price of the flights if they know the specific flights you are looking for. So when you come back a second time you are pinged as being more ready to buy and so are likely to be offered higher prices than you originally saw.
Clear your cookies or load each site in a new incognito browser window.

How to Search for Cheap Flights

When searching for cheap flights online we always start with these trusted websites listed below. Some of them you may already know, and we hope you find the tips useful and save you money and time in searching.

1. Skyscanner

We always start with Skyscanner, it’s one of our favourite booking sites. In fact, we just booked our two most recent flights to Sydney via their search engine.
It’s a flight comparison site that is simple to use and fast. Skyscanner searches millions of flights on over a thousand airlines, including scheduled and budget carriers, and once you’ve found your flight on Skyscanner you are taken to the airline or agency to make your booking (no middlemen) or extra fees added.
You can filter your search results based on:

• number of stops
• departure times
• airlines you like and dislike

You can get price alerts every 24 hours and if you’re not set on using a particular airline, browse through all the different carriers you can choose.


Know your destination, but not your date?
Thinking of flying from New York to London this year but not sure when is the best time? Skyscanner allows you to see prices for tomorrow, in a week, in a month or the cheapest month. The website will tell you the cheapest dates to fly.
You can also type in a country name to search cheap fares from all cities within that country.
Simply click on the calendar in the Depart field and a drop down box will appear:

You can see in the screenshot below July 13th was the cheapest day to depart and August 12th cheapest day to return.

Go “EVERYWHERE” feature
One handy feature of Skyscanner I like is it allows you to type in the word Everywhere in the “To” box. This helps you to select the cheapest destination from your point of origin. Or you can also just leave the “To” box blank.
If you’re not fussed on your destination and just want to get out of town this is a fun tool.

Let’s use the departure point of New York as an example:

• in the FROM field type in your departure city.
• in the TO field leave it blank (or type in “Everywhere”)
• in the DEPART and RETURN section Skyscanner lets you see up to a week, a month or even a year of fares at a time.
• Click on the calendar icon for a drop down. Great if your travel dates are flexible.

You can see that the cheapest flight from New York is to Canada, then all the way down to China.

Want to check flight deals within the USA departing from New York? Simply type in United States in the “To” box:

I like those features. Skyscanner allows you to find the cheapest flights without having to enter specific destinations, making it a great resource for finding cheap flights for your next getaway.
Note: Sometimes Skyscanner quotes you one price and when you go through to book you are quoted with a much higher price. That can be frustrating.

2. Kayak

Another metasearch site we like to check is Kayak. It feels like it has been around forever (which might count for something) and it’s simple to use and compares hundreds of sites in a comprehensive, fast and intuitive display. Once you find what you want, they give you choices where to book.
As mentioned flexibility can result in dramatically lower fares so you want to fly when others are not. On Kayak select the flexible dates option. You can search +/- 3 days either side of your preferred date, flexible for a month and add nearby airports and other filters.

Two cool filters I like is the Fee Calculator and how you can filter via Carriers or Alliance. And they also have a predictive chart which shows how likely it is that flight prices will either increase or decrease in the next 7 days.


Want to go ANYWHERE?
The Kayak Explore tool is another fun way to search for flights to anywhere by simply typing in your departure city. You can then filter by:

• day, month or season
• which country or continent
• flight duration
• budget
• and activities like beach, ski or golf.

Once you hit explore you’ll instantly see a map with all the destinations listed. This tool is a great way to find the right place to go with a specific budget. Below is a screen shot with New York as an example departure point:

It’s a simple interface and being able to see a number of days each side of a given search date is handy for spotting those cheaper fares.

3. Hipmunk

We’ve found some nice deals on Hipmunk, and booked a recent flight from Perth to Sydney via this site.
At first glance their unique search display takes a bit of getting used to, but it makes it easy to visually compare results and departure/arrival times to choose what’s best for you.
You can sort your search by:

• Price
• Duration
• Takeoff time
• Landing time

And filter by:

• Airlines
• Airports
• Number of stops

4. Google Flights

Google needs no introduction. But maybe you haven’t been introduced to the Google Flights search engine yet?
As we continue to mention, flexibility around the dates and times you fly is key to finding your cheapest flight. Thankfully, Google Flights makes it easy to identify the cheapest date for your desired flight.

I had to fly my dad up from Sydney to the Gold Coast and their simple calender display shows the various price options for each day.

Caz turns 40 in October and she’s always wanted to live out the female version of the Hangover movie in Vegas with her friends. Looking on Google flights you can easily see the various price points for Economy, Premium, Business and First Class for a flight from Sydney to LA in October.
I’m sure she’d love to do it in style in First Class, but OUCH!

5. Momondo

Another metasearch site, Momondo is a global search site that checks the leading travel sites including low cost carriers.
When you do a search it tells you which flight is the cheapest, quickest and what it believes to be “the best“. And you can refine your search using all the typical filters and get fare alerts.
I like how it automatically adds the graph across the top displaying the price estimates for each day within your date range, like this Sydney to Los Angeles search, but when I clicked on different days and hit search again the prices didn’t reflect those on the graph, meaning those prices could be old.
So the site may not be that ideal for those who want to play around with flexible dates.

 6. Vayama

One last site worth a quick look for international flights is Vayama. Just make sure you know your correct dates as changing bookings with them can be quite costly!

7. Go direct to the airlines

After you have used the flight search engines suggested above and found your cheapest fair for your desired destination and dates, go direct to that airlines own website and see if you can get it for cheaper.
Many airlines have lower fares only available on their own site.

In summary

No flight search engine is perfect and not all airlines, especially low cost carriers, appear on every search engine. For example Southwest in the US don’t allow themselves to appear. 

These Low Cost carriers (LCC) try to keep costs down by not paying a booking commission to search sites. And they can neglect to show many of the more obscure airlines.
Remember, if you DON’T book a flight direct with an airline and book through a third-party instead, be prepared to pay fees if you need to change flight dates or times, or even worse need to cancel your flight.
And don’t forget to compare hidden airline surcharges like baggage fees and specialty taxes. Different airlines charge differently and some of these search tools don’t always show those costs – you might think you’ve got your flights cheap, but these extras add up!

Play around with those search engines, try to be flexible on dates and times of the day you fly, and keep checking prices regularly.
But at the end of the day, have a price in mind you are comfortable paying and don’t be afraid to hit the buy button!


Source By: http://www.ytravelblog.com/start-here/travel-planning/how-to-find-cheap-flights/


 

Read More

How To Save Money on Accommodation

Where you sleep at night is one of your major fixed travel expenses, so learning how to save money on accommodation will help you keep more money in your pocket for spending on activities and experiences.
Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and website resources these days to help you find safe, practical and value for money accommodation.
For us traveling with our two young kids, it’s not always about finding the cheapest accommodation deals, but getting the BEST VALUE for our money! We don’t like to rough it as much as we used to pre-kids.
How you travel and spend your dollars is totally up to you, but we all need a place to sleep at night and we may as well get the best accommodation deal as possible.
Your choice of accommodation will depend on:

• your budget
• your destination
• your comfort levels
• number of companions
• your interests

Getting 15 percent off a room you don’t want isn’t always better than regular price at a room you do want!
Our goal is to help you save money on accommodation and get the price you want, at the place you’re happy with.

Relaxing in our hotel room in Melbourne, Australia

The style in which we personally travel has evolved from solo travel, to traveling as a couple, to now being a family of four. So our accommodation preferences have changed as well.
Depending on the length of the trip and the destination, we’ll chop and change between accommodation styles.
As a traveling family, if it’s longer than a weekend getaway we prefer to stay in apartments. They offer several benefits:

• Access to a full kitchen saves you money by not eating out every night.
• Separate bedrooms make it easier to put the kids to bed.
• You have your own laundry.
• You can book a 3 or 4-bed apartment and split the costs with another family or friends.

These extra facilities on a long stay can make your trip so much more enjoyable.
But if it’s a short city stay, or we’re just traveling as a couple, we’re happy to stay in a hotel and sometimes we’ll cut costs and find a family friendly hostel.
If you are on an extended trip around the world, consider spending more of your time in countries and regions where your money travels further, and when visiting the expensive countries lower your accommodation standards.

18 tips to save money on accommodation

1. Think location

There is no point choosing your accommodation if it is miles out of town and you have to pay extra in transportation costs. Stay in a central area close to public transport, airports, local attractions, food outlets, the beach, the park, and the ability to get out and walk to most things.
This will help you save money on accommodation and save on time!

2. Stay more than 1 night

Many accommodation providers offer their best deals when you stay more than one night. Often we’ve had deals like stay 4 nights, pay for 3. Especially in the off-season.

3. Stay over Sunday

Many hotels receive Friday and Saturday night accommodation bookings from leisure travelers and Monday-Friday bookings from their business travelers, so there can be a void on Sunday nights meaning possible lower prices.

4. Stay mid-week

In certain locations like Las Vegas, and our own big cities in Australia, avoiding the peak Friday and Saturday night periods is a strategic way to save money on accommodation – so avoid the big cities over a weekend if possible. We’re stunned by how much the prices for accommodation can rise on the weekend – some places triple.

5. Travel in the shoulder-season

One of the obvious tips on how to save money on accommodation is by traveling in the shoulder season, that time period between the peak and off-peak season. Accommodation costs will be lower, the weather will still be favorable and in popular destinations you’ll avoid the large crowds which makes sightseeing easier. And you’ll also save money on flights and car rental. Win-win!
For example, in Europe consider visiting in May or September and avoid the July/August summer peak season.

6. Stay in Apartments or Suites and share the costs

This is our favorite strategy for saving money on accommodation, particularly for families or small groups.
Apartments and rental homes are a great way to save money on accommodation. They are usually cheaper and more practical than a hotel. If you’re traveling with other family members or another couple why not get an apartment big enough and share the cost?
My parents visited us often on our trip around Australia and we stayed in apartments with three bedrooms which reduced our per-night rates, and was much cheaper than two separate hotel rooms especially considering we had a full-kitchen to self cater on meals.

Enjoying some home-cooking in our apartment in Tasmania

7. Consider a Hostel

Staying in hostels may not be a great option for the USA due to the lack of quantity and quality, but in places like Australia, Europe and Asia the network is extensive and the quality is ever increasing. Don’t think of hostels as just dorm rooms for backpackers. Many offer private and family rooms.
We’ve stayed in several hostels with our kids around Australia including the Sydney Harbour YHA and the Apollo Bay Eco Hostel on the Great Ocean Road.
Hostels in major cities are located close to public transport and tourist sites. A private or family room is typically cheaper than a hotel room and they generally have cheap and free services such as wi-fi, a laundry, luggage storage, fully-equipped kitchen facilities, and local tours. Hostels can also be a fantastic way for meeting fellow travelers, as well as a way to save money on accommodation.
Read the hotel reviews! Like all accommodation types, some properties are better than others.

8. Stay in a nearby town or outside the city center

Smaller towns nearby to your destination or staying slightly outside of city centers will almost always save you money on the cost of hotels and apartments. If you don’t mind the short commute you might save a bundle.
But as mentioned in point #1, be careful that choosing accommodation far away from the attractions you plan to visit doesn’t result in high transportation or parking costs, or precious time. Research the area’s public transportation system!

9. Book rooms that offer free cancelation

Book a room in advance at the best rate you can find online, then keep an eye on prices to see if you can get a better deal at another property, or even at the same hotel.
For example, Booking.com offer free cancelation on most rooms. And their book now, pay later at check-in system allows you to lock in that rate with some flexibility. Just check the booking conditions per room type and you’ll have piece of mind when booking through them.

10. Check the dining options

Again location is key when choosing accommodation, so make sure you have access to local cafes and restaurants. When staying in a major city it will almost always be cheaper to walk to a nearby cafe or restaurant than dining in the hotel, unless you get free breakfast as part of your booking.
If you do eat in, does the hotel have a restaurant with reasonable prices? Does it have a kids menu? Does it have room service? Does it cater to your dietary needs?

Enjoying a hot chocolate from room service on a cold night in Bathurst, Australia

11. What facilities does your accommodation have?

Does your accommodation have free WiFi, free airport shuttle, free breakfast, free cable TV, laundry facilities, a pool, BBQ areas, private rooms with en-suites, a tour booking desk, 24-hour reception?
Is there a fridge, microwave, coffee machine? A fridge and microwave can be great for storing and reheating leftovers which saves money on eating out. This is great for families storing milk, juice and yogurts and other kids breakfast items to have on hand first thing in the morning.
All these features add up when you’re trying to save money on accommodation!

12. What’s the hotel room configuration?

Who are you traveling with? Can you share beds to cut costs per head? For our family of four we require two double beds, or a queen and two singles. If you have a baby make sure a portable cot is available and for free!

13. Check for family deals on your accommodation

Always ask about discounted family rates, free meals for children, and an upgrade at check in – they can only say no.

14. Use accommodation reward programs

If you frequently visit the same hotel chains or booking sites, join their rewards or membership program. We can’t say which is the best program, it depends on your travel frequency, how and where you travel, and what your priorities are. For example, are you more concerned about free nights or extra perks? Or do you want to experience luxury at good prices?
To maximize your earnings in any rewards program, charging your hotel costs to a credit card tied to the rewards program is essential. All cards will give you bonus points for spending, and the best cards will also give you instant elite status in the hotel program which means even more bonus points.

15. Use Credit Card Reward Points

Check the program and benefits for your particular credit card, you might be able to use your points for accommodation costs. In Australia, we have an American Express card through the Commonwealth Bank that allows us to use our reward points for booking travel.

16. Follow on social media

Go and “LIKE” your favorite search sites on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. It’s getting more and more common for sites to release hot deals directly through their social media channels.

17. Sign up for e-newsletter deals

Subscribe via email to your favorite booking sites. They often distribute deals and special coupons only to their email subscribers and members.

18. Delete your cookies/history

When searching for cheap accommodation deals, use a different browser or go incognito before looking up prices a second time on a particular booking site. Websites store your search data and when you come back they know you are more likely to book as a repeat visitor and will charge you more.

Searching Accommodation Deals

We’ve been traveling consistently for 17+ years now, and have come to rely on a few trusted websites that help us to save money on accommodation and time in searching! When searching for accommodation deals online, down below are the trusted websites we personally use.
To be clear, if you choose to book through one of our preferred partners we will earn a tiny affiliate commission (at no extra cost to you) and you’re helping to keep the lights on at yTravelBlog so we can continue to bring you awesome travel tips and inspiration!

Hotels

If you’re on a short trip and desire a central location, a little comfort, and you don’t mind eating out, hotels are an obvious choice.

Booking.com

Our favorite hotel search website is Booking.com, who have over 600,000 properties worldwide in 200 countries, and they’re still growing daily.
Besides having all the major brands, you can find a variety of low-cost independently owned hotels that can be difficult to find elsewhere.

We find their website and interface user-friendly and the other nice features we like about the site include:

• Book now, pay later at check in
• Free cancelation on most rooms
• 24/7 customer service
• Best price guarantee

Using their search box is simple. You can search via destination or hotel name and choose the number of rooms and adults / children.

Once you’ve chosen your destination and dates you can then filter your search by:

• Price
• Stars
• Review score
• Facilities
• Property type
• Distance from city center

The other handy feature that Booking.com has is the 48 million verified reviews. Only people who have booked through Booking.com and stayed at the property can write a review as they receive an email once they have checked out.
That means their reviews come from real guests, like you!
You can even filter your search results based on reviews broken down into categories like:

• All reviews
• Solo travelers
• Couples
• Families
• Groups of friends
• Business travelers

To read reviews on a property and see the score breakdown simply click on the review score.
On the topic of reviews, pay attention to what is important to you as a traveler. Look at the good reviews, look at the bad reviews, and try to find threads of consistency. If many people are complaining about one thing in particular, then that’s probably a good indicator that the hotel has a problem with that!



Another great feature of the site is that you can search for properties broken down into themes such as:

• Family hotels
• Budget/Backpacker hotels
• Business hotels
• Beach hotels
• Spa hotels
• Romantic hotels
• Golf & sports hotels
• Luxury Hotels

It doesn’t end there with Booking.com. You can also search for hotels near Airports and the most popular Landmarks around the world.

Hotwire

Hotwire is particularly great for last minute deals. If you care less about a specific hotel brand and more about wanting to save money on accommodation, consider shopping the anonymous hotel inventory on Hotwire.
You won’t know which hotel you’re staying at until it’s booked, but you can request the general location and quality (three-star, four-star, neighborhood etc).

One of the great deals we’ve got on Hotwire was a 4-star hotel right in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans for $50 a night.

Apartments

As mentioned apartments are a great way to save money on accommodation and often work out cheaper than a hotel room, particularly when you factor in the savings of cooking your own meals and sharing with other couples or friends.
As a family using apartments is our preferred accommodation choice. It is a fantastic option to save on money by not eating out every night, and great for children as they get their own room.

AirBnB

AirBnb is a site we used often on our trip around Australia as a way to get low-cost apartments, or even rent out peoples entire homes. This one deal in particular, we got in Western Australia for a 4 bedroom house was exceptional.
AirBnb are in 180 countries world wide and offer a great way to connect people who have space to spare with those who are looking for a place to stay, whether you need an apartment for a night, or a home for a month.

You can book entire apartments or just spare bedrooms, allowing you the choice between having the place all to yourself or staying with and getting to know the owner. Even if you never meet your host, you’ll get to feel more like a local.

If you are new to Airbnb, we have a $32 credit voucher for you when you sign up here.

Booking.com

Booking.com also have a great inventory of apartments to help you find the best deal, wherever you travel. Again you can filter your search results based on what’s important to you.
Click on the image below and check out their featured apartment destinations:

Hostels

Before we had kids, we stayed in hostels often to save money on accommodation. Not only are they a great budget sleeping option, but good for meeting like-minded travelers. On occasion, we still stay in family-friendly hostels but only in private or family rooms.
You can choose to either pay for a dormitory room in which you’ll share with other guests, or you can pay for private rooms with shared or private bathrooms. It depends on your budget, comfort level, and whether you are solo, a couple or a family.

Booking.com

Booking.com also have a large inventory of hostels around the world. Click on the image below and check out their featured destinations:

Hostel Bookers

Hostel Bookers has hostels in over 3,500 destinations worldwide, and prides itself on being the only independent hostel booking site that has no booking fees!
We have used this site to book hostels in Asia, Australia, the USA and Africa.

House-Sitting

House-sitting is a perfect option for anyone considering long-term travel, but can also work for those interested in a week or two away. You live rent free in exchange for looking after someone’s home and if they have them, pets safe.
We haven’t used the housesitting strategy yet via an official membership site, although we did sign up for a few at the start of our big Australia road trip.
To be honest, we’ve found the competition and flexibility required difficult to land a house-sitting job. Many of the house-sits were in outer areas, and we didn’t want to visit these locations for the sake of house-siting.
You also need time to organize it, or be super flexible to move on a whim. With kids and a business, and a country the size of Australia, it proved too difficult for us to commit to apply for that awesome house-sitting job in Perth in 4 months, or last minute.
In saying that, if you are very flexible on your locations, are retired or semi-retired, work a digital business, or are on a working holiday I totally get the value this can provide.
Our blogging friends, Dalene and Pete from Hecktic Travels have also written an excellent housesitting guide – How to become a housesitter and see the world.
Pete and Dalene have been travelling the world for years following the housesitting strategy so know what they are talking about. They’ve had 14 house-sits in 9 countries, and saved over $50,000 in the cost of accommodations as a result.

Source By: http://www.ytravelblog.com/start-here/travel-planning/save-money-on-accommodation/

Read More

11 packing tips to pack smarter

So you’ve gone and booked a trip. Now how do you get things from point A to point B? It’s called packing and here’s a good overview of super packing tips to get you started.

1. Buy the lightest luggage.

Once I asked for a new wheelie suitcase for Christmas, and Santa delivered a beautiful, green bag. Then I picked it up and wondered, was I naughty? Surely this is filled with coal and switches. No, it was completely empty, yet would barely pass the 40-pound weight limit at the Delta counter. Soon after I donated my shiny new bag to the Salvation Army, somewhere a very strong bag lady is hauling aluminum cans in that thing.
The great thing about light luggage is, hey you can bring more of your own stuff instead of hauling around dead weight. And the added benefit of not getting bruises or tearing a ligament lugging around a 60-pound suitcase. Nobody looks cool dragging that thing up a broken escalator. Some might argue, hey those nice hardtop suitcases and heavy duty bags protect my belongings and last forever. Well if you’ve ever glanced out your plane window at typical baggage handlers you’ll realize that no luggage can last forever under such conditions.
Buy light. Don’t spend too much money. (Louis Vitton was never meant to go around a baggage claim belt)

2. One Bag. One Carry-On.

For a typical trip I always pack one bag and one carry-on. Never more than what I can manage to muscle on my own (using a luggage cart doesn’t count). Usually I travel for 1 month or more at a time and I never need more than the amount I can put in one under-the-weight-limit, checked bag and one carry-on. And yes, I agree if you are doing a short trip don’t check a bag.

It’s also so much easier to keep up with your stuff if you limit your luggage. There’s so much going on so fast when you’re traveling that one easy thing you can do for yourself is just think got my ONE bag? Check! My parents went on a European cruise and their multiple bag packing helped my Dad leave his laptop in the plastic bin at security, and my Mother to leave one of her bags at the airport in Italy. Keep it simple!

3. If it doesn’t fit, it ships.

Trust me if you absolutely need more than what fits it’s often cheaper and easier to ship it in advance. Especially if you’re staying in the same country. Airport bag fees are completely out of control. Fifteen bucks to check a bag, $50 if it’s over weight, $50 for additional bags.
Traveling sans-luggage is also a wonderfully freeing experience. You airily, arrive at your destination and your stuff is happily waiting for you. I’m considering using the ship tactic more with airport check-in becoming more and more crappy. Most hotels are happy to hold your package for you and many will help you ship it back home. Just call them and ask. Having a shiny tracking number to follow your bag with is a nice change versus holding your breath when each suitcase comes out of the baggage claim.

4. Add your own compartments

This is my favorite part of packing. Why get a bag that’s weighed down with built-in compartments when you can customize the inside of your bag just for you. Any fellow, slightly OCD travel comrade will agree. I hate anything loose in the bag. Every precious item has a category and a home all its own. Not just strewn about at the whims of the baggage handler’s last toss. All toiletries and cosmetics must fit in one, shirts in another, pants, check, underwear you’ve got your space, socks, hey there you are, dirty clothes bag ready to go.
This is truly the greatest way to live out of a suitcase. You get to where you’re going, you hang your toiletries in the bathroom, you transfer your compartments to actual drawers, you go get a drink with an umbrella in it. WIN! Never again digging, gerbil-like, trying to reach the bottom of your suitcase. Repeatedly taking it all out, then putting it all back. When it’s time to move on you’ll be packed in 3 minutes, and who-knows, the guys in airport security might just salute you.

5. Choose your color.

Traveling light doesn’t go well with indecisiveness. Having your entire closet at your disposal so you can wear what you are in the mood for is unfortunately not an option. A better option is functionality and picking pieces you can wear a ton of different ways so they feel like brand new outfits. Sometimes the hardest thing comes down to the shoes. I usually look over my outfit options and make that ultimate executive decision, black or brown? Choosing a neutral base color for your overall trip wardrobe is one of the best ways to remain a savvy packer. Once that agonizing choice is made axe the stuff that doesn’t match. Choose shoes, accessories and then try it all on.
Be creative, you’re on vacation after all, and nobody knows you there. You can be anyone. How many ways can you wear that scarf? Or maybe you can buy some flair once you get to your destination. My favorite souvenirs are always wearable. Then when someone asks where did you get that scarf you can say Barcelona. Yay.

6. Now take stuff out.

Remember that last tee shirt you threw in cause there was still room. Take it out. Those shoes that only work with one outfit. Goodbye.
Always leave some white space in your suitcase for good measure. Who knows, you might find a great dress or a cool journal at your destination. How are you going to get it back if closing your suitcase becomes a team effort. Leave some room for the unknown. Recall your last beach vacation when you packed 20 sun dresses, and 5 pairs of dressy shoes, but ended up wearing a bikini and a cover-up the entire trip. You never wear everything you bring.

7. Pack an emergency expandable bag.

OK this slightly violates my last rule if you left room for purchases in your big suitcase, but it does have another purpose.
Sometimes you may need an extra bag for souvenirs on the way back from the trip. An even greater use for a packable expandable bag is if you decide to do a mini side trip and can leave your main bag at the hotel while you’re gone. Why haul everything for a couple days when you only need a little?(Another good solution is zip-off backpacks connected to your main bag.)
Now they make them so small and light that there’s always room to throw one in without sacrificing your perfect lightweight packing. So this item is more for the unknown, luck-favors-the-prepared, aspect of a trip. Besides you’ll look so much smarter than the lady knocking people in the face with giant paper shopping bags on the plane.

8. Two words. Travel size!

This may seem obvious to semi-professional travelers, but DO NOT bring a full-sized tube of toothpaste on your trip. That is what the dollar travel aisle is for at Target. Or for the carbon conscious get your own refillable vials and just quickly refill up for trip. Pretend you’re an elf that only needs tiny things. Mini makeup brushes, mini skin care and other toiletries work just as good as mega.
Hint: Put your checked liquids into ziplock bag. Even if the bottles say leak proof. I’m just saying.

9. Don’t pack what’s already there.

Hairdryers are suitcase hogs and the majority of hotels now come complete with one in the room, so check the hotel web site and leave it behind. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, cotton balls and Q-tips are also standard staples. Certain hotels I look forward to their products. I can smell people in Santa Monica and tell which hotel they are staying at. Beach towels also fill-up half your bag, so another good thing to check ahead of time.

10. They do laundry there!

So what you’re saying is, I don’t have to pack 37 pairs of underwear and socks for my 37 day trip? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying! Even third world countries enjoy the pleasures of clean clothes. Any extended trip should require some sort of scrubbing whether it’s a local laundromat, hotel laundry (fab but usually pricey) or the true travelers’ “washing it in the sink” technique. I use all of these methods depending upon where I am on the map. Washing in the sink has some merits. Because you really can pack incredibly light. (Beware high humidity and slow drying.)

11. Try “roughing it”

When you’re traveling you are escaping your daily routine at home. So embrace this carefree philosophy, even if it’s only temporary. Perhaps you don’t need to pack a curling iron, and a straightener. Maybe check out your makeup bag and scale down to the basics. Four different kinds of eye shadow might be overkill. Ask your stylist how to simplify your hair care routine on vaca. Decide to leave behind one step of your 17-step skin care regimen. Go for clear nail polish instead of a french manicure. Take baby steps. Who knows you might say good riddance.

12. Don’t be afraid. (bonus packing tip!)

So what if you get to the Praha and you failed to pack socks? The good news is they make them everyday. Don’t over think it. Inevitably you’ll forget something. The adventure of traveling is embracing the unexpected and reveling in it. On your quest for socks you discover a fabulous hand-made hat, dance at a street festival or stumble upon a dim-lit cafe where only true locals dine. Those are the interesting stories. Not “the tour at Notre Dame was very informative…”
Have fun packing and dreaming about your trip.

Source By: http://theplaidsuitcase.com/11-packing-tips-to-pack-smarter/

Read More

How to choose your travel destinations

Do you need help choosing your travel destinations?
Whilst we’re not in the business of actually booking trips for others, we can certainly offer you guidance on how to choose a destination that meets your interests and budget, and the strategies on how to find the best deals on flights and accommodation.

When choosing your destination, it depends on factors like personal travel style, your interests, the length of time you have available, and your finances.

Figure those things out first, then your options for where you can go start to take shape.

Where do you start?

With so much advertising shoved in our faces from newspapers, magazines, TV and the internet all vying for our attention, deciding which travel destinations to visit can be overwhelming.

This can lead to procrastination and procrastination leads to you being the world’s best armchair traveler.

I like this quote, not just in regards to travel, but to life:

“Many things will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart…pursue those.” – Anonymous

When choosing your next vacation spot, the following questions will help you narrow down your list and clear the confusion.

Why do you want to travel?

Seriously. WHY do you want to travel?

First knowing why you want to do anything is important. If your WHY is clear and strong enough you’ll commit to it and make it happen.

For me, travel is more than checking things off my list.

Sure it’s nice to get that photo in front of the Grand Canyon and post it on Facebook bragging to your friends, but is there something deeper you want to fulfill?

I don’t travel for the sake of traveling, especially now with young kids because it’s certainly not always relaxing, often the complete opposite.

Do you travel for:

• cultural experiences?
• food?
• adventure?
• history?
• to get away from the normalcy of life?

It’s important you value your hard earned dollars and if you put more meaning to your trip, you’ll have a better chance of it being a memorable and rewarding experience.

Who are you traveling with?

Your destination choices can be affected dramatically by your traveling companions.
Our choices are slightly different now we have children. What about you? Will you be traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family?
If you travel as a family, sit down with your kids and discuss your ideas and interests. Memorable trips are those where each member of the family gets to experience something they love. Finding the balance between adult and kid stuff is important.
If you travel as a couple, talk about your individual desires and expectations.
Be clear on what you both want and make the decision that will suit both of you. Don’t leave it to one half of the relationship to always make the decision. Maybe you could simply take turns in choosing a destination each year?

Whitehaven Beach, Queensland

What kind of trip did you have in mind?

A big part of your decision will come down to personal travel style, what do you like to experience, and what is your everyday life like?
Is your working and family life so hectic that you need a trip to relax, recharge and spend quality time with your family?
Or, are you the type who can’t sit still for long, are wired for action and want to see and do as much as possible? Personally, I like a balance between down time and exploring new things.
What about you? Do you prefer:

• Cities or countryside?
• Beaches or mountains?
• Resorts or road trips?
• Festivals and cultural experiences?
• Shopping or food experiences?
• Adventure or relaxation?
• Luxury, mid-range, or budget?

Are you the type of person who likes to sit by the pool or on the beach all day with a book? Or would this bore you to death? By answering these questions you can narrow down your list.

Rottnest Island, Perth

How much time do you have?

If you only have 1-2 weeks of vacation time per year, you don’t want to waste too much of that time traveling to and from your destination.

But if you have a month you can look at traveling a little further.

Below are some key points to keep in mind in regards to how much time you have:

Short (1-2 weeks):

• Have less time moving from A to B.
• Choose only 1 country or region.
• You’re likely to spend more money in order to save time.
• Tendency to stuff a lot of activities in, but be warned this can exhaust you.
• More likely to visit those countries that are more expensive.
• More likely to have a rigid schedule with things booked in advance.

Longer-term (2+ weeks)

• Can allow more time for travel between destinations.
• Depending on length, can visit multiple regions/countries.
• Will sacrifice time in order to save money.
• Will need to be extra vigilant with budget and finding deals.
• Focus on packing light and embracing minimalism.
• More room for flexibility in your schedule.

What is your budget?

You can almost always find a match for your budget choices whatever travel destinations you choose.

However, it could change your ultimate decision as it might not be budget enough, particularly if you are traveling long-term when it’s best to stick to the cheaper regions!

Carefully consider the strength of the currency you are traveling on and what areas you can make your dollar travel further. What other currencies is your dollar stronger against?

For Australians it might be considering a trip to south east Asia, the Pacific Islands or Africa. Or, if you love road trips and camping, it could mean staying in Australia instead of going abroad.

Think strategically about your options.

What seasons do you like?

Many people travel for the seasons. Are you a summer or winter person?

For us it’s usually summer destinations. It just appeals to us as there is more you can do outdoors and you can travel lighter – trust me, when you have kids you will appreciate this.

So unless you are looking for winter activities, you are more likely following the sun too. This will often mean prices can be higher, except for those regions where it is always hot.

Consider the impact seasons have on where you go. You can waste a lot of money if you don’t get the timing right.

Turquoise Bay, Western Australia

Can you travel in the off-season?

If you are fortunate enough to be flexible in when you can take your vacation time, good for you!
Avoiding peak periods and traveling off-season is one of our best travel tips and you can save big bucks on flights, accommodation, car rental and activities.
Even if you have kids in school, consider traveling a week or two outside of major school holiday periods to take advantage of the savings.

Fly where the deals are!

Instead of thinking too much about the location of your next travel destination, let the cheap flights make up your mind for you!
Think about using airfare sales to help determine the location of your next vacation, rather than the other way around.
Skyscanner’s go EVERYWHERE feature is cool. Type in the word everywhere in the “To” box on their site and this helps you to select the cheapest destination from your point of origin. Or you can also just leave the “To” box blank. If you’re not fussed on your destination and just want to get out of town this is a fun tool.
And the Kayak Explore tool can help too. For Kayak, simply plug in your departure city and choose the season or month and a list of available deals will appear.

Hate travel planning?

Why not consider a cruise or all-inclusive resort.
With activities to appeal to every generation, food choices to suit all ages, and itineraries that can be action packed or you just sit around on your backside all day, cruises and all-inclusive resort stays can eliminate decision headaches.
You check in, drop your bags in your room, and then your biggest decision for the next week is what are you going to eat? Who couldn’t use a trip like that every once in a while?
As a busy family who usually moves around a lot we appreciate trips where we do absolutely nothing but eat, drink and swim.

Enjoying the cruise life on Carnival Spirit

What about a Working Holiday?

If you’re considering long-term travel, maybe a working holiday is what you’re looking for?
It can give you the opportunity to experience a new culture, gain new skills, and it’s a great way to fund your travels for an extended stay.
By participating in a working holiday, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the people and their day to day lives, you’ll get a real feel for the heartbeat of the country, and you’ll get out of your comfort zone by trying different and unusual jobs.

Travel in your own backyard

Is money and time an issue for you? Don’t underestimate the benefits of staying local and exploring in your own backyard.
This strategy is one of the most overlooked and cheapest ways of having more travel in your life. Benefits of local travel include:

• Less planning
• Less packing
• Les time away
• No jet lag or burnout
• Usually cheaper

I’ve published a post on how to travel in your own backyard which has suggestions and tips on how to make the most of this strategy.
It’s an easy strategy to implement. Start by taking day trips, then short breaks. After a while you’ll be looking for bigger and longer adventures.


Source By: http://www.ytravelblog.com/start-here/before-you-travel/travel-destinations/

Read More

How To Save Money For Your Travel Fund

The easiest way to afford travel is to have some kind of trust fund or rich parents… but what about us regular folks? Well, then it get’s a little tougher. The key, unsurprisingly, is finding smart ways to budget your money and cut back on spending.
No duh, right? Luckily, most of the time the cutbacks are actually fairly commonsense and painless — but require self-restraint.
We’ve assembled some of our favorite money-saving strategies — some may work for you and some may not but this list will help get you on the right path to affording that dream trip to Europe.

Step One: Research Your Spending Habits

The first step is knowing where you’re currently spending your money, so it’s time to take a hard look at your finances.
I like to use Mint to track and categorize my spending but do whatever is easiest for you (excel spreadsheet, pen and paper, etc.). If you’re serious about budgeting then you might want to check out You Need A Budget.
As you look through your expenses mark down all the little extra things you spend your money on… you might be surprised how quickly it adds up. Then multiply that out by 12 months — it’s possible all those tiny purchases could add up to be enough to spend a few weeks traveling around Europe.

Step Two: Start a Travel Fund

If you can afford it, set aside a little money from each paycheck and put it into a travel fund. If you put $20 aside each month you’ll have saved over $1000 after a year — that’s about a roundtrip ticket to Europe. If you can save more, even better.
Another option is the 52-week money saving challenge. Basically, you save $1 the first week, $2 the second week, $3 the third week and so on. By the end of the year you’ll have nearly $1400. This graph from Fresh and Organized illustrates this concept well. 

Step Three: Get In The Travel Saving Mindset

This step is all about getting yourself motivated and excited to travel — which makes saving easier.
Here is what I do: Before I make any purchase I think about all the cool places I could go or see with that money. For example, is buying this Snickers bar now more important than buying an eclair in Paris?
I find one of the best ways to get motivated is through watching travel shows, watching foreign movies, and listening to international radio.

My Travel Inspiration

Anything Anthony Bourdain: Mr. Bourdain can do no wrong and just about everyone seems to love his shows. Many of his older episodes are available on Netflix
I’ll Have What Phil’s Having: Phil Rosenthal is a comedian and writer (he wrote Everyone Loves Raymond) he is has a new travel show on PBS called I’ll Have What Phil’s Having — all the episodes are available to watch for free. His show revolves around Phi’s happy-go-lucky attitude about food and travel.
Rick Steves Europe: I love Rick and his shows are amazing. And even better, all this shows are available on his Youtube channel and on Hulu.
House Hunters International: This show is like crack for all of us who dream of moving overseas… I’m officially a junkie. There are a few episodes available on Netflix or Hulu (I can’t remember which) and there are a few full episodes available on the House Hunters International Website.
TuneIn Internet Radio: One of the best ways to get into the travel mood is to listen to European radio. TuneIn Internet Radio let’s you listen to live radio for just about every radio station in the world.
Read Up: Author Bill Bryson is the most popular comedic travel writer and he gives great insights to his travels. You can also read a few of the hundreds of travel guide books.

Step Four: Start Trimming The Expenses

Cutting back your expenses is the best way to beef up your travel savings. We’ve listed a few of the way’s we’ve cut back on our spending but not everything may apply to your situation.

Lower Your Housing Expenses

Housing is usually people’s highest expense so if you want to save money then lowering your rent is the fastest way to free up a large chunk of money. Even lowering your rent $100/month adds up quickly.
That means possibly finding room mates or moving to a smaller apartment or less-ideal location.
If you’re really committed to saving then you might consider moving back in with your parents (if you can stand it)… but 6 months living rent-free will probably save you enough to travel for a few months.

Lower Food Expenses

Eating your meals out will absolutely kill your budget. I know from experience that living in a big city like NYC, SF, London, Paris, etc. can easily cost you $10+ for every lunch out. That’s an extra $200/month just for lunch. Bringing your own lunch will cost a small fraction of that.
The same goes for ordering in dinner or going out to restaurants. I know the dangers of eating out all too well — we can easily spend $400+/month without realizing it.
If you’re lazy like I am, consider cooking in bulk and freezing the food so you just have to heat it up later. My brother-in-law spends a few hours every Sunday making meals for the entire week and it saves him a fortune.
Another option is to cut back on the meat as that is usually the most expensive part of the meal.
LiveHacker always has articles about saving money on food.

Get Sober

We try to limit how often we go out for drinks because it’s another budget killer — of course this is easier said than done if your friends are always wanting to go out. Remember, happy hour is your friend!

Cut the Coffee/Energy Drinks, Etc.

Luckily I don’t drink coffee but I know people that spend $5 each day to get their caffeine fix. However, I’m not completely off the hook because I like to buy other caffeinated drinks (about about $2-$3 each). If you absolutely need a caffeine boost then you should check out caffeine pills, strong tea, or simply brew your own coffee.

Rent your Place on Airbnb

I know plenty of people that make a nice chunk of change by renting their homes/apartments on Airbnb. I have a friend that rents her NYC apartment for one week a month (she stays with her boyfriend for that week) and the cash she makes from Airbnb is about equal to 3/4 month’s rent. I have other friends who rent their NYC or SF apartments for a month while they travel and they make enough to cover their rent + overseas rent and travel experiences.

Pay Off Credit Cards and Loans

Of course this is easier said than done, but you should pay off any credit cards as quickly as possible. I have friends that are paying hundreds of dollars each month in interest on credit cards.
Student loans are another huge issue for many young travelers. Obviously we can’t just snap our fingers to pay off the loans but you should do your best pay them down.

Use Airline Points / Frequent Flyer Miles

Personally, I don’t know much about using credit cards to rack up frequent flier miles, but I know many people go crazy for it. So if you know how to get points this could be a great way to save $1000+.

Ditch the Car

For most people a car is a necessity but if you could do without one then you’re going to save on gas, insurance, and general maintenance.

Cut Subscription Services

Spotify, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Tidal (lol, jk), all those monthly box services, etc. … they all add up.

Cut Cable

We ended our cable service years ago and we don’t miss anything… ok, there is some trash TV we probably miss a little but we’re still surviving. We find that Netflix and Amazon Prime streaming fulfills our television watching needs.

Electronics and Expensive Gadgets

Do you need the newest electronics and other gadgets as soon as they come out? I feel ya but all that gear is pricy. I’m getting by just fine with my last generation iPhone and 5-year old digital camera.

No New Clothes

If I need new clothes I try to only buy them when they’re on sale. Stores like the Gap seem to have 40% off sales all the time. Sometimes you can score some good items at thrift stores, secondhand stores, or even eBay.

Buy it For Life

We live in a world where many of the things we buy are cheap but they’re also more-or-less disposable or have a fairly limited lifespan. There is a concept called “buy it for life” where people say to spend extra money on products that last much longer. The classic example are boots — you can buy a nice pair of Red Wing boots that cost $300 but will easily last for 15-20 years but a pair of $120 may only last a few seasons.

Side Gigs/Freelance

Are you a good writer? Can you do graphic design? How about coding? There are now tons of ways to do freelance work via the internet and you can make good money if your skill is in-demand. The problem is that it often takes a few months to build up a client list but there are lot of people making a good living this way.

Cut Coupons and Seek out Deals

I’ve never gotten into coupon cutting but some people out there are true masters that can get a whole shopping cart full of stuff for only a few dollars.

Buy Used/Refurbished/Last Season.

On my first trip abroad I bought my backpack off eBay for 1/2 the price as a new one. My Macbook Air is a refurb (it has the same warranty as a new computer). My Panasonic Lumix camera was a previous generation but still takes amazing photos.

Sell Off Old Stuff

We’ve all got old junk that we don’t use any more so why not try selling it? Who knows, you could have hundreds of dollars worth of junk hiding away.

High Interest Online Savings Account

Most normal savings accounts offer virtually no interest on your savings but a handful of banks offer a 1% return. Ok, so 1% isn’t much but it is better than nothing.

Quit Smoking

If you smoke then you know how expensive a habit it is — and it only gets a lot more expensive in Europe so quit now.

Slash Movies/Entertainment

Being a hermit is no fun but consider cutting back on expensive entertainment. We’re content with our Netflix and Amazon Prime Streaming for most of our entertainment needs.

Drop The Gym

Physical fitness is super important so you may not want to cancel your gym membership if you actually go… however, cancel that bad boy if you don’t use it. Or consider getting into free activities like running, etc.

Don’t Shop Because of Sales

I get emails all the time from retailers announcing sales. This is great if I’m actually in need of something but it’s not so great if I end up buying something I don’t need simply because it’s on sale.

Ask For Money

Birthdays, Christmas, weddings, and graduations are great occasions to score a little extra cash for your trip. People are usually more than happy to contribute to your travel funds if you ask.

Make a Fortune With a Travel Blog

I still haven’t figured this one out… so please let me know if you have the secret!
Actually, here is a guide to creating your own travel blog (but I can’t guarantee you’ll make any money).


Source By: http://thesavvybackpacker.com/how-to-save-money-to-travel/

Read More