Totally Realistic Ways to Travel On a Budget!

June 3, 2019


Travel is one of the very best ways to spend your free time. It inspires you, helps you to grow as a person and lets you experience more of the incredible planet we live on. The only problem is, getting around and seeing all of the places you want to see can be really expensive. Many of us see this as a hurdle that we simply can’t get past, and miss out on vacations and travel each year because we’re short on cash. However, this really shouldn’t be the case- because actually there are a number of ways you can do more without having a massive budget. Here are just a few ways to go about it!

Explore the country you live in
When we think of travel, it’s easier to picture jetting off to sunnier climes. However, it’s important to not overlook the country right under your feet! Look on the map and research areas of interest, make a list of places you’d like to visit. Whether it’s sightseeing in forests, lounging on beaches, window shopping in cities or exploring quaint villages chances are there’s plenty for you to do. If you drive you can get away for just the cost of fuel, if you bring a few friends with you you get to spend quality time together and split the cost. You could also look into budget coach travel or cheap train tickets to get to the places you want to see. You could go camping which costs hardly anything, or hire a barge and go boating. You could go on hikes with your dog, friends and family. See your country through the eyes of a tourist, why do people visit and where do they go? It’s great going and seeing other parts of the world, but it makes sense to know the place that you live in as much as possible! There are plenty of places you can see in a day so no hotel stays are needed, but if you do want to stay over you have lots of cheap accommodation choices too. Budget hotels, caravans and tents in campsites, glamping pods and much more. Without the cost of flights, transfers, exchange rates and everything else, you can keep costs low compared with going abroad.

Work while you’re away
If you want to travel and spend weeks or months away from home at a time, one realistic way to finance the dream is to work while you’re away. If you’re a blogger, Youtuber, streamer, freelancer or run your own home business for example it’s easy to continue with your income stream while you’re away. Home businesses can be made into virtual offices these days and can be run from anywhere in the world, not to mention you can outsource any tasks to third party companies that you can’t (or dont want to) do yourself. Jumio offers KYC compliance and software like Office 365 enable you to work completely online. If you’re at the start of your career and you know travel is important to you, why not take it in a direction where you can work from anywhere? You will still have plenty of time to explore, travel and enjoy but as long as you have wifi you’re able to earn as well.

Volunteer abroad
Volunteering abroad really is mutually beneficial. You get to genuinely help people in need, and travel to a place in the world that you’ve probably never been to before. Volunteering is common in third world countries- these aren’t places you instantly think to visit, but as with any destination there’s always something fascinating to experience. Many volunteering companies offer accommodation and food in return for a number of your hours of help each day. It’s where travel can become ‘real’- you’re not experiencing the glitz and glamour of tourism. Five star hotels and fancy restaurants might be nice, but you’re not learning about the world this way. Volunteering puts you in contact with people, it enables you to see for yourself how different parts of the world really are. From culture to language to customs and more, it’s these kinds of trips which open your eyes most. It can be upsetting visiting places that are truly in need, but can also give you a sense of pride knowing that you’ve done something to help.

Look for cheap deals
The thing about travel and holidays is that you can save a ton of money if you know how to go about it in the right way. Things like hotels will always have rooms at different prices, it’s knowing how and when to buy which allows you to snag it at the cheapest price. Airlines have cheap tickets for unsold seats close to departure dates, and there are all kinds of deals and discounts on things like attractions you can make the most of. If you’re not fussy about where you’re prepared to go to, you could secure yourself some bargain last minute deals. Scour sites like Groupon for deals, not just on flights and hotels but on things to do while you’re there. Don’t just pay full price, check to make sure you’re getting a good deal and do some research on how to hunt down the cheapest rates.

If you don’t have a whole lot of money, just do what you can. Try and travel and go to wherever you possibly can. Money can always be earned again later on, but you might not necessarily get the time and freedom back that you have right now.

What tips do you have for travelling on a budget?


*contributed post*

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