cheap ways to travel

cheap ways to travel

Traveling is an essential to all of us and form part of our life. Every year we plan for 1 or 2 short trip spanning like 8 days or frequent short break holidays . These kind of short trip always book at travel agency and have tour guide. However this kind of short trip always regards as flower viewing from horseback. We can’t really touch down to the country most genuine faces and touch in-depth to their customs and cultures.

New traveling trend now is traveling alone - backpacking. We plan our travel routes ourselves, and no need to rush for the next destination. We can stay longer at the places we like before move on to next destination.

For in-depth traveling, it always takes longer time, and is more money spending. Togo travel on this way, we need to know how of budget travel to save money along the journey so that our money worth for every penny we spend and allow us travel longer and reach more destinations.  Cost of travel mainly derived from 3 basic requirements; accommodation, transportation, and foods. Here list down few methods for cheaper ways for traveling.

Accommodation

Couch Surfing

Couch surfing is a popular way to find free accommodation in a destination by arranging to sleep on a local's owner house. One of the most popular couch surfing networks isCouchSurfing.org, where citizens of the world meet and arrange couch surfing with other couchsurfer. Sleeping in the home of a stranger naturally raises issues of safety, so the review for the host is important. 

Home Exchange

House swapping with someone else is a good way to find a comfortable yet free accommodation for your travel. Home exchange participants typically stay in each other's house at the same time, or they may even stay as guests in each other's homes. There are various websites that provide online classifieds for owners to advertise (homeexchange.com, homexchangevacation.com or homebase-hols.com). Check the review and chat on the phone with the home exchange partner is important to avoid your house being in evil use.

House-sit

Laboring to exchange for free accommodation is another good way. You can help owner to clean the house or cutting the courtyard grass in exchange for free accommodation.

If you are looking to house-sit, check out these online boards websites at www.housecarers.com, www.mindmyhouse.com for postings in different countries to advertise your services.

Hostel

Hostel is the best cheap accommodation. In hostel, we share room with different travelers from different countries.  Hostel room are different based on room type like 2 bedroom type, 4 bedroom type, 6 bedroom type and other. Since it is cheap accommodation and shared, remember to take care of your personal belongings, or keep value belongs in the locker.

Transportation

Budget airlines

Budget airline are essential for long distance travel. Europe and USA have mature and cheap budget airlines, and Asian budget airlines are mushrooming recent years. Sometimes we can spot for a free airline tickets for a short distance flight, just paid for the taxes and fuel surcharge. Ex:  Malaysia budget airline Airasia. 

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is popular especially Europe. Just show your thumb up at the roadside. Some drivers will stop and ask you where you go and they will give you a free ride if going to same destination. Consider your personal safety before hitchhiking.

Public transportation

Use public transportation instead of using cab. If really need a cab, try to share the cab with other people and make sure the fee is counting based on meter. Southeast Asia countries’ cab drivers especially don’t like to use meter when taking foreigners. They can take you take a big round for a short distance location. 

Book early in advance, buy weekly pass

Book 1 month in advance for bus ticket or train tickets can be half price for the actual day ticket prices especially at Europe countries like United Kingdom. Plan your plan and book early. Buy weekly pass for your rail transport and bus transportation. It will definitely save a lot.

Bicycle

If you are tough enough, bicycle is a good transportation option to travel around with zero transportation fee. You will able to make a lot of same interest friends along the bicycle trips. Use Craiglist or Gumtree to buy or sell the bicycle when you moving away.

Food

Eat the local food. This is the best way to enjoy authentic local food and it is cheapest. Never eat at restaurant.

Groupon and other deal sites

Best way to find hidden gems at awesome deals. You can find many dining and drinking options at very attractive and cheap price, saving up to 70% at Groupon and other popular deal sites.

Other ways for cheap travel

Volunteer 

Participant in the charity organizations to provide volunteer job like help to build houses for typhoon victims in Phillipine or build school in China or teaching in China rural area. Most volunteer organizations may help you out with free accommodation and free airline tickets. Some organizations that request for volunteering jobs may require a significant commitment of time as well as specialized skills and experience. 

 WWOOF it up

World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is an international network of organic farmers who from time to time offer opportunities for volunteers to join them. Contact the WWOOF office in the country you wish to travel.  A small membership fee is required to gives you access to lists of member farms in that country. Check it out at see www.wwoof.org.

 Organize a group tour

Most time we can get cheaper price if we purchase or book in big amount of quantity. We can negotiate with the sellers to bargain the prices.

Haggle

Haggle is important especially at Asian countries. Many thing or services can be bargain and cut to half price and even more if you are good to bargain. Water sport activities at Phuket can bargain up to 70%. 

Work short term job

If you’re looking to stay a little longer, then consider picking up some short-term work overseas. Many countries provides short term jobs for foreigner like picking fruit at farm, become nanny at Denmark among others.

Accommodation

Budget Airline

Local food

Budget travel