Travelling On a Budget: Save money while exploring the world
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Travelling has been done since the beginning of time, and it evolved from the sole purpose of exploring and learning about our environment to visiting new places outside our hometown. But nowadays, travelling goes beyond having fun.
You might travel for work or to visit friends and family in other countries, and it’s easier than ever to get on a plane and arrive at your destination in a few hours.
Remember to change your money up before you go, or look for a free money transfer service when you’re away, such as how to send money to the Dominican Republic from the US. This will save you a lot in fees!
Sometimes travelling may be expensive. It’s normal since the demand for accommodation services has increased, and the hospitality sector must keep up with tourists.
Luckily, if you’re a student or have to stick to a budget, you can still travel if you find alternatives for transport and food and still enjoy your vacation.
So, if you plan on travelling with little money, here’s what you need to consider.
Plan ahead
Travelling on a budget also needs to be done safely, so you need to have a plan in order to avoid getting lost.
It’s best to organise your journey in advance, so you have all the details put together. First, start with the place you’re going to and explore the map of the city to know where the central points, emergency centres, restaurants and points of interest are.
Then, learn some common words (if it’s a country with a different language to your own) and be culturally aware that you’re going to a different place with certain traditions and behaviours.
After you’ve gotten into the cultural details, plan your route. It will help if you have a physical map marked with the places you want to visit when travelling. Then, go ahead and see if your budget correlates with your journey. You need to allocate money for food, water, and accommodation. If the budget allows it, have some extra money for transit and other optional expenses.
Finally, create a plan for emergencies. Keep a physical copy with the information regarding where to call in case of emergencies, what to do if you’re injured and where to go in case you’ve lost your belongings.
Transit alternatives
If you intend for a longer journey, you need to consider alternatives for getting from one point to another. While travelling on foot to another country may be impossible if you’re not an expert, you could still save some money when visiting another city. But other than planes, you could use a train or bus to commute to another city/country. Inside the city, you have more alternatives for visiting, like:
- Walking. Make sure you have a map and proper shoes and get hydrated frequently.
- Biking. Even if you can bring your own bike in some cases, you can still get a cheap bicycle hire and roam around the city. But first, look into the city’s cycling routes and regulations to avoid any accidents because cyclists are the most vulnerable on the road.
In the UK, the number of pedal cyclists injured has increased in the last ten years. A reason for that might be the number of cars on the road that has rapidly expanded, as well as new technologies which makes driving a car easy and accessible for most people.
If you get injured, whether a driver crashed into you or fell due to a pothole, you’re eligible for making a compensation claim in the UK.
Keep in mind that you have three years available to make a claim from the date of the accident. If you have evidence, like photographs and videos of the scene, along with medical records, your case might be successful, and you can get the compensation you deserve.
Where to sleep?
One of the most important things to take care of when travelling is a place to sleep. Depending on the country you’re visiting, some areas can be cheaper than others, so if you can afford a hostel in one place, you might choose to camp in others. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and find the best accommodation options. So, here are some alternatives for hotels:
- Camping. It’s one of the cheapest alternatives, and in many places, you can find camping sites for travellers where you pay a small amount of money for the spot. Even though you may find tents ready to use, it’s better to have your own, especially if you’re moving a lot. But a tent is not necessary if you’re close to the places you want to visit.
- Hospitality exchange. If you want to travel for the experience and not only for sightseeing, you might consider asking people to spend the night. You could get acquainted with the locals, but be prepared to be refused by some, as letting strangers inside their house might sound like a threat to some people.
- Shared dorms. If you’re not bothered by sharing your room with others, you can pay just less than going to a hostel.
Choose where to eat
Now that we’ve covered almost any point of your travelling plan, it’s time to talk about food. For sticking to your budget, you have two options:
- Taking food from home with you. Also known as self-catering, preparing your own meals with ingredients bought from your hometown will save you some money. It would be best to take food that’s not perishable (dried and canned beans, fruits, fish and poultry, nuts and seeds). When it comes to water, you can buy the biggest bottle of water from a supermarket after you get to the accommodation and refill a smaller bottle, or you can look around the city to find community wells.
- Eating from traditional markets and street vendors. In some cities, you can find the most delicious and cheap food from the local shops. Sometimes, these places are hard to find on a map or social media, but you can join travelling forums, and maybe someone can advise you on the cheapest places to eat.
In conclusion, you can always cut corners when travelling without spending too much money, as long as you’re comfortable doing it. It’s essential to ensure safety and be prepared in case of emergencies, but cheap accommodation, transit options and places to eat are always easy to find.
