Many of us, at some point in our lives, have had grandiose plans to see the world. We want to see Paris, the Far East, and everywhere in between. But somewhere along the line, our plans for travel and adventure got superseded by our wallets – more specifically the lack of money inside of them.
So what if there was a dirt cheap way to travel the world for less money than you spend on current living expenses? Wouldn’t that sound like a worthwhile investment?
Make Your Trip More About the Sights and Less About Luxury
Think about every vacation you’ve taken from family camping trips as a young child, to a weekend getaway with your significant other. Often times, the lodging accounts for the biggest percentage of your trip’s expenses. When traveling the world on a budget, you shouldn’t spend too much of your hard earned money on the nicest hostel or chateau. You can find cheap accommodations nearly anywhere in the world. Just make sure that you aren’t staying in a dangerous area just to save a few dollars.
Search, Search, Search – And Then Search Some More
If you think you’ve found the lowest price on air fare, lodging or food – think again. There is almost always a better deal out there somewhere, just waiting to be unearthed. Finding the lowest prices for your world tour can be time consuming, but if you are truly dedicated to traveling, the savings will be worth the time investment.
Online, you can network with other travellers and perhaps split some of the expenses associated with the trip. If the name of the game is saving money on your travels, then don’t settle for the first or second price you see – dig deeper.
Don’t Go At It Alone
As mentioned above, you can split the costs associated with the trip if you go with a partner. Sharing rooms, cab rides and other group expenses can really cut back on the costs of the trip. Stretch these savings out over the course of a month (or however long you plan on traveling) and the savings really start to add up. Also, the non-financial advantages of having a travel buddy are far reaching. Safety is a good reason to have a travel partner, as well as general companionship. Just remember that in order for the trip to be a success for both of you, you have to either agree on everything or be willing to compromise.
No matter what your budget is for traveling the world, the important thing to remember is to have fun and appreciate the trip for what it is. You are traveling to get new experiences, take in different cultures, and learn new things about the world and about yourself. When traveling the world, fun is always included at no extra charge.
About the Author: Aaron Garcia is a travel junkie and vacation enthusiast. His trips have taken him across continents and around the world via airplane, train and charter bus.
Do YOU have any more great tips to share? Have you planned a successful, low-budget trip before? Tell us about it in the comments.
Image by Matt Hintsa, macwagen, Tomas Hellberg, Ruben Bos
