Erin Bunch
As someone who is both a travel junkie and the former founder of a site called Broke Girl's Guide (RIP), which dealt in all things budget, I'm incredibly passionate about the idea that travel doesn't have to break the bank in order to be extraordinary. Don't believe me? Check out these top-rated, under-$100-per-night accommodations in destinations like Rome.
Below, globetrotting pros who feel similarly share their tips for seeing the world on a dime without sacrificing style, comfort, or sanity. But be warned: After reading this, you may no longer have an excuse to partake in your favorite 4 p.m. workday activity-enviously complaining about the "inaccessible" lives of travel bloggers.
Save money while traveling by bypassing peak times and locations
Pick an alternative destination; To save money, consider budget-friendly alternatives to more mainstream destinations, advises travel magazine Elsewhere founder Drea Sobieski, exchanging Paris for Porto or Fiji for Bali. You won't get exactly the same experience, of course, but you'll be able to more deeply and freely immerse yourself in the trip with fewer financial limitations.
If you're really jonesing for a particular experience, she adds, you can always try selecting a town nearby your ideal destination instead (e.g. Taroudant vs. Marrakech). This way, you'll get similar vibes without tourist-inflated prices.
Book off-season. In some instances, non-ideal, off-season weather can kill your vacation, while in other cases, it's not such a big deal. When researching a destination, says travel blogger Ribicca Mamuye, AKA @IAmAbyssinia, evaluate how important it is that you arrive in peak season as you can save oodles by traveling to a place when most others are not.
Travel slow; The more destinations you try to see, says Sobieski, the more expensive your trip will get. "The faster we move from city to city, the more money we spend and the less we tend to see," she says, noting that plane, train, and bus tickets or car rentals add up quickly. "Slow travel invites us to select one destination instead of trying to explore an entire country in a week." Sites like Airbnb reward this mentality with discounts for extended stays, too.
Find the best travel deals by investing in the planning process. Do your research; Every traveler is different when it comes to how pre-plotted they prefer their itineraries to be. Still, the more you plan, the more you're likely to save.
"From finding affordable accommodation to researching good restaurants that don't break the bank, it's all about planning ahead," says travel blogger Courtney Adamo, who took her sizable (and swoon-worthy) family traveling all over the world for a year.
Consider a pre-paid group trip. Generally speaking, group tours aren't the most budget-friendly way to travel; however, if you're not so great with planning, a pre-paid itinerary may be a good option to consider as it will prevent you from overspending once you get on the road.
Pack light; As mentioned above, your suitcase (or lack thereof) can really help you to save cash while traveling, particularly if you're going on a multi-country trip. "While most people know that you can hop around Europe for next-to-nothing on their budget airlines, what many don't take into account is that those super-low fares don't accommodate for extra baggage, which can quickly make your transportation budget skyrocket," says Houston.
To avoid this, she advises packing only the essentials. "I traveled for six months last year with just a slightly-oversized backpack, and if you could see my overstuffed closet you'd know if I could do it, anyone can!" Latimer agrees, noting that she always limits herself to a carry-on only.
The writer is a freelancer
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