I wish I was rich like you. I wish I could afford to travel. How nice it must be not to worry about money.
Chris and I love to share and swap travel stories with others – it’s one of the best parts about traveling, getting to know others and learning from them. It seems, though, that when we share these stories with those who don’t travel, or at least don’t travel much, we’re routinely met with the tongue-in-cheek comments above and the like. It’s a slap in the face.
Though I don’t believe it’s intentional, statements like these only prove to embarrass or enrage me. I consider myself a modest person. I like to share my travel stories, but I’m more interested in hearing about others than talking about myself. Just recently we learned how one of Chris’ former co-workers worked the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta – personally meeting athletes, watching the opening ceremonies on the front row, and how a late train was the only thing that kept him out of Centennial Park at the moment of the bombing. It was a great story and something we never knew about this person. I’d much rather hear about others’ experiences than being told how they wish they could be like us or do what we’re doing.
The presumption of these statements is maddening. Last time I checked, I’ve never been featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and I’m not all that prone to sharing my bank account information with random people. How curious is it then that these statements somehow seem to have some inside information that we’re not even aware of about our financial status? Another pet peeve, stop wishing and start doing. I’ve heard plenty of excuses for people not traveling, but those all they are, excuses not reasons. “I don’t have the money” they say as they drive off in their Dodge Chargers whilst illegally driving and texting on their iPhone5. “I have kids.” Let me introduce you to just a few parents of the now more than 3 million children attending international schools worldwide. “I don’t want to travel/I couldn’t live like you.” OK, I’ll give you that and respect that decision. At least you make no ands, ifs or buts about it.
Tips for saving money while traveling
As I step down off my soapbox now, there are ways of saving money while traveling. Chris and I employ all of these tactics so we can continue to travel, and it’s all about sticking to them.
1. Set your priorities
The first and most important of our rules to travel budgeting is knowing what’s means the most to you. If traveling is your No. 1 priority, then you have to sacrifice in other areas. As of yet, we have found no other way around this. When I’m in the US, I drive a 13-year-old car that has its fair share of aging problems. Except for a one-month period, I haven’t owned a smartphone since we started traveling. Partially due to my hatred of shopping, I only buy clothes now at markets and on-sale, out-of-season pieces. Find the extras in your life you can cut back.
2. Give up hotels
No, it isn’t anything like the horror movie. Hostels are budget accommodations where you meet a ton of really nice and interesting people. Yes, you will share a room and bathroom (unless you pay extra for a private room), but consider it like being back in camp dorms. Couchsurfing is even better. Made up of a community of open-minded travelers, Couchsurfing allows you to connect with a local host who is typically more than willing to show you around. Just be sure to pay the kindness forward. If Couchsurfing is just too far out of your comfort zone, check out Airbnb. A site where people rent out rooms or entire homes for some extra income, you can find places all over the world to stay cheaper than a hotel. Except for the occasional splurge, Chris and I have hosteled and surfed our way through Brazil, Argentina, China and Europe.
3. Join every rewards program you can get into
Though they can be a pain, if you are willing to take the time to manage airline, hotel, restaurant and other rewards programs, you can end up saving tons. As members of each of the major US airlines rewards programs (and they all partner with foreign airlines when traveling abroad), we’ve received free and next-to-nothing transcontinental and trans-Altantic flights. I will be staying two nights free in Syracuse, N.Y., next month due to my points with the Starwood Preferred Guest program.
4. Go public
In transportation that is. Public transportation and good ole’ Pat and Charlie (your feet) get you around cheaper (and healthier) than any rental car. If you’re going to be in an area for a week or more, look at unlimited ride cards that can be purchased for a week, month or year. The unlimited seven-day pass for the New York City metro provides more value for the buck than paying for each ride separately.
5. Cheap eats
Our biggest splurges are on food. You certainly don’t want to skimp while trying the local cuisine as it is such an integral part of any culture, but there are still ways of saving money while traveling on your food expenses. Look for street food, a truer taste of the local culture than some fancy restaurant and lots more affordable. Pick up some staples at the open-air market and have a picnic in the local park. Check out Urbanspoon to see local ratings for cheap, medium and high priced venues.
6. Go where the locals go
If you venture away from the streets with hoards of tourists, you’ll find more authentic events, foods and decor, likely for a lower price. If you used the tip above on affordable lodging, you’ll usually get much better recommendations from hostel employees and Couchsurfing members than from hotel bellhops and desk clerks.
Your tips for saving money while traveling?
Did we leave anything out? What money-saving tricks do you use?
-Monica
Thanks for the great tips. I would add:
1. Try to go to a destination in the off season as much as possible for lower hotel rates and smaller crowds. Florence, Italy in December is still lovely, you can zip thru the Uffizi practically alone compared to summer, and hotel rates are much lower.
2. For dining, eat your main meal at lunch instead of dinner. Cheaper and better for you.
3. Realize that the cafes near main squares in European cities will charge much more for a coffee if you sit at a table overlooking the square, than if you go to a coffee bar away from the action and down a side street. You pay a huge premium to sit and overlook the square.
Allison, these are great tips! Thanks so much for adding to the discussion. I have to admit, I’ve been guilty of No. 3 too many times! I’ll have to keep that in mind next time I need a caffeine fix.