Photos by: Benny Hua, Kyleigh Castronaro, Alee La Placa, Lindsay Davies
THE ESSENCE OF TRAVELLING...ON A BUDGET!
There’s nothing better than the freedom and joy of going to new places and experiencing new things that travelling creates. While travelling may be on all our minds, our budgets hold us back most of the time. The best way to achieve the experience of your lifetime is to know exactly what you want and to plan it out. Here are some tips to make your trip memorable on a budget! Plan ahead of time. Trips are much cheaper if yotu book ten months ahead of time or even at the last minute. Contiki always has great last minute deals and Travel Monkey has awesome tips and helpful planning articles. Destination. Sometimes it’s better to opt for an alternative rather than the typical spring break resort. Eastern Europe, South America and South-east Asia can also be low cost destinations. Get a job. No matter how cheap you find your trip, you will still be spending money, which is why getting a job or saving up is a good way to finance your trip. Split the cost. Large hotel rooms tend to cost less than multiple smaller rooms, so share a suite! DarnGoodDigs helps you find cheap places. Other options include: staying at a student hostel, staying with a local family or staying at relative’s place. Avoid tourist traps! Attractions, theme parks, etc. overcharge for almost everything. Instead, bring snacks with you on the go, or stay a bit further than most tourist lodgings. Traveling off-season can also be helpful, as places will be less busy and you’ll get more of the local experience. In-land Travel. Renting a car for the place you’re in can be much cheaper than buying bus and train tickets every day, especially since prices tend to fluctuate. If you’re travelling in Europe, the interRail pass is a great option for travelling around Europe for free at designated times. Backpacking. Probably the best way to experience the culture and history of a place, backpacking offers adventure to anyone. Maybe you’ll be the new Chris Guillebeau and visit all 193 countries of the world. Nomadicmatt.com is also a great site to learn about backpacking and general travel info. Insurance. It’s a hassle, but be sure that you have extra money with you, either through insurance or credit cards, and carry photos of your passport in addition to your actual one. So take pictures, videos, start your own blog, connect with other travelers and be safe. Most importantly, have fun and make your next trip one to remember! - Rahnuma Chowhan
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PASSION8 MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2013