4 Ways to Travel for Less
Whenever I talk to people about my travels, one of the first questions they ask is how I was able to pay for it. Everywhere I have gone was completely funded by me. Living like a local instead of like a tourist is what I do to make it so affordable. As far as I'm concerned it's better to explore many different places and spend less than it is to save up money for years just to go on a 10-day vacation for thousands of dollars. Here are my go-to ways to save money for another plane ticket.
1. WWOOF and WorkAway
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) and WorkAway are great ways to save on lodging, meet new people, and to live like a local. These organizations will allow you to apply to different places that peak your interest and you'll be able to stay at them free of charge in exchange for a helping hand. The hosts advertisements will tell you all about housing, tasks you'll be asked to complete, food that is supplied, and any other things that would be important for you to know before selecting the place you want to go. On WWOOF, some of the work you may be asked to do could include weeding the gardens, planting seeds, feeding animals, etc. If you are not willing to play in the dirt, WorkAway may be more for you. With WWOOF, often times you will share the common areas or live in dorm style housing, depending on the farm you pick. This is a great way to meet new people from all over the world and learn how to work well with others. It is also fairly common for the farms to offer you some amount of what they grow or produce which allows you to save money on food too! Not only is this a cheaper option, it's a huge opportunity to learn new skills and improve yourself. From my experience, the people running the farm love to teach people who are willing to expand their knowledge and do things they never expected to do. If you'd asked me a year ago I wouldn't have guessed that I'd ever be chopping weeds with a machete on a hillside in Puerto Rico. WorkAway is a really similar concept, the biggest difference is that the work can vary widely from painting fences to caring for children to reception in hostels. There is such a variety of requests for help on this website, it's definitely worth a look. Keep in mind that a WorkAway membership will give you options worldwide while with WWOOF you have to purchase different memberships for each country. Overall both organizations will save you money and offer some kind of lesson to broaden your horizons, I highly recommend either of the two!
2. Pack Lightly
This may sound like the end of the world but I promise you don't need to bring four pairs of shoes on your trip. You can save up to $70 by only bringing clothes you'll definitely wear. Packing cubes are a great way to fit all of your clothes into a hiking backpack so you can use that as your carry-on. I recommend a backpack over rolling suitcases for convenience purposes in crowded areas, public transportation, etc. Look for a bag with as many extra pockets as you can find when you're buying one, those spaces may look small but you'd be surprised what you can fit there when you're packing. I usually put sweaters in the water bottle holders on the outside of the bag, for example. You can also strap things to the outside of your bag but be careful not to overdo this strategy because it will quickly becoming a weapon when you're walking through narrow airplane aisles and the things you've clipped on start swinging into people's faces (not speaking from experience there....). It's also important to check the website of the airline you'll be flying with, as some of them allow a personal item AND a carry-on while some only allow a personal item. If you can avoid checking bag under the plane, I'd say you saved money on your trip!
3. Make Your Own Meals
On a plant-based diet, it's way cheaper to buy some rice, beans, potatoes, and veggies to make your own meals rather than eating every meal out. Buying meat and animal products tends to be more expensive (another perk of being a vegetarian/vegan). Not only will a meatless diet save you money but it'll save you a few years on your life, but that's a blog for another time. Cooking for yourself can become tricky if you're staying in a hotel but it's worth trying to work around. Pinterest is a good tool for finding quick, easy food options to create for cheap. Sandwiches, wraps, and salads are simple, no-cook options. Depending on where you are, farmers markets are a great way to support local farms and a less expensive option for delicious, locally-grown fruits and veggies to enhance your meals. If you have access to a full kitchen or at least a stove top or hot plate, the possibilities are endless. You're on a trip so treat yourself and eat out SOMETIMES but spoil yourself with a home cooked meal as frequently as you can!
4. Skip the Tours
I know you're probably in an area that you're not very familiar with but that's where the internet comes in handy. Group tours can cost hundreds of dollars and just end up being more frustrating. Since the tours are on a time limit, they often leave out a good portion of sights to see in the area. It's easier, cheaper, and more fulfilling to rent the gear, do some research, and explore for yourself. This way you can go where you want and decide how long you want to stay at each spot. For example, In Cozumel group snorkeling tours cost at least $60 not including the gear but by renting the gear for $10/day and looking up the best places to snorkel, we were able to save money and avoid dealing with whiny tourists while still seeing the breathtaking reef and colorful fish. From what I've seen, you get more out of taking a self-guided tour assisted by google.
I hope these tips will help you realize that traveling long term is a lot more manageable than it is made out to be. If you have a few thousand dollars (just to be safe) at your disposal, you're all set to travel! Obviously the location you go to effects the cost of living but there are plenty of places that are beautiful and shockingly cheap for day-to-day life. Now that you know how possible travel is for you, pack your bag, call out of work an experience something that will make your life worth living.
