Beginner's Guide to Traveling on a Budget
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When it comes to traveling, most of us aspire to find the best deals regardless of budget. I like to freely explore whether by car or air and sometimes “taking the road less traveled.” That saying is very true in all aspects when it comes to me.
The problem with finding travel deals is that they make you have to jump through hoops to get them!
For example:
Shocking low Hawaii Trip: Flight, hotel, and rental = $6,000 but they failed to disclose the hidden fees
When I plan a trip, I want to know every detail then and there. I don’t want to get to the hotel and find out that the resort fee is just as much as the trip….(by the way, that has happened to me before).
I was able to visit nine different states along with two countries using a few handy tricks. I am all about traveling on a reasonable budget, so I decided to share some of the best travel tips that I have learned over the course of time.
Now keep in mind that you can still find cheap flights and hotels anywhere in the world if you really do your research. These are a few ways of the traveling for cheap tricks that have worked for me.
TRANSPORTATION
I have tried quite a few modes of transportation and I guess it depends on what you're the most comfortable with. There are flights, buses, car services and train rides that could help make your trip cheaper.
Flight Search Engines- You have Kayak, Priceline, Hotwire, and more. But the best one that I have used so far is called Hitlist Flights. The best tip I can give is, every time you look for flights, put your browser on incognito and the best time to do your searches are mid-week and late nights. Peak time are mornings, so you’d want to avoid that.
Tip: If the airline charges for bags, only bring a carry- on
Mega Bus- Back when I did solo trips this was the best thing ever! I used to live in upstate New York (Troy to be exact), and was able to travel to New York City one way for $1.50!!!!! 🤑🤑🤑 Yep, you read that right! $1.50!!!! However, heading back to school costs $30-50. The downfall of taking the bus everywhere was indeed a lengthy ride 😫. But I didn’t care because I wanted to travel and not all of the scenery was terrible either.
Greyhound- This was the first bus company that I used while traveling before I knew about Mega Bus. On one occasion, I took the Greyhound from New York City...down to West Palm Beach, FL. OMG, what was I thinking??!!!! But it is affordable though.
Amtrak- If you want to relax and enjoy a scenic view, then a train ride is your way to go. I would have to say that this is absolutely one of my favorite ways to get around! I hear in Europe, this is THE way to travel between countries. If you're in Florida, we have an express train service called Bright LIne, which helps to cut the time down a bit.
Download Free pre-flight checklist below:
Where to Stay
Airbnb- Even though staying with friends or family when traveling is the cheapest..because it’s free; sometimes they might be too far from where you need to be. When I was a traveling Massage Therapist, Airbnb was my best friend. I used it everywhere; Jacksonville, North and South Carolina, Las Vegas and California. The best part is, every time you refer someone to Airbnb; after their first stay, they will credit you money for your next stay! Click on the link to set up an account today!
Camper Van- I have a small obsession with unconventional vans!!!! ❤😍👍 A friend of mine had a lovely wedding in the Upstate New York area. I took that as the perfect opportunity to rent a camper van!!! It was the perfect way to view the countryside of the state and stay wherever we were allowed to park. If you want to give van life a go without a permanent then this is the way to go. The company that we used was Escape Camper van. They are popping up all over the states, so why not!
TimeShares- Once I discovered timeshares, it was game on! I know some of you are screaming NO, no, NO. Hear me out!!!! There are timeshares out there that will give you 3 days and 2 nights stay for less than $300. Plus for just going, they will give you another gift on top of that!!!! Yes, you do have to go to a presentation but it will be worth it! My husband and I went to a Diamond Resort presentation and paid only $250 for our trip. Then after the 2 hours lecture, we received a free cruise and another 3 days 2-night stay!
Groupon- Don’t sleep on Groupon Getaways!!!! Some trips, your flights, and even car rentals are included.
All-inclusive- We stayed at an all-inclusive and it was the best!!! Our food and drinks were included, so when I booked the trip to Jamaica. I didn’t have to worry about anything else but transportation. Like most other resorts, if you want to book an excursion, you can do that while there.
Bed and Breakfast- If an all-inclusive is to pricey for you, then try finding a bed and breakfast spot for your stay. The Jasmine Inn in Charleston, South Carolina was recommended to us and we loved it.
