Traveling, no matter how appealing and exciting, can be quite a cumbersome affair for some people whereas it can be a walk in the park for others.
If you notice travel patterns of solo travelers, you come across two types.
One: the one who spends, having no care in the world. They are the ones who like to spend lavishly and want the best of the best, even if offered at a premium price.
Two: the ones who do not want to burn a hole in their pocket. These travelers are the ones who are aware of what and where they spend. I am proudly a part of the second one.
Giving you insider information and tips and tricks, below are some ways you can effectively save during your travels.
Choose a budget airline or go for an alternative
I could not stress this enough. Most of the money that is spent is for the actual travel from one place to another. Choosing the right mode and option for it is important.
With the increase in travel trends, we have a multitude of options for flights available at our fingertips. I would suggest you choose the cheapest one. For instance, when traveling from Toronto to Vancouver, I was running too tight on budget and decided to take a flight from Hamilton to Abottsword via Swoop.
Time your trip right
Timing is crucial. The time of the year you choose to go on a trip is important because that determines a lot of your other factors. For instance, flight tickets and accommodation cost the most during the holiday season and during summers. Planning your trip off-season will be a great option if you like to invest in other bits of your itinerary.
Go public in a strange city
Become an active part of the city or country you are visiting by actually living the local way. Most of the locals take public transport and you are robbing yourself of an experience if you do not opt for public transport at least once. Moreover, it is an effective way to get around and it saves a lot of money as compared to taking cars everywhere you go.
Eat like the locals
Food is one factor of traveling which is an expensive ordeal. Instead of going to different restaurants and having expensive meals (and paying taxes!), you can rummage your way through street food. Every city has its unique street food which no true traveler would lose out on. Hotdogs in New York or a Strudel in Germany, street food is not only delicious, filling but also will not empty your wallet.
Accommodation savvy
Where you stay during your travel is very important. Especially if you are traveling solo, a hostel is the best option for you. Hostel housing lets you meet new people from across the world and gives you chances to undergo the experience in a different way with a diverse set of people. Another option is to look at people who house travelers. No, I don’t mean Airbnb, because let’s face it, that’s expensive. May countries have portals where guests host travelers and give them a tour of their country much like a local such as Hostelworld.com.
Minimalistic but enough
Last but not least; packing. Packing is your pre-travel ritual. Ensure that you pack adequately and for the country, you are visiting. Look up the weather during your travel time and accordingly pack. For instance, if you are traveling to Toronto in November, there is no way you will be packing multiple dresses. Poor planning can easily sabotage a trip; hence packing for one is important. A checklist is highly recommended.
The Globetrotter 