It starts off with a niggling desire to visit that spot in Iceland where your friend took that really cool photograph or see the Caribbean so you can understand why your brother won’t stop raving about it.
Anyway, you’ve always wanted to see Slovakia…
Like most people, I have a seemingly endless list of countries that I wish to visit.
With a wide world of culture’s out there, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. But, sadly, I’m not a millionaire.
Not even close.
So here’s my advice for travelling cheaply:
Common Sense
First thing’s first, choose the cheapest flight no matter what ridiculous time it is, use cheap public transport even if it takes longer or is a bit grim as it’s a worthy sacrifice to get you to your destination. That’s not exactly news.
Sacrifice
However, the importance of sacrifice should be stressed. On flight shopping is a definite no-no and although many will hate to hear this – switching from your usual fruity Frappuccino to bottled water makes all the difference.
You don’t want to sacrifice your reasons for travelling, be that going up the leaning tower of Pisa or scuba diving with the professionals, so it’s important to prioritise.
Research
But before you even get to being on the flight there’s one crucial thing that many people overlook (probably because it’s one of the least fun activities of all time): research.
What time of year you go to a particular country, whereabouts you go, what airlines, public transport or car rentals are available are important factors. By planning the cheapest way to travel you can be assured that you haven’t thrown away any money before you’ve even left your house.
Open-mindedness
Another important thing to adopt is open-mindedness. Your distant relative’s friend’s cousin can come in useful when looking for a place to stay. If you don’t know anyone in the country you are visiting though, it’s not the end of the world. You can consider camping or splashing the boat out, if there’s a large group of you, to find a caravan site.
When you get there
When you get there ask the locals questions. Who else will know the cheapest but best places to eat?
Sometimes, the most stunning and memorable parts of a country are the hidden gems not found in a brochure. Hopefully the local people will be keen to show off their homeland to you and leave you feeling well travelled, rather than well tourist-ed.
When it comes to travelling even cheap isn’t necessarily “cheap”.
But, think of it this way, if you were to save £10 a week for a year, that’s £520 towards some travel. Doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?
Research
Before you even get to be on the flight, there’s one crucial thing that many people overlook (probably because it’s one of the least fun activities of all time): research.
What time of year you go to a particular country, where you go, and what transport is available are important factors.
Planning also involves acquiring the right visa for your trips; find out about esta for uk citizens.
By planning the cheapest way to travel, you can be assured that you haven’t thrown away any money before you’ve even left your house.
Common Sense
First thing’s first, choose the cheapest flight no matter what ridiculous time it is, use cheap public transport even if it takes longer or is a bit grim as it’s a worthy sacrifice to get you to your destination. That’s not exactly news. Oh, and make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip – MyBritishPassport can help you with renewals – or you may end up disappointed and out of pocket.