Travel on a Budget

Travelling the world and seeing all of its natural beauties is a dream of many; however, these experiences are costly. Between transportation, hotels, food and activities, the bill adds up when you go on vacation. 

History teacher Amanda Tracy shares, “I travel as much, as often and as far as possible. I feel very fortunate to have traveled to multiple continents and dozens of countries. I have backpacked, toured and cruised. The ONLY thing keeping my family from traveling more is money!”

For those of you who feel the same way and share her passion to travel, there are several hidden treasures in some less-known countries that provide cheaper alternatives than popular tourist destinations.

Here are five countries that are fairly cheap to visit:

• Argentina- It is a peaceful place full of grand mountains in Patagonia, waterfalls in Foz do Iguacu and even penguins and whales. Despite the often fluctuation of the Argentinian peso, travel remains cheap with rooms to stay in for around $25.
• Mexico- Due to the decreasing value of Mexican peso, you can get nearly twice as many pesos per dollar, making travel much cheaper. Tacos at local restaurants like Al Pastor only cost $0.60 each, and bus rides cost between $10 and $20 for pretty much anywhere you need to go.
• Nicaragua- It is a great destination to relax on the beach, take a surf lesson or explore the jungle. Being one of the cheapest countries to visit in the world, meals cost around $3, and bus rides cost $0.30. For some tourist fun, you can even go volcano boarding for up to $40. 
• Thailand- It is a warm country in Asia full of white beaches and blue water. Away from tourist-packed places, northern Thailand offers $30 hotel rooms amidst rice fields and Buddhist temples. Markets and local restaurants charge $1.50-$3 for a noodle dish and a drink; however, more western restaurants still only charge around $8-$10 for a meal. With hotel rooms ranging from $30-$60 and long-distance bus rides costing under $20, it is fairly easy to save money here.
• Vietnam- This is another Asian country that offers many adventures such as trekking in the hills of Ha Giang, boat rides in the Mekong Delta backwaters and visiting historic towns and national parks. Street foods are popular in Vietnam and cost no more than a few dollars for a whole meal, like a bowl of pho. Hostels can cost anywhere around $10, but hotels are also an option for slightly more.

Many people struggle to save money when they are on vacation and accept that they will make a dent in their wallets. However, there are lots of ways to spend less on vacation, whether it is how you are getting there or what you are planning to do once you arrive.

Here are five tips to save money next time you travel:

• Travel off season. Prices go up in the summer and on school breaks when everyone is free of responsibility and wants to get out of town. Traveling during a different time of year will be less crowded and save you money on flights and hotels.
• Be flexible with flights. Check flights you’re interested in frequently because prices change often. Flying early in the morning or late at night on a weekday like Tuesday or Wednesday tend to be cheaper options. 
• Use points or miles. Certain hotels and airlines have reward programs that give you points each time you use their company, which will save you money in the long-run.
• Eat at local places. Locally owned restaurants are cheaper and tend to have more authentic food specific to the area. Restaurants near tourist areas charge more for food because tourists are unfamiliar with the area and are willing to pay more because “they are on vacation.”
• Stick to a budget. Come up with an estimate of how much money you have to spend and prioritize what you want to buy. While it is fun to spend more money on vacation, many items are overpriced and unnecessary.

With this information in mind, travel smart and have a good time wherever you go!

Sources:

https://www.indietraveller.co/top-cheap-places-to-travel/

https://gatheringdreams.com/cheapest-countries-to-visit/

https://www.ytravelblog.com/how-to-save-money-on-travel/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/15-ways-to-save-money-while-traveling_b_59661c1ce4b0deab7c646cf1