Traveling on a Dime
There is a lot of pressure to make sure you’re getting the right flight at the right price. There’s also no telling how long the flight’s price will last, especially when an airline offers a great deal. One part of you wants to wait and do some research, but there are reasons why taking a leap of faith is the best thing you can do. Prices change like the wind and you’ve lost it ! Booking at least 1 month in advance for domestic flights and 2 months ahead for international usually is good. If you’re planning on traveling during a peak period such as Christmas, plan a few more months out for sure.
As I was saying about the leap of faith, if you take that course, you can always take advantage of the airline’s 24 hour cancellation policy. The Department of Transportation states that all major U.S. airlines must allow a grace period of 24 hours to cancel your trip with them. You are not signing your life away ! If you don’t find a better deal or can’t connect to your travel partner, there is an out. But don’t let that jerk reflex get you to cancel something that is a truly super deal !
Stay Cheaply and Sometimes Free
If you can look outside the box, you can find housing cheaply by going an alternative route such as Airbnb. Some think there is no safety in that decision but Airbnb vets their hosts and allows community reviews. They even have the title of Superhost for premium properties. This is similar to Time shares that give a Gold property symbol to those that perform highly. Another thing they do is offer verifications of the hosts profile by allowing them to show their government-issued ID on their profile. I recommend only staying at Airbnbs that have lots of reviews and ones that you communicate with the host and are feeling good about the decision.
For the younger crowd, Hostels are an option especially in big cities like London, Rome or Paris. It’s inexpensive and a fun way to travel and so much socializing that way. There are a couple sites to look these possibilities up called Hostels or HostelBookers, or simply do a Google search. Prices range per city but can be as little as $10 per night. One consideration is it may be a private room vs bunks or communal areas.
If you’re looking to spend less on rooms, there is another alternative called Couchsurfing which can be just as it’s written, but in some cases, guest rooms for free. I hear there are safeguards in place such as verifications and on-call safety team. Most travel agents recommend buying travel insurance in case something goes wrong. TIP-This wouldn’t be something I would recommend personally, but to each is own. I’m showing all options.
But if you are looking for more luxury in a hotel, there are some that take care of the little things that cost you even more. Value-added amenities such as free breakfast, cocktail hours, laundry machines, and discounts to restaurants nearby are a few ways to take advantage of savings. These finds are often a phone call away. For honeymooners or anniversaries, it doesn’t hurt to see if something is offered as well. Hotels want to make a good impression.
Eating Well on a Budget
If this is part of your mission, you may want to to indulge on dinner but find cheaper places for breakfast and lunch. I do this myself. It’s just a matter of prioritization. I’ve found asking locals for recommendations, I find the absolute best cuisine ! They have been around the block and usually have a go-to. Make a new friend in the process.
TIP- you can book an EatWith experience online where locals give you an authentic dining experience. Some of these events are hosted at their own homes and they must go through an application process to be listed on a site. Lastly, there is also usually a Foodie tour line, which takes you to several local food stops. So many options !
Planning in Advance
I always have a list of maybe 5 things that are musts in my travels. But leaving the rest of your days flexible, allows you to live in the moment. You know, the road less traveled viewpoint is sometimes the best of times !
Again, connecting with the locals, will make the trip memorable and fun. They know the best experiences, or on the other hand, ones you want to avoid ! You’ll learn things about the city you’re in that most tourists never get to experience, and discover some wonderful treasures along the way.
Making those connections to the locals while traveling has more than it’s financial benefits. It provides you with a better taste for the experience of actually living and breathing in a city and it’s cultures. Making person to person connections in life are extremely important ! Ciao !
