Notes

See The World: 5 Methods to Travel on the Cheap
Travelling on a budget can be a little bit of an oxymoron if you don't know how to start it. I have definitely made many, many mistakes on my travels abroad, but have come out a much wiser budget traveller. Even though I still have my splurges, I stick to a few general rules to help keep my budget in-line. Travelling on a budget does not mean restricting yourself or having less of a good time, it is about getting the most from the trip for the money you have. I have come up with five tips that will help keep your wallet full, and adventures cheap. Enjoy!

1. Always travel local.

Do everything as the locals do. This is by far the very best advice I could give. Avoid tourist areas just like the plague when it comes to dining options. Walk around and explore to see where and what the locals are eating. You will be surprised at just how much cheaper food is merely by walking several streets away from major attractions. Street food can be your friend. And delicious. Pay attention to what transport the locals are using, chances are they aren't using the beer bus or over-priced taxis. Not only will you learn a lot more about the country you are visiting this way, but the cost will be much easier to manage.

If you want to take it a step further, book your trips through local suppliers aswell. Not merely will this be cheaper than the big companies at home, it also supports the neighborhood communities you will be visiting. Try TravelLocal, they'll pair you with a local company at your destination predicated on your requirements and budget.

2. Buy travel insurance.

It may seem strange to advise you to buy something when I'm also trying to help you save money. But if you leave home with only 1 thing, let it be travel insurance. You can't predict the future, or the way you will land after that Paragliding jump. Travel insurance allows you to be ready for every scenario, and prevent costly medical bills if something happens along the way. If you choose annual travel insurance rather than single policies, you may be covered for trips throughout the entire year and can pay substantially less. Even when you aren't accident prone like me, you can't control the weather, other folks, or unforeseen circumstances such as for example flight cancellations. Just take action.

3. Walk.

While it isn't always an option, there are a lot of cities that are ideal for walking. Should you have time working for you you can actually walk to where you need to go, while preventing the high cost of public transportation. Amsterdam is really a terrific example and if you have at the very least two days to explore the city it is much more cost-effective to explore on your feet. You'll have a better experience seeing the websites on your own rather than stuffed tour bus. When you are concerned about getting lost, a few of the best adventure adventures started off that way. Many cities also offer walking guides or tours, so execute a quick Google search before you leave.

Walkit.com includes a great urban walking planner that gives you walking directions from Point A to Point B in cities throughout the UK.

4. Check out the freebies.

From free walking tours to free museum admission, check out what your destination may be able to give you free of charge. Most major cities have free walking tours, and only ask that you pay what you think the tour was worth in the end. You are under no obligation to tip, so can provide as little or around your budget allows. A lot of major museums offer museum open days; the MOMA in NYC for instance offers free admission to their collection every Friday night and the Louvre in Paris does exactly the same the first Sunday of each month. Although you can find definitely exceptions (Italy!) many churches/temples/mosques offer free admission onto the grounds. Regardless of your religious background, these sites offer the best architectural wonders and artwork around.

F.Y.I. Nearly every museum in London is free to visit, the big cathedrals like Westminster Abbey are from as a result. Expect to pay �18 which is equivalent to around $27-28.

Notre-Dame in Paris, Milan Cathedral, and the Djenne Mosque in Mali are free, although for the latter you must be Muslim to go inside.

5. Be flexible.

To be able to travel on a budget, you should chillllll out. You don't have to fly from a Friday, and that bed in the 4*star hotel is not worth starving yourself all of those other trip. By allowing yourself to travel with some flexibility you will save money and enjoy the knowledge even more.

- Fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Without always the case, flights tend to be cheaper on these days.

- Book a hostel rather than a hotel. Hostels aren't for smelly 18 year olds anymore. Many hostels are beginning to re-brand themselves as boutique hostels. All this means to you is nice room, small price.

- Most probably to doing things that aren't on the itinerary. Once you travel you'll meet people, and often these people know about great places that Frommer didn't mention. Sometimes these things end up being the best parts of a trip, so don't hold onto that little bit of paper too tightly. These off-the-beaten-path adventures are, well, off-the-beaten-path. What does which means that for you? Less tourists means less chance for the locals to create a buck, which might translate to more money in your pocket.

"to read more will probably be worth any cost or sacrifice."
? Elizabeth Gilbert

Jessica Galbraith, American travel writer living in the UK. Visit her blog The Fly Away American for more travel-related articles and blurbs on expat life.
Website: https://www.reviewsis.com/a-review-of-anthony-conrads-seafood-restaurant/