This is an attempt to make the rather expensive business of travelling the world a little bit cheaper. It is also an attempt to inspire you to get out into the world, and to show that money isn’t as crucial as it may seem to travelling. Most of us who like travelling have no choice but to work furiously all year in order to fund a few weeks somewhere nice. Indeed that may not even be enough, with the more determined having to beg, steal or blackmail family members out of a small donation to the travel fund in order to make the trip a reality. But, being one of these people, I can offer a few ideas on bringing the cost down based on my own experiences of wanting to go a long way as often as possible with limited funds.
–transport– buses and trains are significantly cheaper- a holiday is about fun and comfort, but some compromise could be considered. For instance I went from central London to Amsterdam, and back from Paris to London for a total of £8.70. It was a 15 hour trip to Amsterdam, but allowed me to spend the money on much better things than a train (and i don’t mean prostitutes). Inter-rail passes and multiple-trip passes bring the price down massively; it is a good idea to plan ahead and install some military organisation to the expedition. Planes might be fast and direct but they are pricey, so always explore other options. Long train journeys often provide you with fine scenery and interesting views, so think of it as a tour. In planes you just look at clouds, which are kind of boring. You can also get sleeper trains, which are cheaper than a hostel and a plane, helpfully and cheaply combining the two.
–where to stay– accommodation is a large part of the cost of travelling. Here are some perhaps obvious points but worth considering. Hostels are great and cheap; usually shared dorm-like places which compromise privacy but save you beautiful money, which is nice. Also staying outside city centres and slightly off the beaten track will bring the price down; the cost and efficiency of inner city transport links of course vary but just consider it an extra adventure to thoroughly explore the metro systems and wander confused through strange cities. where’s your sense of excitement?
Friends, friends of friends, relatives and relatives of friends may prove a worthwhile line of inquiry. We all live in an international, globalised planet, which has no greater benefit than introducing you to a world of new people from different places and different cultures. Therefore a very careful, diplomatic and flattery-heavy inquiry to a friend near to places you wish to visit could provide a friendly, cheap place to stay for a short time. Your friends may be able to direct you towards others who are willing to meet and interact, and ultimately provide a place to sleep. Just try not to be presumptuous or rude when you ask, because you’ll end up losing a friend instead of gaining a place to stay.
Visiting attractions– in tourist areas attractions and sites can be extortionate to the money-shy. Of course, if you have made the effort to travel somewhere the least you should do is visit its main attractions; it would be idiotic to go to Rome and not see the Coliseum, for instance. However, going for a walk is often a great way of experiencing a place; a meander through the ancient streets of a great city,or a brisk trek up a mountain can provide an interesting and cheap day of exploring, and can lead you past hidden wonders and famous landmarks alike. Also a bit of investigation before you travel will pay dividends. Many top attractions in Europe are free or heavily discounted for EU citizens for example, so you may be able to do more than you realise. Lying on a beach is also a good, cheap activity, at least for a day or two.
Nights out– Nights out, especially in tourist-heavy places, can be a serious drain on your funds. If you are touring several countries, it may be wise to be selective of where you go out. Places like Hungary will provide cheaper and no less entertaining nights out than Germany, for example. While an early night is the cheapest option, it is also the most boring, so a combination of more sleep in expensive places and more fun in cheap places is ideal. Also, a careful selection of what to drink is important, as the price of specific drinks varies. Lagers and beers are cheap in Poland, at around 60p a pint, but heart-achingly expensive in Euro countries. However, wine is the main changer, as it is a euro for a bottle in Spain and France, and, unlikely as it seems, is actually of a high enough quality to be fit for human consumption at that price. A change in drinking habits may therefore be a good idea to save money. Also, buying cheaply from supermarkets prior to going out is a common and intelligent way of keeping costs down.
This quite obvious list is just something to bear in mind before you travel. However, the few generic points to take away are as follows;
–planning is crucial to saving money. Just think of all the silly cliches about failing to prepare is preparing to fail. As annoying as they are they speak some sense.
–researching where you are going, even if you don’t have a definitive schedule, can still be informative when deciding what to do.
–compromise is key- have as much fun as comfortably and as often as possible, but keep in mind the expense of what you do and try and budget.
-and finally, get out there and see the world. Otherwise you will just sit staring at your laptop in your underwear reading stupid articles by people like me. So stop and do some travelling. Good luck.
Any new ideas for saving money are more than welcome, as I hope this list will grow as more things occur to me.
JP.
hmm manifesto 