As Christmas season approaches, holiday prices skyrocket, and those of us who have an undying urge to travel and get away for the winter are left in, well, crap. For my fellow budget travellers who sacrifice luxury in order for longer, cooler trips on a regular basis, these holidays can be pretty tricky to work around. Do you not go on a sojourn to India, or do you not eat for a week? Priorities, priorities. However, with this handy little guide, you should be able to flourish away from your home country on a budget, even if only for a weekend. Happy holidays!
Flights (or not, whatever rocks your boat)
First things first, you need to actually be able to get to the country you want to travel to. Whilst you might automatically look up flights to get to your destination, there are many viable options for travel, such as taking a coach. Coach companies such as Megabus (who I often use to travel cross-country, primarily to Wales) offer journeys for as low as $1.50, with a little stop halfway through for food and drinks if the journey is long enough. Whilst it may take twice as long to arrive at your destination, you can save an abundance of dollars which you can then spend on fun excursions out, and you also get some quality you-time, which I always adore. However, if spending hours alone with yourself or a pal on a coach sounds horrible, why not travel through the night? And bam, suddenly you don't even need a hotel.
If you are a bit more traditional in your sojourns and really really want to travel via aeroplane, I recommend the super incredible website Skyscanner, where you don't have to do anything other than enter in some basics of what you want, and then the search engine finds the cheapest options out of like FIFTY different airlines in order to make sure you get an insane price. If you're not too fussed about dates or even the destination, change the filter to suit and suddenly, you can fly to the centre of Paris for $20 return. It's mad. I h-i-g-h-l-y recommend.
Accommodation
If you're a budget traveller, the first thing people tend to recommend is always hostels. But why should you sacrifice quality for price? Why would you want to share a room with 13 other kids when you can have a luxury room with an en suite (as much as meeting random travellers with incredible stories is great)? I tend to head straight over to Booking.com to find the cheapest hotels, as if you add a few filters and aren't particularly picky about the exact location you can get some really great deals. I once found a three night trip to Amsterdam for four people for like $50, and needless to say, everyone I knew was pretty impressed (do you blame them?). However, if you're a bit more adventurous, going for a homestay or even just couchsurfing might be an option - with the latter you can literally stay somewhere for as long as you want for free, just so long as you're willing to stay with complete strangers on their sofa.
Excursions - blank those people who offer "the best deals" on the street, because I can tell you now that the prices are upped by at least 40% so that they can make a decent profit. Instead, I find that asking the woman at the hotel front desk (they're there to help, know their stuff, and also won't be making extra money from recommending a company they genuinely believe in) what's best and budget always works - unless she ends up trying to plug her brother's boat business. Also, look out for little deals like half price Fridays or free rush hour trips to museums and the like, as these can offer pretty cool experiences for little to no cost.
Food - like I always say, eat where the locals eat! Scrap the place that offers food for homesick holidaymakers, and go for the one with the queue full of tanned locals, as I can bet it'd not only bet oh so much better, but it'll also be a fair bit cheaper, too.
Transfers - ignore the transfers offered when you book your tickets abroad as again, they're out there for the profit. Instead, sites such as Travel Supermarket and Skyscanner are pretty reliable sources for cheap transfers, along with local comparison sites suited to your destination. Also, hey, I hear bunging a $20 to a boat captain could also get you a cheap transfer (but having never done so, don't blame me if it's not an actual thing people do).
If you've listened to my advice and followed my small guide to getting the main parts of your trip at a budget price, then you should easily be able to tailor it for primarily a weekend away (tends to be cheaper than a month or whatnot for obvious reasons), but also long-haul trips. I was, ever so sadly, unable to travel abroad this month (may have been because I recently bought two holidays, with another two booked already, but hey, who knows), and so I thought that I might as well help y'all who are able to - even though I'm insanely jealous that you get to travel. Let me know what you think, and as always,
Have a good month y'all!
- Amy
Love this, thank you! I paid for Kenya this morning so should defs NOT plan any holz right now, but when I return in May I can start a-thinkin'! (Prague, Prague, Prague!)
ReplyDeleteOf course! Omg you must be so excited for Kenya, I'd love to go some day!
DeleteWOWOWO!!! Such gorgeous photos! LOVE all of them!
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xoBeckerman Girls
www.BeckermanBlog.com
Gaaah thank you so much!!
DeleteAwesome tips and gorgeous photos! I can tell you've had tons of adventure!
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I'm hoping for 12 holidays next year instead of the 9 I had this year which should be even more so c:
DeleteLovely post dear! Have a great weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteYou also!
DeleteBeautiful pictures
ReplyDeleteLove Vikee
www.slavetofashion9771.blogspot.com
Ty Vikee!
DeleteI'm pretty decent about traveling on a budget in the US on the weekends, if I get the chance, just around my state or to a neighboring state. I was just checking that Skyscanner and weirdly enough I can travel from the capital of Ohio, Columbus, to Los Angeles for cheaper than I can get to Cleveland, OH...
ReplyDeleteWoah dude that's so awesome, you should totally go for that!
DeleteGreat tips dear!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this :)
www.staysya.blogspot.com
Thank you for reading c:
DeleteThanks for these great tips and link like booking.com. Will definitely keep these in mind:)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
I only want to tell y'all about my favourite websites and places to book, so I'm glad you noted it!
DeleteVery wise tips thank you! Buon Natale! Baci, Valeria - Coco et La vie en rose FASHION & BEAUTY
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Un bacione Manu <3
Grazie mille c:
Delete¡¡Hola Amy!! Tus consejos para viajar son realmente buenos, sobre todo lo de la comida, siempre hay donde van los lugareños, y no los sitios para turistas, donde los precios están inflados y la comida es de pésima calidad. Espero que hayas pasado una bonita Navidad en compañÃa de tus seres queridos. Besitos.
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Mermaid in Heels
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DeleteThese are good tips.
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Marta
www.lagattarosablog.it
<3 <3
DeleteTy dude c:
ReplyDeleteI live by Skyscanner and literally don't shop anywhere else for flights! I'm hoping there are some good sales on holidays and things too!
ReplyDeleteAmy xx
www.callmeamy.co.uk
Omg yes dude same to everything!
DeleteI always have a problem when I have to plan my budget... Nice post!
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spiked-soul.blogspot.com
Kisses
Elwira Charmuszko
Don't we all c,:
DeleteThese are such awesome tips! LOVE IT. And I love all your photos! Also I need to go look up these sites because I think my sister would be interested in that cheap flights one....
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Tyyy!
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ReplyDeleteLoved your post and tips! I love travelling and travelling in a budget is not very easy , I do use the majority of services you talked about :)
xxx
http://www.julieverafter.blogspot.com
It really is dude! And I don't blame you, they are the best c':
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I wish you a Happy New Year!
Thank you, you also!
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Maggie Dallospedale Fashion diary - Fashion blog
Thank you c:
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fashion blogger
Thank you, happy New year also!
DeleteSuch great advice to ask about excursions at the hotel reception, rather than vendors on the street! It also means you're provided with extra advice on routes and other handy tips :) Wishing you a happy 2017, Amy - filled with travel!
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Thank you, and it really is, they're full of so much knowledge and yet people song tend to ask about it. Happy New year, and yes that sounds pretty darn perfect c,:
DeleteI appreciate your suggestions! Happy new year darling! Baci, Valeria - Coco et La vie en rose FASHION & BEAUTY
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Omg thank you! Happy new year c:
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Happy new year c:
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