I’ve seen more than one post about how to travel better, and I am sure most of the people who write them are far more experienced than me. But I still felt like writing this, because less than a year and a half ago, I couldn’t believe I could afford to travel to Denmark (let’s face it, I had not chosen the cheapest destination to begin with!)

But I found cheap easy ways to arrange my trips, and now, as many of you know, I’ve visited Vikingland 3 times in the last 16 months. And I didn’t have to get a mortgage! LOL

If I could do it, so can you!

 

# 1 : Backpack travel.

You might think that backpack traveling is a late teenager/early 20s young people’s thing. But you’d be surprised how convenient it is. First of all, airlines (like Wow Air… If I keep naming them, I might get a discount one of these days… Mouahhahahaah) offer to pay an extra fee on the basic price of the plane ticket, to have a large cabin baggage. It is much cheaper than having an actual suitcase, in baggage hold. Cheaper, and a lot faster when you get to destination, since you don’t have to wait for your luggage. And, you just can’t loose your suitcase while getting where you’re going, since your bag follows you everywhere! On top of that, you’ll discover that investing in an appropriate backpack, fit for your body and your needs, will result in a more comfortable carrying of your belongings, and it has the extra plus side that it leaves your hands free! Win/win/win/win!

#2 : Pack, then reduce.

My motto is “Don’t be a Princess!” You’d be surprised how little you need. I can guaranty you that no matter how much you work to go light, there will still be at least one thing you brought that you will not use during your journey. Remember that, unless you leave to live in the same place for your whole vacation, and plan to see the same people the whole time, nobody will notice if you wear the same t-shirt or the same pair of jeans twice. And you most probably won’t be attending a ball. If you are, you probably don’t need my cheap tricks… LOL So forget about the fancy shoes “just in case”, and the matching dress. I admit, I brought my little black dress with me all three times, but it fits in a sandwich Ziploc bag (see next tip) and I used it once!

So, before leaving, make sure you only have the minimum. No matter what that means for you, I’d bet it will be more than what you needed in the end. And don’t forget, unless you leave for some remote village somewhere far far away from civilization, it is most likely that you’ll be able to buy anything you forgot, or thought you wouldn’t, but end up needing.

#3 : Use Ziplocs.

Ok, this I haven’t seen anywhere else, but it is my favorite trick. I am guessing others have used it too, I’m just not that special, you know?

When I prepare my backpack, I pack everything that fits in them, in Ziploc bags. For three simple reasons. First, when you empty the air from the bags, clothes take a lot less space, and you get to pack more efficiently. Second, if you are unlucky, and get a lot of rain, at least, you’ll get to destination with dry t-shirts and underwear! And finally, I like to bring extra bags to put my dirty underwear, for… well obvious reasons.

If you try this, just make sure you invest in good bags. The whole point being that you want a sous-vide effect, don’t run to the dollar store!

#4 : Use Airbnb and/or CouchSurfing.

It amazes me how many people still don’t know about either Airbnb or CouchSurfing. I’ve tried both, several times. And I would never rent a hotel room again. Both will make you save on your place to stay and your eating budget!

Airbnb – Good for anyone. You travel alone, with a friend, with your family, with a bunch of friends??  Unless you are heading to a remote village in the virgin forest, you’ll probably find a place that suits you. You can also decide to rent only a room, or a whole apartment, depending on how much intimacy you need. And in my case, it was always cheeper than staying at the hotel. Plus, you get to have access to a kitchen, which allows you to skip going to the restaurant all the time. Extra tip; since you do, have a kitchen, why not pack on the necessary to make simple lunches you can bring along during your day’s sightseeing? Murphy’s laws will probably have you end up in a touristic trap around noon, with 15$ a piece hot dogs and you’ll be happy to save that for something you really wanted!

CouchSurfing – If you are traveling with your family or a group of friends, CS would probably be more trouble than anything. But if your a “mission impossible” kind of person, who likes challenges, go ahead. I’ve seen some people who host up to 4 or 5 guests at a time! I recommend CS mostly to people traveling alone, or with someone who also really wants to try the experience. Because it is an experience. For those of you who never heard of CS, it is a network connecting travelers who seek a free place to stay, and people who want to open their home to them. Often, hosts will offer to cook, but it is also appreciated when the guest prepares a meal to share cultural backgrounds. Because that is the main goal for most CS members. To share about your home country and the one you are visiting. I found that CS hosts that have been a member for years are far better guides than anything touristic you could pay for. They want to offer you a magical experience in their city, and if you are open and like meeting new people, it is an experience I really recommend. Free housing, often free meals, and a unique way to discover new places.

Also, both Airbnb and CouchSurfing give you the chance to see how locals live. You’ll never get that with generic hotel rooms! Oh, and remember tip #2? Living in an apartment usually means having access to a washing machine that won’t cost you extra!

#5 – Use your hosts.

In case you use tip #4, don’t be shy to ask your hosts about the neighbourhood. They live there, so they know all the restaurants, cafés, bars around, and can point out where you can have a nice experience with the locals, and eat/drink for less than the usual tourists’ traps. Of course, your Lonely Planet guide will provide you with adresses, but there’s nothing like setting foot in a place where foreigners don’t usually stop. Hosts can also tell you where to go grocerie shopping, or where to find the closest pharmacy, so you don’t have to walk around for hours, just to get a pack of plasters, or a carton of milk!

#6 – Make a little research.

Googling the cities you will visit, and planning a little, can make you save a lot of money during your stay. First, as I mentionned in my Turtle’s Journey blog, major cities often offer passes (usually good for 24, 48 or 72 hours) that allow you access to a large number of attractions for a bargain. Think about what you want to see before buying one, but with an average of 2 or 3 activities a day, you should save money and get to go to all the must-sees. If you don’t plan on visiting a whole lot, and prefer to enjoy your time walking around, check out your favorite museum online. Many of them offer free entrance certain days or after a certain hour. There are also free guided walking tours available in certain cities, and free is always good!

 

So, there you go! I hope this will help at least one of you! And if you have tips of your own, don’t be shy, share them in the comments 🙂