Five tips for traveling on a budget

Several people on CommuniTeach have expressed an interest in learning how to travel cheaply. Traveling on the cheap happens to be one of my specialties, and I’m happy to share a few of my tricks.

1. Before you go anywhere, join that city’s Couchsurfing network. Couchsurfing is an incredible network of travelers all around the world that are happy to show you around the city, make recommendations for a great night out, and even give you a couch to sleep on for the night. It’s not about the free couch so much as the cultural exchange that makes this network truly special…but the free couch is nice too.

2. If couchsurfing isn’t your thing for beds, hostel it up. Find the cheapest place with good reviews on hostelworld and book a bed in a shared room. It’s safe, fun, and you’ll make great friends. When I was traveling Europe, I stayed in a combination of cheap hotels and hostels. The cheap hotels were…terrible. No amenities, no friendly travelers, no television, no food.  By contrast, the awesome Hostel Mostel I stayed at in Bulgaria that was something like $12 a night including breakfast, beer, and a spaghetti dinner. Amazing. As one caveat - never stay anywhere that has any record of bed bugs.

3. When negotiating, pick a very very low price. But then stick with it. Be firm. Be repetitive. If they turn you down, just move on. Don’t start to inch up and meet them halfway or the process will be endless and you’ll end up paying more than you should. I discovered this three months into my travels in India. For my fourth month, I got nearly everything I wanted for ridiculously cheap.

4. Eat street food. It’s delicious and super cheap. You will probably get sick from it at some point, but suck it up. Buy cipro before you go.

5. Ok, not gonna lie. I can’t think of a good 5th tip at the moment. But top 4 sounded lame, so I rolled with it.

Feel free to send me a LearnIt request if you want to hear more about how to travel cheaply, including a 5th tip that I shall try to think up. Also, feel free to suggest your own traveling tips.

Cheers!